No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 521 



I am satisfied by actual experience tliat when orcliards are pas- 

 tured it is not necessary to spray for the codling moth. The orchard- 

 ist will find it to his interest to keep a sharp watch on the outside 

 trees, however, as they are the ones to be most troubled by this 

 moth. By picking otl' the wormy apples on those trees in time, 

 which may be done at odd hours, a crop of apples can be grown 

 almost entirely free of wormy ones. As a protection from mice, 

 rabbits, etc., we place a piece of sheet iron or other suitable material 

 around the trunk of the tree to any height that may be desirable, 

 say ten inches or one foot. 



Kaw bone, potash and stable manure are the best fertilizers for 

 the apple, but they should be applied during the growing season. 

 Labor and fertilizing must be reduced to a minimum because both 

 are costly and that is why I am a strong advocate of pasturing 

 orchards. I have a Baldwin orchard treated by this plan that pro- 

 duces as fine apples as are grown anywhere. 



The orchardist is liable to make two fatal mistakes in planting 

 trees. One is planting too many varieties and the other planting 

 more trees than he can look after. Because after all success de- 

 pends on quality more than quantity. 



The fruit requires attention in every detail. If you sell direct to 

 the consumer he expects a uniform quality and likely the same 

 variety year after year. If I were to plant an orchard of 500 trees 

 I would put in 499 Baldwins and one Northern Spy which I would 

 top graft with a Baldwin. 



In the selection of varieties one should be guided by the locality 

 and the markets in which he sells. I find that the Fallawater which 

 sells readily in our home markets is not at all saleable in other mar- 

 kets. Then again some varieties of apples produce more perfect 

 specimens than others. That is to say you can pick more marketable 

 apples of some varieties than others. This is one of the good traits 

 of the Baldwin as compared with many other varieties. Color is 

 also an important factor. The apple should not be picked until well 

 colored, but it dare not get too ripe. The application of potash to 

 orchards helps the coloring. Apples can also be colored after pick- 

 ing if put in slats, crates, or on small piles and exposed to the wind 

 and some sunshine for a few days. 



The subjects of pruning, harvesting, storing and selling are im- 

 portant, but T will leave them for others to discuss. In closing, I 

 wish to say that the future looks brighter for the apple grower who 

 will give attention to his business for with the formidable army of 

 insects attacking the orchards, the worst of which is the San Jos^ 

 Scale, the careless grower will be put out of business together with 

 his inferior fruit. 



THE PRESIDENT.— This subject has been divided up into several 

 heads. We had hoped to go over the whole subject and then have a 

 discussion. As Mr, Creasy, is obliged to leave in a few minutes op- 

 portunity is now given, if anyone desires it, to ask any questions at 

 this time. Are there any remarks? 



MR. LESHER. — I would like to ask a few questions. Mr. Creasy 

 has stated that he had a Baldwin orchard and cultivated it for a 

 number of years. I w^ould like to ask him if there is any difference 



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