A Controversy Settled 



MR. JAMES CRAIG, PRESIDENT, WILMINGTON, DEL., February, 6, 1912. 



Rose Cliff Fruit Farm, Waynesboro, Va. 

 Dear Mr. Craig: 



File A-3718: ROSE CLIFF FRUIT FARM. 



Referring to the cuts used in our Tree Planting Booklet (copy of which 1 

 enclose), showing the comparison in growth between trees planted with spade and 

 with dynamite in your orchard : 



These pictures have been criticised by orchardists to some extent, as being 

 an unfair comparison because the dynamited tree is in cultivated ground and the 

 spaded tree is in ground not so well cared for. 



I understand some people who have visited your orchard have also said 

 that the smaller tree had not received the same attention in spraying, pruning, 

 etc., as the larger tree. 



Will you be kind enough to advise me whether there is any truth in these 

 statements, and whether you think the pictures we are using are an unfair com- 

 parison or not. 



I enclose a stamped envelope for reply, and would greatly appreciate your 

 attention to this matter. Very truly yours, 



GEORGE FRANK LORD, 



Manager Agricultural Division. 



MR. GEORGE FRANK LORD, WAYNESBORO, VA., February 9, 1912. 



WILMINGTON, DEL. 

 Dear Sir: 



Your favor of February 6th received. In regard to the two trees that you 

 make a comparison of, beg to say that there is probably some slight difference 

 in the culture and care of these two trees, yet the care that the small tree has 

 had should have developed as large a tree as the other one, as it has been sprayed 

 well, has been cultivated and has also had two coats of barnyard manure while 

 the other one has not had any barnyard manure at all, yet it has good culture and 

 has been well sprayed. I think if the other tree had been set in a dynamite hole 

 it would have shown practically the same growth. I am sure the ground will 

 grow as fine a tree as the one shown in the picture. Of course it can be 

 criticised and it is right hard to make a comparison of any two trees without 

 showing some difference in the care. 



I do not doubt that dynamiting the ground planted to trees is of the great- 

 est advantage possible. The American Apple Company, of which I am Vice- 

 President, set the past May 500 "Delicious" trees on a sloping hillside and 

 without any special care given them except dynamiting (as it was so late in the 

 season we could not get the ground prepared as well as we would have liked), 

 yet these trees have made a very fine growth, as fine as any we have set, and we 

 only lost about three trees in the 500, yet we had a drought that was unprece- 

 dented in this part of the country. This satisfies me conclusively that the blow- 

 ing of these holes offered a loose pliable ground for many feet around which 

 retained the moisture and in this way the trees did not suffer, but made an 

 immense growth which can be seen by any one visiting us. Yours very truly, 



ROSE CLIFF FRUIT FARM, Inc., 



JAMES CRAIG, President. 



Dynamite Used in Largest Peach Orchard in U. S. 



Superintendent J. H. Baird, of the famous Hale Georgia Orchard, of 

 Fort Valley, Georgia, writes under date of May 20th, 1911: 



"The trees planted this season with dynamite are growing beautifully and 

 we have not lost any through drouth, while those planted without dynamite have 

 died out badly and show poor growth." 



On June 17, 1911, Mr. Baird again writes: 



"Vegetation is burning up here for lack of rain, but the young trees have 

 lived beautifully; do not think we have lost over 2% of those planted with 

 dynamite, while of the others planted in the old fashioned way we have lost 

 from 50% up." 



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