APPLES AND ORCHARDS. 33 



Apples and Orchards. 



E. A. SMITH, VICE-PRESIDENT, JEWELL NURSERY CO., LAKE CITY. 



The problem of marketing- apples is as great as the problem 

 of planting and caring for the orchard itself. Any information 

 derived from practical experience should prove interesting and 

 profitable to apple growers in the northwest. 



Size of Orchard and Varieties. — The writer believes that a 

 mistake is often made in planting too many varieties in a com- 

 mercial orchard. There should not be more than five varieties, 

 each consisting of a sufficient number of trees so there will be a 

 carload or more to market at a given time. The reason for this 

 is, that apples can be handled in car lots more economically and 

 the profit will be correspondingly greater. If shipped to com-> 

 •mission men, they prefer them in car lots and can dispose of 

 them at better prices in quantity, and will usually buy them at a 

 given price on the tree or delivered F. 0. B. shipping station in 

 car lots. 



Among the varieties to plant, in locations similar to that at 

 Lake City, the writer would select about 100 trees of the Duchess 

 type, 100 of the Okabena, 600 of the Wealthy, 100 of the North- 

 west Greening and 100 of some late winter apple. I use the word 

 "type" in a broad sense, for it may be a matter of opinion rather 

 than of merit as to which varieties are really the best and most 

 profitable. The writer would not attempt to dictate in this 

 regard, as the location must influence the selection. For instance, 

 at Lake City and vicinity and along the bluffs of the Mississippi, 

 the Northwest Greening is one of the most desirable varieties to 

 plant, as it yields well in that locality and hangs on the tree well. 

 The tree is vigorous and comparatively long lived, and there is 

 never any trouble selling the apples at a good price. In some 

 parts of the state, this variety is not a success. Therefore, the 

 locality will have to be taken into consideration in determining 

 what to plant. I do not, however, recommend the Northwest 

 Greening for general planting. 



The advantage of planting the Duchess type, is, that the 

 process of picking may be commenced early. By getting these 

 varieties on the market early and in good shape, a good price can 

 generally be realized. Then follows the Okabena. This variety 

 of apple is always in demand and the market never glutted. The 

 apple is attractive, is a splendid all around variety for the season, 

 a heavy bearer and the tree is vigorous. These early varieties 



