470 BULLETIN 229. 



Effect of tillage on the quality of the fruit. Apples from sod orchards 

 are frequently more highly colored than are those from tilled orchards, 

 but are not necessarily so. Tillage may make it a little more difficult 

 to secure good color, but there are many tilled orchards that give highly 

 colored fruit. Drainage and feeding are important factors. 



FIG. 161. Jonathan. Combines high quality and handsome appearance. 



Many farmers think that apples from the sod orchards have a better 

 flavor and keep better. If these views are correct, the differences are 

 certainly not very great. The increased size of apples from tilled 

 orchards usually more than makes up for any such differences. Apple- 

 buyers frequently discuss this question, sometimes favoring one kind of 

 treatment and sometimes the other. But more conclusive than their dis- 

 cussions or than farmers' opinions are the actual prices paid. It will be 

 seen by tables 4 and 5 that, if there is any difference, the tilled orchards 

 exceed the untilled by a slightly larger per cent in average income than 

 in average yield. That is, the ruling prices per bushel have been a little 

 higher from tilled orchards than from those in sod. 



