^2 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



to it we found that it caused a good many water sprouts and we liave 

 to follow that up by pruning later. But this is the method we follow — 

 just as fast as we can we cut the tops of these high trees down to where 

 we can handle them. 



A Member — What price do you figure labor, team and men at? 



Mr. Hartman — This orchard which I gave you the price on, it is stated 

 in the contract that I am allowed |3 a day, power sprayer |1.50, teams 

 $1.50 and the other labor at actual cost, |1.75 per day this season. 



A Member — Tell us about your mulching — how deep and what of? 



Mr. Hartman — On this orchard we put twelve loads of straw, and 

 some three or four inches after it is settled down. Then we put about 

 half a load of manure to each tree. 



Question — Do you put it on the sod? 



Mr. Hartman — Yes, on the sod in the summer time. The grass will 

 crop through the mulch, but still not very much. 



Question — What would be the highest and the lowest price you want 

 to pay? 



Mr. Hartman — So much depends upon the orchard, the condition of 

 the trees, distance, convenience, size of trees, etc., many things that I 

 might name, that it would be impossible to set a cash price. Our presi- 

 dent would be more competent to discuss that. I should say, however, 

 from 50 cents to |1 per tree would be about the average. 



Question — Do you mean annually or for a term of years? 



Mr. Hartman — Annually. 



Question — It would make a difference, too, whether they were Ben 

 Davis or Northern Spies? 



Mr. Hartman — Certainly. 



Question — I should like to ask Mr. Hartman if he applies that mulch 

 over the orchard or just under the trees? 



Mr. Hartman — We begin about half Avay out from the trunk, and then 

 went out beyond the limbs. If we had plenty of mulch we could do so 

 on the whole orchard. We want to put it where it will do the most good. 



Question — Do you cultivate the orchard or leave that to the hogs? 



Mr. Hartman — If you rent a small orchard far from home the expense 

 of cultivation is too great in this case — do not pasture unless you have to. 



Question — I would like to ask how much per acre it would cost to 

 cultivate that orchard, if you had to hire the labor? 



Mr. Hartman — I do not know how much it would cost, but I know 

 that we would have to double the rental if they were not pastured. Then 

 add to this tie cost of taking tools four or five miles, coming back — 

 all this takes time, and time is money. 



Question — How far away from home do you think it practicable to go ? 



Mr. Hartman— We have only worked close at home — our furthest 

 orchard is five miles away. Mr. Farrand goes several hundred miles 

 away from home. 



Question — Does that mulch hold moisture? 



Mr. Hartman— It will assist in holding moisture. I believe that mulch- 

 ing at a uniform depth will hold as much moisture as cultivation. 



Question — Have you kept an account so you can tell whether it is more 

 profitable to feed the fertilizer to the tree more than to the field? 



Mr. Hartman — I know just what each orchard is paying me. 



