158 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



it seemed impossible for them to make merchantable apples. Later 

 many of them were crowded off, and light showers in August and Sep- 

 tember brought tliem np to a passable size. 



Wines ap.^-H'dd plenty of room to grow, and grow they did till the 

 trees were full and loaded down with the finest crop we ever had. 



I sold my whole crop of winter apples, without having them culled, 

 to one buyer — Mr. Hatfield — at forty-five cents per bushel, at home 

 station.- 



jSTet proceeds from seven acres, $1,000, clear of all expense for 

 gathering and hauling. 



The price received was at least ten cents per bushel more than the 

 average price paid for apples in our county this year. I attribute our 

 s-uccess to 



THOROUGH CULTIVATION 



and careful pruning. By no other means could we have grown such 

 apples in such a dry, hot summer, on trees planted sixteen years ago 

 on land already very much worn, and at the same time secure six to 

 twelve inches of new growth and plenty of fruit buds for a crop next 

 season. 



This agreeable lesson confirms my faith in thorough and continu- 

 ous cultivation, and careful annual pruning from the time trees are 

 planted till they cease to produce paying crops; then cut them down 

 and burn them. Why should old, dilapidated, half-dead trees, full of 

 disease and prolific breeders of insects, cumber the ground ? 



ONE ADVANTAGE 



of cultivation is that the rough, broken and mellow condition of the 

 soil fits it for receiving the rainfall more rapidly than a smoother, more 

 compact surface, and for retaining moisture much longer. I think this 

 the best way to irrigate in Missouri. Another advantage is the cutting 

 and breaking of roots, thereby greatly multiplying fibrous roots, in- 

 creasing the vigor and fruitfulness of trees. In our own orchard — the 

 seven acres of sixteen-year-old trees — we have but four dead trees, and 

 only ten that are damaged to an extent worthy of notice. We learn ^ 

 through our local society, of one man in our county that can hardly 

 read or write, yet he has an orchard which lie plows deep and culti- 

 vates thoroughly every year; and lo! we behold this man growing the 

 finest apples received at the i)rincipal shipping station of our county— 

 the wonder and adnjiration of all who saw tuem. 



