498 BULLETIN 229. 



Cover-crops. Cover-crops have been used in three per cent of the 

 area. Common red clover and buckwheat are the most commonly used. 

 Crimson clover, rye, vetch, rape and alfalfa are grown by some. 



Pruning. Poor pruning, resulting in rotten trunks, is the cause of the 

 premature death of many trees. The important points in pruning are : 

 (i) The limbs should be cut close to the trunk. (2) Large limbs should 

 not be removed without cause. (3) Paint should be used on large 

 wounds. (4) Pruning should be done every year, rather than give the 

 occasional " thorough trimming." 



Spraying. Sixty-one per cent of the orchards were sprayed in 1904. 

 One-fifth of this area was sprayed with arsenic and Bordeaux mixture. 

 Nearly all of the remainder were sprayed with Paris green and Bordeaux 

 mixture. 



In practically none of the unsprayed orchards were over half of the 

 apples free from scab. In 56 per cent of those sprayed once, 82 per cent 

 of those sprayed twice, and 97 per cent of those sprayed three times not 

 over half the apples were scabby. None of the unsprayed orchards had 

 less than 25 per cent of scab, but one-fourth of those sprayed once, two- 

 thirds of those sprayed twice, and nine-tenths of those sprayed three 

 times had less than this amount. 



The yields, per cent of the crop barreled and the income per acre are 

 all much larger from sprayed than from unsprayed orchards. Those 

 sprayed three times gave 31 per cent larger yield per acre and 51 per 

 cent larger income than those not sprayed. A part of the difference is 

 doubtless due to other factors, for the unsprayed orchards are likely to 

 be neglected in other ways. Taking only those orchards that have been 

 well cared for, the average income per acre is: unsprayed $103; sprayed 

 once, $139; sprayed twice, $143; sprayed three times, $184. 



Distance between trees. The average distance between trees in the 

 bearing orchards is 32.4 x 32.4 feet. Only five per cent were planted 

 over 35 x 35 feet. In nearly three-fifths of the young orchards the trees 

 are 40 x 40 feet. In fifteen per cent of the bearing orchards half of the' 

 trees should be removed. 



Age of the trees. Eighty-one per cent of the orchards were planted 

 between 1860 and 1879. Planting then practically ceased till 1899, since 

 when it has been constantly increasing. The young orchards are largely 

 in the north part of the county. They now amount to about eight per 

 cent of the total apple orchard area. 



