VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 71 



The apple orchard ought to be sprayed once before the 

 leaves start in the spring. In this case the bordeaux mixture 

 should be used without the paris green, or a pure blue vitriol 

 solution may be used without the lime. A second spraying- 

 should be given just before the blossoms open, and a third 

 soon after the blossoms fall. A fourth spraying may be giv- 

 en about two weeks later if the weather indicates ; and even 

 a fifth spraying has been found to give large cash profits in 

 some cases. 



For spraying, a good pump, a barrel, a piece of hose 

 and a good nozzle are necessary. These can be bought of the 

 manufacturers for about $7 or upwards, depending on the size 

 and make-up of the apparatus. If one is unused to spraying 

 he had better get advice from someone who has had experi- 

 ence. In general a man may put every confidence in the di- 

 rections given by the manufacturers of apparatus, who natur- 

 ally will take considerable pains to instruct their customers 

 in the proper use of the machinery, proper times for spray- 

 ing etc. 



PICKING. 



The best time to pick apples depends on the varieties, on 

 the season and on the market to which they are going. Late 

 winter sorts, like Spy, when destined for the city market, 

 should be allowed to hang on the trees as long as possible. 

 This will be several weeks after the first frosts, and after the 

 leaves have fallen. Varieties which ripen earlier, or which 

 are to be sold earlier may be picked sooner. 



Apples should be carefully picked by hand into baskets 

 holding half a bushel or a little more. They should never be 

 shaken from the trees, nor be allowed to be blown off by the 

 wind when it can be helped. When they are picked they 

 should be at least partially sorted, all the diseased specimens 

 being taken out, and put immediately into barrels. If they 

 are to be sold immediately, or within a few days, they should 

 be carefully graded at the time of putting into the barrels. If 

 they are to be stored any length of time they will have to be 

 graded at the time of shipment, and in that case such a close 

 grading at picking time is not necessary. The barrels may 

 be allowed to stand in the orchard for several days. This 

 gives the fruit time to cool off, which is a matter of some 

 importance. 



STORING. 



Experience has shown that the most profitable way to 

 handle late winter apples grown in Vermont ii> to store them 

 on the farm till late in the season. There is seldom any trou- 



