194 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



the crops on the trees at prices sufficiently low to guarantee picking, 

 barreling, shipping, loss, etc., which did not leave the commercial 

 orchardist enough to warrant him in calling it a commercial trans- 

 action. This period of disappointment was soon met by another. The 

 insects whose efforts seemed to be centered in relieving the orchardist 

 of any further trouble reduced the quality of fruit below the mercantile 

 standard and the orchard ceased to be more than a pasture in many 

 instances. 



This history carries with it the majority of orchards comprising 

 an acreage above that of the family orchard which is now a part of 

 every well improved farm in the state. In traveling over the state it 

 is a readily observed condition among the little family orchards, as well 

 as those that were prompted in their planting by the commercial idea, 

 that a very large per cent is neglected, in fact turned over to the 

 merciful care of a divine providence to direct when they shall produce 

 and what the quality or condition of the fruit shall be. The orchardist 

 seemingly has surrendered all interest in this feature of farm improve- 

 ment, except as a matter of reference when speaking of the farm as it 

 may be offered for sale, "A large bearing orchard of so many acres, etc." 

 And he should add, "of worm-producing fruits." 



Neglect Is the Rule. 



This neglect of the orchard, which is so universally found on the 

 farm of the farmer, unless he perchance be of a horticultural tendency, 

 taste and inclination to have every department of the farm improvement 

 come up to a fixed standard, which he has cultivated and established 

 in his methods of management, is the rule, not the exception. When the 

 orchard is grown, when the trees are too big for the stock to injure by 

 horning or rubbing down, it is practically turned loose to take care 

 of itself. This would not be so fatal in results if the pruning and 

 insect features of care were looked after. Here are introduced some 

 matters of detail that "the get rich easy" orchardist had not figured 

 into the account 'when he planned the enterprise. The orchard was to 

 take care of itself after it was five or six years old, just like the old 

 eastern orchard that produced great crops of fruit at random, except 

 thg,t this new western orchard on the rich prairie lands, would go on for 

 a generation or so with its never-ceasing crop. The insect pests had 

 not yet made their appearance, because there were no orchards, nothing 

 for them to do. 



Times Have Changed. 



Times have changed in Nebraska within the last twentj'-five years 

 in ^the matter of fruit growing, tree planting, orchard cultivation and 

 care. The horticulturist has adjusted himself to the conditions which 

 surround him. He has not deserted the orchard and given it over to the 

 codling moth, the scab, San Jose scale, etc., neither has he given up in 



