2i6o Farm Bureau Circular No. 6 



ONEIDA COUNTY 



orchards 



The work of the bureau during the first year was centered on several 

 orchards that had long since begun to decline. This work was con- 

 tinued during the second year, and several new cooperators were added 

 to the list. Eighteen men cooperated in this work with the farm bureau 

 for one year. 



The orchards that were carefully tilled, as well as carefully pruned 

 and sprayed, have given the best net returns. The apples from the 

 better orchards have been packed, for the most part, in bushel hampers 

 and have nearly all been sold in the local markets at prices ranging from 

 60 cents to $1 per bushel, the price for fruit guaranteed to be ninety-five 

 per cent perfect and of a size not less than two and one-half inches in 

 diameter, the minimum for New York " Standard A " grade apples. 

 In these orchards it was easy to grade and pack this kind of fruit, since 

 more than ninety per cent had a diameter of more than two and one-half 

 inches and were free from scab and worms. Apples packed in hampers 

 sell readily at a much better price than that paid for the ordinary run 

 of apples that go into the local markets in crates and often in bags. One 

 crop of 1800 bushels was sold at a net profit of $704.35. 



Through the work of the farm bureau cooperating in different orchards 

 and as a result of meetings, personal visits, and articles published in 

 newspapers, it is safe to say that 8000 trees in the county have been 

 sprayed this year that were never sprayed before. 



MEETINGS 



During the year the farm bureau has held meetings in various parts 

 of the county. Besides these, two general county meetings have been 

 held in Utica with several hundred persons in attendance. Some of 

 the subjects discussed were lime and liming, rations for stock, fertilizers, 

 orchards with special reference to the renewal of old orchards, and 

 spraying potatoes with bordeaux mixture. Nearly all subjects of interest 

 to the farmer have been treated at the different gatherings. The meetings 

 have been held in open fields, farmers' homes, and town halls. The total 

 number of meetings held was 30, with an average attendance of 79. 



The accompanying table shows the number of visits made to individual 

 farmers in the different towns, the subjects under discussion, and the 

 type of cooperative work undertaken. The estimated nimiber of callers 

 at the office was 300; inquiries by mail and telephone, 2000; total visits 

 to farms, 577. 



associations 



Among the most important organizations are the cow-testing asso- 

 ciations, of which there are four. These associations are doing excellent 

 work, and letters come in repeatedly from members, speaking in the 

 highest terms of the results accomplished. There are, at present, ap- 

 proximately 2500 cows being tested by these associations. Wherever 



