WINTER MEETING. 195 



We have also learned that in this section heavy black loam is the place 

 to set Ben Davis apple trees. The drouth does not effect them so 

 badly. We have just passed ihrough one of the most trying seasons 

 on apple trees (as well as all other kinds), perhaps, we will ever ex- 

 perience, and my observation has been that trees on heavy black loam 

 carried their fruit better and they were firmer, larger and brought bet- 

 ter prices than orchards on hill land, besides the loss of trees was less. 



B. Logan, Marionville. 



GROWING APPLES FOR PROFIT. 



The first and most important factor in growing apples for profit is 

 the grower, for if he fails to do his part, then the whole thing is a fail- 

 ure. He need not know all about the business in order to make a 

 profit, but he must know that it requires his constant care. If the 

 grower thinks that he has done his whole duty when he has bought 

 and set out his orchard he is sure to fail. He must know himself well 

 enough to be very sure that he will give it his attention. 



The first thing in order, but not in importance, is the selection of 

 a site for your orchard. This should be as nearly level as possible. 

 Any land that will grow a fairly good crop of corn is rich enough for 

 an apple orchard. It should be plowed as for corn ; then lay off your 

 apple rows north and south, two rods apart, by going boih ways with 

 a two-horse plow, running in the same furrow, throwing the dirt out 

 both ways ; then light furrows east and west, one rod apart. This will 

 make 80 trees to the acre, and in the best shape for cultivation, for 

 gathering the fruit and to protect each other. Get your trees from the 

 nearest reliable nursery. Go and get them yourself. Get yearlings if 

 you can ; they will live and grow better than older trees. I would 

 never set older than two-year-olds. Put trees enough in the wagon to 

 go around. Have them well protected with damp straw or saw-dust to 

 keep them from drying out. Drive between two rows and set on each 

 side. Place the trees in the furrow at the cross. Fill in the soil 

 around them and firm it down well. When you have gone around, 

 hitch to the plow and throw the dirt back into the row, and so on tiil 

 you are done planting. Then go over ihem and right them up. 



A very important item in growing apples for profit is what varie- 

 ties to plant. A mistake here would perhaps prove more fatal than in 

 any other part of the business. There are two essentiiil qualities that 

 your varieties must have or you will not make any profit. They must 

 be good bearers and good sellers. If they lack either of these they 

 are a failure. The Ben Davis is the most profitable apple I know of. 



