162 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



apple diseases. Lead arsenate was recommended as the most desirable 

 insecticide. The use of Bordeaux mixture for the first spraying while 

 the trees were dormant was advised, and all the later applications the 

 use of lime-sulphur to prevent later infection from disease and to give 

 rich color to the apples, was recommended. Four sprayings were recom- 

 mended, emphasizing the fact that the second spraying with lime-sulphur 

 and lead arsenate, to prevent disease and apple worms, which is applied 

 just after the petals have fallen, was the most important application of 

 spray material throughout the growing season. 



Thorough cultivation, to break up the usual soddy condition of the 

 orchard, was urged by the writer, who has had much experience with the 

 orchard disc. Those who have orchards planted on rolling land were 

 cautioned against careless cultivation. It was suggested that cultivating 

 orchards was not always necessary, and that the amount of cultivation 

 should be governed by the kind of season, lay of land, and character of 

 soil. 



The speakers were strong, in their conviction, which was backed by 

 practical experience in apple growing, that one acre of apple trees prop- 

 erly cared for would produce greater annual returns than five acres sown 

 to any of the ordinary farm crops. An annual profit of $100 per acre was 

 the lowest estimate put upon the average orchard over twelve years of 

 age in eastern Nebraska, and the writer told of his and Mr. Marshall's 

 experience in the Weeping Water orchard during the past year in pro- 

 ducing a yield of 500 bushels per acre, which would have sold in the 

 orchard for 50 cents per bushel. 



No illustrations were drawn of what might be accomplished in east- 

 ern Nebraska, but the speakers confined their discussions to actual exam- 

 ples of orchards which are being properly cared for in this section of 

 the state. 



The necessity of equipping the orchard with artificial heat to save the 

 buds at blooming time was also pointed out. 



A keen interest was expressed in orchard management, from the 

 pruning of the trees to the harvesting and marketing of the crop. 



At Peru Mr. Duncan, who was in charge of the meeting, had arranged 

 for a pruning demonstration, and the audience of over 100 marched to an 

 orchard in the edge of town through a snow storm, and insisted upon 

 watching a demonstration in pruning an apple tree before they would 

 adjourn. 



The interest manifested was a happy surprise to the speakers, and if 

 anything can be gathered from the questions asked, the State Horticul- 

 tural Society and Experiment Station will be kept busy during the follow- 

 ing summer supplying needed information and assistance to the apple 

 growers of eastern Nebraska. 



If there is a disposition to clean up the old orchards and put them 

 under modern methods. of orchard management, a commercial organiza- 

 tion to assist the grower in handling and in marketing the fruit is 

 contemplated. 



