The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-12-30

able requires either a good demand
in the local market or exceptionally
good transportation to and demand
in a more distant market. Much the
same is true of odd or uncommon vari-
cites.
Some the the characteristics which
make variety poor are unattractive-
ness in shape, size or color; inferior
quality; lack of hardness in tree or
fruit, making them subject to disease;
small production; and being compare
lively unknown in the markets and
therefore not in good demand. To
make variety worth renovating, then,
it should be fair to good quality; at
tractive; a fair or, better, prolific pro-
ducer; a good keeper and shipper;
and in good demand at good prices
in the market. All these factors should
be considered before renovation is at
tempted.
UnfavorabIe Conditions.
An apple orchard set on wet soil
which cannot be readily drained is
worthless. Trees set on poor soils
require too much fertilization to get
them in shape to allow of much profit.
Trees growing on soils that are too
dry or leachy are less amenable to
renovation. In like manner orchards
located in frost pockets, at elevations
too low or too high, or sites too much
exposed, or on slopes too warm or
too cold will not pay returns on the
money spent in renovating them equal
to the returns from those better stu
ated. The renovation of orchards at
considerable distance from the rail-
road, with poor highways Snd poor
shipping facilities, and in isolated and
inaccessible places will not prove as
profitable as the renovation of or
chards in better locations. In short,
orchards in sites or locations which
are naturally unfavorable to apple
growing will be more expensive to
renovate and less profitable in the
end, and, in fact, may not give any
profitable returns because Of these ad-
verse conditions.
Four important steps must be taken
in the improvement of the general
farm orchard. These steps are practi-
cally the same as those which would
be employed in the average orchard
under normal conditions. With but
little modification, the methods to be
outlined may be continued after reno
vation. These are: (O Pruning, (2)
fertilization, (3) cultivation, and az
spraying.
A general outline of work or plan
of campaign may be briefly summa'
rized as follows:
(1) If the orchard is and has been
in sod for number of years, plow in
the fall about four inches deep. II
not, plow either in 4ate fall or early
spring.
(2) During the winter put on from
12 to Is loads Of barnyard manure
per acre, or one load to from three
to five trees. Another plan is to ap'
ply in the spring 100 to 244 pounds OF
nitrate of soda, 300 to 500 pounds OF
acid phosphate, and $50 to 800 pounds
of sulphate or muriate of potash.
(3) In the winter or in early spring
before growth starts, cut out all dead
and diseased wood from the tree, head
back the highest Hmbs, and then
the branches to admit sunlight.
az Apply 1900 to 1000 pounds Of
lime per acre and work it and the
manure or fertilizer into the soil thor
oughly with a disk harrow or spring
tooth harrow. Keep up this cultiva
tion until midsummer.
(5) After cultivation ceases for the
season, SOW a cover or green-manure
crop to plow under the following
spring. Glover is one of the best lie
guminous crops in the North, while
cowpeas are widely used in middle
latitudes and in the South. For &
nonleguminous crop rye is the mos
extensively used, though buckwheat
is commonly used in some sections o.
the North.
(6) Spray the trees in accordance
with the directions given in govern
ment and state publications on thil
subject.
T.