372 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



mality of such addresses. He wished to know if the cultivation of fruit is any 

 easier work than general farming; for, said he, "The farmer grows old. In 

 the course of half a century I have found the scythe and hoe to grow heavier, 

 the hours of work longer, and the minutes of rest very short indeed." He 

 wished to know how they could "raise fine-quality and large-size fruit every 

 lick," for nothing but the best pays. 



A. J. Warner of Monterey, making reply, said that fruitgrowing is easier 

 than farming, and for that reason is well calculated as an employment for 

 those verging toward old age. He said it was also more profitable than agri- 

 culture, and showed in several ways its advantages. Plant orchards when you 

 are young and you will have them for helps in your days of age and weak- 

 ness. 



Speaking of the question, What constitutes a good commercial apple orch- 

 ard? Mr. G. H. LaFleur said the raising of apples interests nearly every 

 farmer in this county. Some make it pay and some do not. These latter 

 may have the wrong varieties, unsuitable soil, or give the trees too little atten- 

 tion. There are very few present but could name the best five sorts for a com- 

 mercial orchard, yet they have from 10 to 50 varieties each among their trees. 

 They selected good sorts but they were not true to name. This condition may 

 be remedied by grafting unless the trees are old or diseased and therefore worth- 

 less. Sometimes I hear men say their apple orchards do not pay ; that they wish 

 they had something else in their place. I do not believe an apple orchard of 

 good varieties ever failed to pay, year by year ; and now the market for apples 

 is increasing by the European demand, that of the Southern States, and the dry- 

 ing, canning, and condensing establishments. A great hindrance to success, 

 an absorber of growers' profits, is the cost of transportation, but the action of 

 societies is doing much to improve this condition. Last spring good apples 

 brought in Allegan but 30 cents per bushel, while in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, 

 very poor fruit sold for 60 cents per peck. Freight charges made up most of 

 the difference. Peaches are carried to Chicago cheaper than apples. We 

 must by combination seek to prevent this consumption of profits. 



Chas. Manwaring said the faults of the nurserymen are not wholly the cause 

 of our poor apple orchards. Much grafting has been done, but men chose the 

 varieties they knew in their boyhood rather than those that have been proved 

 to be profitable now and here. Apple orchards will pay if they comprise the 

 right sorts. We are beginning to make profitable shipments to Europe and 

 advices from there state that the preferred kinds are Greening, Nonesuch, Bald- 

 win, and King. 



After some remarks complimentary to the entertaining grangers, Allen 

 Wood said he was talking with an apple buyer a few days ago and asked him, 

 "Why do you not make a greater distinction between good and poor apples?" 

 "The very kind I want is the best." "At what price?" "Seventy-five cents 

 per barrel." "What for poor?" "I don't want it at any price." "You offer 

 what is just right for cider fruit and so poor stuff is furnished you." Mr. 

 Wood highly commended the Red Canada apple but admitted that it is not 

 equal to the Baldwin for market. But for the ravages of the codling moth 

 the Baldwin would be worth any two varieties we have. He once made up a 

 car of strictly first-class fruit and got 15 cents per barrel more than the mar- 

 ket If we could always sell in this way there would be good profit in 

 apples. In setting trees, forty feet apart is near enough. This seems a long 

 distance when the trees are mere whipstalks, but it is found to be right when 



