INDIANA HOKTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 179 



I am inclined to believe that orcharding, if carried to a successful venture, 

 at least at the present time, must be conducted on a large scale, and nec- 

 essarily a thoroughly practical one. Individuals or companies should 

 plant large areas, the care of which should be given over to a well-in- 

 formed, experienced grower. 



I feel that a number of successful ventures of this kind would do 

 more to develop orcharding, and especially apple growing, than all the 

 agitation given the subject by talking and lecturing upon what we know 

 to be true. Besides, it would give us a reputation beyond the borders of 

 the State, attracting buyers of fruit and fruit lands. 



Success in apple growing in Indiana can be expressed in one word- 

 care. Care in selecting locations, care in selecting varieties adapted to 

 different localities, care in cultivation, including fertilizing, care in spray- 

 ing, care in packing and marketing. This lack of well-directed effort is 

 the source of failure of many who engage in apple growing, or any other 

 business, for that matter. 



I feel that it were better, from a commercial standpoint, for the indi- 

 vidual farmer to plant more extensively than he does, provided, of course, 

 the planting is .iudiciously done. A great deal of the expense of orcharding 

 is in the fighting of fungi and insect pests, and this work will be the bet- 

 ter and more effectively done when more is invested. It is easier to neg- 

 lect a few trees, thinking them not worth the bother. Besides, pests and 

 disease are not so prevalent, and trees bear better when planted in larger 

 areas. Cultivation would porbably be better done in the case of the large 

 orchard, for tools adapted to the business would l)e purchased. Perhaps 

 one of the best arguments for extensive planting is in the matter of mar- 

 keting. Buyers are attracted to districts where large orchards abound 

 and where these orchards are limited to a few varieties. Transportation 

 in this State is now a minor consideration. 



Thousands of acres of cheap lands suitable for apple growing could 

 be made valuable in eight years, yielding creditable revenues to the State 

 and the owner. I have no desh-e to give an optimistic coloring to the 

 business of apple growing in a commercial way, for, like all ventures, it 

 is beset with reverses and diUieulties. But it does seem that with suitable 

 land selling at from ten to fifteen dollars per acre that m a few years' 

 time can be made to realize three times its former value, there is not 

 much of an element of cliance. Recently a small grower in my own 

 neighborhood sold his orchard of fruit at one dollar per bushel on the 

 tree, the buyer taking all risks; and an inferior quality of Maiden Blush 

 is retailing at the present time in the Indianapolis market at forty cents 

 per peck". 



The hillside farmer of Indiana must of necessity quit grain growing 

 because of wasted fertility. Let us insist that he engage in apple grow- 

 ing. I know a vast deal of matter has been written, much of it presented 

 to this Society, in the same strain as this paper. 



