10 



HAMPSHIRE COUNTY FARMERS' MONTHLY 



THINNING APPLES PAYS 



The practice of thinning is rapidly be- 

 coming an established orchard operation. 

 Why? Because it is proving a profitable 

 investment of time. In the average or- 

 chard the grower should be able to realize 

 a dollar an hour for time spent in the 

 thinning of tree fruits 



There are several reasons for removing 

 the excess fruit in mid-summer. Larger 

 size, better color, more uniformity and 

 less blemishes are a few of the argu- 

 ments in favor of this orchard operation. 

 The same number of bushels of fruit of 

 a higher grade and consequently a higher 

 price is the reward to be gained. 



In a block of Wealthy trees in the 

 College Orchard, part of the trees were 

 thinned on July 5 so that the apples were 

 spaced 6 inches apart. The percentage 

 of "A" Grade apples was increased from 

 14.3'7f to 42.8'/r and of "Fancy" 3-inch 

 apples from nothing to 8.9%, in the thin- 

 ned trees over the unthinned trees. 

 Some growers practice thinning to a dis- 

 tance of 8 or 10 inches with good re- 

 sults. 



The question is raised as to the pro- 

 per time for thinning. Early -July seems 

 to be the ideal time for most varieties. 

 Such a variety as Mcintosh, which drops 

 quite heavily in June, may then be thin- 

 ned in such a way as to leave all of the 

 resources of the tree for the fruit to be 

 harvested. The practice of making two 

 or three pickings after the fruit has 

 matured is too late in the season to have 

 much effect on the size of the fruit left 

 on the tree. 



Thinning .should be done in such a way 

 as to avoid injury to the fruit spur. This 

 means that the apples should be removed 

 from the stem, instead of removing the 

 stem from the spur. A simple twist of 

 the hand will accomplish this, or the fruit 

 may be removed with thinning shears. 

 An attempt should be made to leave no 

 two apples touching and thereby les.sen 

 the likelihood of "side worm" injury. 



Systematic thinning while the apples 

 are about the size of golf balls will re- 

 sult in a lightened task at picking time as 

 well as a larger return for the crop. 



W. H. Thies. 



favorable land, and during unfavorable 



seasons. 



Grain takes moisture, sunlight, and 

 plant-food from the young alfalfa and 

 frequently smothers it out, or leaves' it in 

 such a weakened condition that the hot 

 dry weather which often follows grain 

 harvest kills the alfalfa. 



If the alfalfa is sown too late, there is 

 not enough time to make proper root 

 growth, and it is killed out by severe 

 winter weather. On the other hand, if 

 the land has been frequently tilled to keep 

 down weeds and conserve moisture, and 

 if the alfalfa is seeded in June or July, 

 the chances are much more favorable for 

 a good vigorous growth of both stem and 

 root before killing frosts, and if other con- 

 ditions are favorable, the alfalfa is likely 

 to be successful. — L. A. Dalton, Agrono- 

 my Department, Neiv York State College 

 of AgricuUzire." 



EXCHANGE BUYS FEED MILL 



With the purchase of the modern Buf- 

 falo plant of the Arcady Farms Milling 

 Company, the Eastern States Farmers' 

 E.xchange is now equipped to manufac- 

 ture and distribute from its own plant to 

 its members its open formula feeds and 

 ingredients. * Shipments of Eastern 

 States feeds have already begun to be 

 made from Buffalo. The main building 

 of the plant is capable of manufacturing 

 with its present equipment 600 tons a day 

 of manufactured feeds. The property 

 includes 13 acres, with trackage facilities 

 for 55 cars. Buffalo is rapidly becoming 

 a milling center as well as a grain cen- 

 ter so that at Buffalo the Exchange will 

 be able to purchase for its members all 

 kinds of feed ingredients and gi-ain for 

 delivery in New England and Delaware 

 at most attractive figures. 



The Executive Committee realized this 

 spring that the tonnage requirements of 

 the Exchange have become so great that 



it is no longer advantageous from the 

 consumers' standpoint to purchase their 

 feeds from private manufacturers. Few 

 concerns are capable of handling so great 

 a tonnage, and thei-efore the Exchange 

 has little bargaining power in securing 

 contracts for its members. With the 

 present volume assured, the Executive 

 Committee felt justified in considering 

 ownership of its own manufacturing 

 facilities, and due to the generosity of 

 some of its members it was able promptly 

 to take advantage of a most attractive 

 offer on this splendidly equipped and 

 strategically located Buffalo mill. 



Control of the Eastern States Co- 

 operative Milling Corporation is entirely 

 in the hands of the Eastern States Farm- 

 ers' Exchange, since the Exchange owns 

 all of the common stock. Earnings over 

 and above interest and preferred divi- 

 dends accrue, to the Eastern States 

 Farmers' Exchange. 



A. H. CO;S GUARANTEED ! 

 FORMULA PREPARED I 



PAINT 



A paint of the highest quality 

 with guaranteed formulation. 



Made especially for consumers 

 who want to protect their property 

 with a paint that hides and covers 

 well, works easy and gives unusual 

 service. 



Write for prices in barrels, one- 

 half barrels, and 5 gallon cans. 



Apothecaries Hall Company 



! 



Waterbury, Conn. 



I 



SEED ALFALFA EARLY 



"Every farmer who has planned to sow 

 alfalfa this year should do so between 

 June 15th and July 15th. More success- 

 ful catches of alfalfa are obtained by 

 sowing during this period than at any 

 other time. It is true that good stands 

 are sometimes obtained by .seeding in the 

 spring on fall-sown wheat or with spring 

 grain, or even when seeded alone as late 

 as August 15th, but on the average the 

 chances are not so good for a successful 

 catch. This is especially true on the less 



■NOW IN SEASON- 



STRAWBERRY and TILL BASKETS, 1 pt., 1, 2, 4 qt. sizes 

 32 quart STRAWBERRY CRATES, with dividers 

 PEACH BASKETS, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 qt. sizes 

 Tomato Baskets — Vegetable Crates — Bushel Hampers 

 Berry Picking Baskets — Carriers — Bushel Baskets 

 Arsenate of Lead — Nicotine Sulphate — Kayso — 

 Copper Sulphate, Barium Sulphur, Peach & Potato Dust 

 Spraying and Dusting Machines, Accessories & Supplies 

 Everything for the Orchard and Garden. 



THE ORCHARD AND GARDEN SUPPLY CO. 



Telephone 2073, 69 King St., Northampton, Mass. 



