El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-11-09
APPLES BRING
0RGHA8DISTS
FORTUNES
Texas Grower Averages 122
Bushels of Perfect Fruit
to the Acre.
DYNAMITE PLANTING
GETS GREAT RESULTS
By FREDERICK J. HAsININ.

required 10 Drlns an CEcllelI u
Of properly planted apple trees to .
profitable bearing age After that IL
the trees have due cultivation and pro-
lection the owner may reasonably eN,
-IJect-a return for the money invested
in them Last yea- an Ohio orchard
company marketed $500 barrels Of APP
pies from Il young orchard growing
upon nil land worth about $50 an
acre. Most of the crop was put into
cold storage until spring and then
sold al the highest market price and
The apples yielded considerably over
This year the crop viii be still
larger and. as every precaution has
been taken. a much more valuable
yield IS expected In Texas a 16 acre
orchard. averaging 35 trees to the acre
is producing a straight average Of
- bushels Of perfect apples TO the
tree. for which the owner is receiving
the highest price IN addition ne real
ICES a considerable sum from the sale
Of apple cider and vinegar made from
the bruised and imperfect aIles.
Regarded As Average Production.
Such records as these are regarded
by successful apple growers as mere
ly good average production Trees
which ayerag &c 10 bushels a year for
4 successive number OF years are not
/ infreQUent and stories of trees which
produce phenomenal crops. running
from SO to 100 bushels. are circulated
each season.
anced the utter failure of at least half
OF those who undertake to produce ap-
p-es-fa1lureS founded on lack of cap
ital. lack Of horticultural skill and.
many Of them, on 1se fortunes of war
and weather Not all apple orchards
are gold mines.
Demand for Perfect Fruit Increases.
The demand for the perfect aple in
creases each year. The apple is no
longer the plebian fruit adapted only
70 everyday use It is more expen-
siVe than the finest imported orange
IT mas quite surpassed the plentiful
banana which during the last de-
cade or two has become the cheapest
fruit upon the city market Conse-
ouently- apple growers constantly are
working for Improvement in quality as
wei as quantity Of the crop.
This Improvement is more noticeable
each year It IS being brought about
, by various means. including selection
OF variety 10 suit the climatic cOndi-
tiOns of the orchard. the improvement
Iof trees by budding and grating. bet
Iter care OF the trees and cultivation
OF the ground surrounding them, and
better preparation of the soil in
which young trees are to be planted.
Trees Being Protected
The care of the trees includes pro-
tecting them from sudden changes in
weather. pruning them when young
into the desired shape and taking every
precaution to prevent their injury by
insect pests or animals Millions Of
dollars worth Of apples are destroyed
each year by insect pests of different
kinds which have developed marvel
ously in the last quarter of a cen
fury.
The department Of agriculture has
done much research work in this line
ana IS now prepared TO demonstrate
within bounds If not absolutely elm
mated by the use of the sprays and
other protective devices.
Using Dynamite in Planting.
Hea~ -n-e- u. -
OF preparing the ground for the plant
ing OF young trees IS by the use of dyn-
amite. Dynamite pulverizes the sub
SOI IN the same manner that blowing
loosens the top soil AS the subsoil
cannot be reached afterwards for cul-
tivatiOn, it is the more important that
i be wei broken and aereated before
the planting.
In Virginia, where the apple crop
amounts TO millions Of bushels each
year, the use Of dynamite in tree
planting was begun about eight years
ago Pictures now are being shown
Of two six-year old apIe trees of the
same variety, planted upon the same
day IN the same orchard. The one in
the spade dug hole is about 10 feet
hlgh and while healthy and thrifty.
-Dales into insignificance beside the
great growth of the tree planted in
the dynamited hole. This towers /
about p feet in height and has wide
spread or shade. In the new orchards
Of the northwest most Of the trees
are being planted in dynamited soil.
Marketing Requires System.
The marketing Of the apple bids
fair to become a more highly organ
lzed commercial proposition in the fu-
ture than that Of any other crop. The
value Of the apples depends largely
reach the market Consequently, ap-
PIE buyers are apt to inspect the ap-
PIES upon the trees and have definite /
requirements as to the manner IN
n no Ia
The owners Of the enormous or
chards IN the northwest have organ
lzed their business with a view to OBJ I
tanning the best possible results. They I
elect competent men from among their /
own numbers as directors. These d. 1
recJors employ competent manager ]
10 look after the details. but share /
with MIN the responsibility. Printed (
directions are provided to each apple /
grower and the organization viii not /
handle his crop If they are not com /
piled with. I
Care Exercised in Picking.
Some organizations provide trained /
pickers to gather the fruit. Others /
permit the grower to have it gathered. /
but send packers to prepare it for /
market When an apple grower finds /
that certain variety is ready to be 1
SatheTed he notifies the manager of an 1
orSanlzat1on who calls and gives him !
explicit directions for handling.
Red apples are ready to be gath /
cred IS soon as the color natures.
providing they can be pulled from the !
tree without breaking the stem or 4
ta king a part of the twig with the ap- (
pie As all red apples do not color up 4
az the same time, several pickingS /
may be necessary Some growers are /
not willing to do this, but it enables !
mem TO increase the number Of perfect /
apples taken from each tree and 4
therefore secure a higher price.
The time of picking yellow apples
is determined by the seed. The apples J
are ready 20 pick when the seeds are
turning brown providing they readily
come loses from the spurs.
Must Not Remove Tgvieys.
The actual picking Of the apple from
the twlS IS an art calling for skilled
The apple is grasped with
the fun hand. so as not to bruise it
with fingernails- 1t is taken from the
twig by an upward or downward
twist.
The stem must always be left in the
apple To remove il makes a wound /
that may start decay Great care I
must be taken in handling the apples
10 prevent their being bruised
is III I