The entire crop of the orchards was sold about Sept. 1st for 75c. 

 per barrel, the purchaser briuging barrels to the orchards, and the 

 apples were picked, sorted, and put into his barrels without facing. 

 This included all fall and early winter apples such as Porter, Hurl- 

 but, Pewaukee, Fameuse, jMother, Pound Sweet, etc., etc. The 

 Baldwins and late keeping varieties were sold in the same way for 

 $1.00 per barrel. 



The difference in length of time consumed in thinning the trees was 

 due first to the varying size of the trees and second to the necessity 

 of employing help unaccustomed to this particular work. With a 

 large orchard and skilled labor the cost per tree would be largely 

 reduced. 



The growth of the trees in the above orchards was about the same 

 under the varying conditions. In the lighter soils and in dry 

 seasons the necessary amount of moisture was preserved by fre- 

 quent cultivation of the entire surface, in the medium soils by the 

 cultivation of strips between the trees, while in naturally moist soils 

 no cultivation was needed. These results lead us to make the fol- 

 lowing observation. That on light land better results will be 

 obtained by frequent and thorough cultivation, while on laud well 

 supplied with moisture cultivation is not as essential. 



The fruit of the varieties most in demand was as follows : In the 

 order of ripening, Astrachan, Oldenburg, Gravenstein, Wealthy, 

 Fall Pippin, Mcintosh, Hubbardston, Baldwin, Washington Ro3'al, 

 Sutton Beauty and Roxbury Russet. Some of the very late keep- 

 ing varieties, ripening in May and June, especially valuable for late 

 shipping, are the Ben Davis, Lawver, York Imperial, Scarlet Cran- 

 berry, Walbridge, Mann, etc., which supply a need not filled by the 

 former list, but which should not be put into the market in compe- 

 tition with those varieties that are of better quality. 



The Peach. About 40 varieties fruited the past season and the 

 fruit was of unusual size and quality. Orchard No. 1, five years 

 from planting, is growing on land where two previous generations of 

 peach trees had been grown, the first lot having been planted in the 

 spring of '70, the second lot in '84. The present planting was set in 

 '96, the past season being the fifth year of growth. Two trees of 

 each variety were planted and the land has been under constant cul- 

 tivation since planting. The fertilizer used the past two years was 

 as follows : lu 1899, l.Vlbs. fine dry fish and 1 lb. sulfate potash per 

 tree. In 1900, 7 lbs. Canada ashes and 1 lb. nitrate soda per tree. 



