Secretary's Budget. . 283 



crop purposes twenty-five years ago, suffered quickly after a brief 

 drought now, and would be benefitted by irrigation where it would 

 have been injurious fifty years before. Beside, we have borrowed 

 many of our ideas from the fruit-growing experiences of the easi, 

 and they from the cooler and moister countries of Europe. And 

 in that way the amount of right teaching has been too attenuated, 

 until it is in many respects practically worthless. — B. F. J. in 

 Prairie Farmer. 



A. E. Whitney, of Franklin Grove, 111., has an orchard of one 

 hundred and seventy acres of apple tiees (according to the Frairi.' 

 Farnier) and he bus an expecUition that this year his crop will 

 reach 18,000 bushels. Upon seeing a statement of this fact the 

 Countrij Gentleinan is lead to remark : 



"This orchard is larger than the famous Chapin orchard, of 

 East Bloomfield, IS^. Y., which occupies about one hundred and 

 twenty-five acres, but not neavly so large as that of Robert Mc- 

 Kinstry, of Hudson, IST. Y.. covering about two hundred and sev- 

 enty-five acres. Mr. Chapin had ten thousand barrels ol apples in 

 1879, which sold for seventeen thousand dollars. Mr. McKinstry 

 had twenty thousand barrels in 1878, and about the same in other 

 years. He raises most largely Rhode Island Greening, Baldwin and 

 Tompkins King, and several others in less numbers. Mr. Whit- 

 ney finds Red Astrachan, Maiden's Blush, Willow Twig and Domi- 

 nie, most profitable in that region of Illinois. Single trees in some 

 instances have given one hundred and fifty dollars each. The 

 Yellow Bellflower proved worthless ; the trees gave only a single 

 crop, and that was after a severe root-pruning. Baily Sweet has 

 been a valuable sort. When the price of Mr, Whitney's apples is 

 not over one dollar and twenty-five cents a barrel he converts them 

 into vinegar ; at three dollars a barrel they are quite profitable. 

 On the prairie soil, lime is very beneficial ; and to apply it, old 

 mortar was spread under the trees, and was worth ten dollars a tree. 

 There is no doubt that he gives his orchard intelligent management, 

 and has not grown poor in taking care of it. 



ROOT LOUSE. 



The Farm and Garden says of tree planting : " We would 

 especially advise all who plant young trees this year to examine 

 them closely. First, at the roots for a white mould which indicates 

 the apple root louse, as also does small knots the size of a pin head 

 on the roots. At once burn such trees and buy healthy ones, or 

 before planting, dip them in hot water not less than one hundred 



