No. 6. " D15PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 409 



co-Operative experiments sliow a very general need on German farms 

 for lime, benefit being observed in some heavy soils that contain as 

 much as 0.5 per cent, of lime. 



CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF ORCHARDS. 



BY PROF. R. L. WATTS, Scalp Level, Pa. 



The care and management of orchards is a subject of growing in- 

 terest to the fanners and horticulturists of Pennsylvania. The de- 

 mand for choice fruit is rapidly increasing and there seems to be no 

 danger of an overproduction of fruits of superior quality. Only a few 

 years ago fear was expressed that the supply would soon exceed the 

 demand, and, consequently, that orcharding would prove unremu- 

 nerative. But has not this fear been entirely expelled? Is not the 

 fact well known throughout the State that, with the increase in 

 population, with the development of great commercial enterprises 

 and with more cultivated tastes there will always be a keen demand 

 for the best fruits? 



Buyers of any commodity always seek the best and the best com- 

 mands the highest price. Then, the first aim of the fruit grower 

 should be to produce the best, and the second aim should be to pro- 

 duce the best at the lowest cost. A thorough knowledge of the un- 

 derlying principles and ability to apply them will insure success so 

 far as quality and quantity are concerned, but an understanding of 

 principles and ability to apply them do not, by any means, insure 

 financial success. To make fruit growing profitable, executive and 

 business ability is necessary. It is one thing to produce fine fruit 

 and quite another to produce it economically and to dispose of it to 

 the best advantage. The fruit industry of to-day needs men who are 

 well trained in the sciences relating to fruit culture a» w^ell as in 

 business methods. 



Most of the old orchards of the State are not satisfactory in a com- 

 mercial way. No doubt it would be possible to restore many of them 

 to profitable bearing ,but the establishment and maintenance of 

 new orchards are receiving more attention and, therefore, my paper 

 will relate especially to this phase of the subject. 



In selecting a location the soil is of primary importance. Its phy- 

 sical and chemical properties should be carefully considered. If cli- 

 matic conditions are peculiarly favorable, the soil can often be al- 

 tered so as to secure satisfactory results. An example is furnished 

 27 



