36 THE KANSAS PEACH. 



increases the size and quality of the remaining fruits, and that as 

 much and more prime fruit is obtained, with far less culls, than if left 

 unthinned. Thinning is secured in two ways : either by hand-picking 

 of all the small and imperfect fruit, and sufficient of the remainder to 

 leave none closer than three or four inches ( this is best done after 

 what is called "the June drop" occurs ), or annually cutting off with 

 pruning shears at regular time of trimming from a quarter to a half, 

 as required, of each year's grow^th. The first method is the better. 



LIFE OF 'AN ORCHARD. 



The length of life of an orchard is naturally variable, depending 

 upon the grower, the soil, and climatic conditions. The average life 

 for the state is approximately ten years, with a range of from six to 

 over twenty years. The older orchards are largely the result of judi- 

 cious and systematic culture and feeding. As previously stated, the 

 use of fertilizers or manures will x^rolong the profitable bearing period 

 of an orchard. 



With ordinary care and with no attention to fertilization, three good 

 crops are, on the average, all that can be obtained from an orchard, 

 while with good care and judicious fertilization from eight to ten 

 crops may be secured. The failures in the latter case, which must be 

 expected, are due almost entirely to conditions over which the grower 

 has no control. 



PICKING AND MARKETING. 



Only experience can determine the best degree of ripeness to pick 

 for shipment. If picked a little too soon it is too green, and if too 

 late it quickly becomes soft, and on arrival at market is bruised and 

 unsalable at remunerative prices. A request of the commission man 

 for information at to the condition of fruit on arrival will soon teach 

 the beginner the best time to pick. The handling should be reduced 

 to a minimum, and be done carefully, in order to avoid bruising the 

 fruit. 



Sorting is an operation which requires strict attention. Grade 

 carefully ; keep the inferior specimens at home, and put nothing but 

 jS^o. 1 fruit in the No. 1 basket ; one inferior fruit in the basket is 

 sufficient to cut it in price. The kind of basket or package used also 

 has a considerable influence on the selling price. The majority of 

 our growers use the standard one-half-bushel basket, though a few 

 are using a carrier holding eight four-quart baskets, and report better 

 returns by so doing. 



To the large grower a knowledge of the different markets is indispen- 

 sable, since often when prices are low in the large, near-by markets, be- 

 cause they are oversupplied, there is a scarcity in the interior towns, 

 iiigh prices prevail, and direct shipments to these result in good re- 



