CoOrEEATIVE WOKK WITH COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 441 



The climatic conditions would come next. The length of the 

 gi'owing season is determined bj the last date of killing frost in. 

 spring and the earliest date in the fall ; the rainfall and the per- 

 centage of sunshine are both important. 



The land should be as nearly level as possible, and fairly 

 smooth. A slope toward the south or southeast is desirable. In 

 general, the lighter soils are preferred to the heavier soils, and 

 muck lands offer special opportunities for such crops as celery, 

 lettuce, and onions. 



Availability of labor, manure, and water should not be over* 

 looked, and inquiry ought by all means to be made as to com- 

 munity, conditions, taxes, and the like. The price paid, of course, 

 determines the fixed annual interest charge. 



In general, it is perhaps best to gain possession of a fair-sized 

 area, say not less than 30 or 40 acres, to begin operations in a less 

 extensive way, and let the work become more intensive as experi- 

 ence is gained. 



A few main crops well distributed throughout the season, both 

 as regards labor demand and income, ought to be selected and 

 these must be studied very thoroughly and carefully. If one has 

 had little or no experience, he can hardly do better than to work 

 for a good gardener for the first year. He will probably be as 

 well off financially at the end of that time as he would to under- 

 take operations for himself at once, although there are notable 

 exceptions to this. 



CONCLUSION 



In conclusion, let it be emphasized that fixed rules do not hold, 

 and general statements are likely to be misleading, when applied 

 to individual persons and conditions. Each must work out his own 

 problems independently in the light of the experience of himself 

 and others. 



IMPORTANCE AND OUTLOOK OF APPLE AND OTHER ORCHARDING 

 IN NEW YORK AND THE EAST 



Edwaed van Alstyne 

 New York State Director of Farmers' Institutes 



In considering this subject, in order that we may have a correct 

 iinderstanding of the matter, it is necessary that we think straight, 

 or, in other words, be able to draw logical conclusions based on 



