FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 61 



Society's report of 1888. That portion relating to the apple and its 

 comjjarison to the wheat crop is as follows: 



415,588 barrels at |1.65 |685,72«) 20 



112,600 bushels evaporated, cost 20c sold 58,724 00 



Cider, jelly, apple butter, pickles, preserved and canned, 

 313,200 bushels, cost 10c manufacturing and getting 

 ready for market 109,620 00 



' 1853,364 20 



The package is included in the above, as the material and labor were 

 mainl3^ within the counties, and fairly counted as income on account 

 of the apples. 



Wheat crop by State report October, 1887, in the three 

 counties, 1,563,969 bushels; deducting 575,000 bushels 

 for bread and seed (5 bushels to each of the 115,000 of 

 population), and we have 983,969 bushels for market. 

 Average price that year 73c, gives $721,947 37 



Or less than apple crop by ' 131,416 83 



After the report was given 21,445 barrels were reported, but not 

 included in the above. 



As already stated, the wheat crop has been considered the money 

 crop. In fact, for many years after the settlement of the State it was 

 about the only crop sure to bring cash. This is probably the prominent 

 reason for the preference given to its care over other crops. It had 

 the most fertile fields, the ground most thoroughly prepared, the time 

 of sowing and covering of seed received careful attention, its growth 

 anxiously watched, ho other work allowed to interfere with the proper 

 time of harvesting, and that done by those who received from two to 

 three tim^s the compensation for other farm work. The threshing and 

 marketing were done with more than ordinary care. In fact, from sow- 

 ing to marketing, the most expensive machinery of the farm was used. 

 In a word, while wheat stood first in the thought and practice of giving 

 it all the attention likely to bring the largest income, the apple orchard 

 was last. When first set the ground was poorly prepared, often among 

 stumps, and having to contend with other crops for years. If trimmed, 

 it was usually out of season and poorly done. If planted with a hoed 

 crop, the trees were fortunate in being aided in getting a start. Too 

 frequently grain was sown, taking the food and moisture at a critical 

 time. 



In many cases orchards were seeded down about the time they com- 

 menced to bear, and hay harvested, then frequently pastured with 

 horses and cattle or other stock, the fruit given away liberally or gath- 

 ered and marketed at convenience, and the money obtained used with 

 the least thought as to getting value received. 



From the above figures, and from observation in the banks, where 

 we have paid out large sums for apples in the past thirty years, and, 

 notwithstanding the preference given the wheat crop, I am satisfied 

 that the apple has brought much larger returns per acre than the 

 wheat. Hence, for a period covering the past generation there can be 



