214 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



FOREWORD. 



S. B. HARTMAN AND H. J. EUSTACE. 



Bulletin No. 253. 



Upon many Michigan farms are mature 

 apple orchards that have been neglected for 

 many years and have produced no income 

 further than an occasional small crop of 

 apples of uncertain quality'. 



With a little investment and a little work 

 at the proper time, many of these orchards, 

 — if located upon congenial soil and not too 

 old,^ — can be made to return a cash income 

 that will be an important item in the farm 

 economy. 

 An account, in detail, of the methods used and results secured with 

 such orchards, handled in connection with general farming, is herein 

 given by Mr. S. B. Hartman, of Athens, Calhoun county. His results 

 should stimulate farmers to make an effort to turn similar orchards 

 into a source of profit and fruit supply for home use. 



THE ORCHARDS. 



In the following pages are given in detail the experiences of the 

 author in handling three aged and neglected apple orchards for a period 

 of five years, together with a tabulation of costs and income. 



The first orchard consists of 30 trees, most of which are about 30 

 years old. This orchard has been in sod and used as a hog pasture 

 for at least 15 years, and previous to 5 years ago had never had a good 

 pruning. The varieties and number of trees of each variety are as 

 follows: 11 Stark, 3 Maiden Blush, 3 AVinter Rambo, 2 Ben Davis, 

 2 Steele Red, 2 Baldwin, 2 Golden Russet, 2 Rhode Island Greening, 

 I Winter Pippin, 1 Fameuse, 1 Yellow Transparent. 



The second orchard consisting of 14 trees is a remnant of the old 

 orchard on another part of the farm, the average age being about 40 

 years. These trees are scattered and the ground has been used in a 

 regular rotation of farm crops. Varieties are as follows: 4 Northern 

 Spy, 2 Jonathan, 4 Ben Davis, 2 Russet, 1 Baldwin, 1 Fall Pippin. 



The third orchard consisting of 8 trees is a remnant of an old orchard 

 on the home farm. Two of the trees are younger, but most of them 

 are from 50 to 60 years of age. The orchard has been in a regular 

 rotation of crops, but is now included in a young orchard. Varieties 



