STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 79 



EATSIXG APPLES FOR PROFIT. 

 By Charles S. Pope, Manchester. 



Iq former years the raisiog of apples was considered of secondary un- 

 portance, or more properly speaking, what was obtained for apples was 

 considered clear gain, as very little was expended in the orchard, it being 

 left to care for itself. \Vhen the land was first cleared and the soil was 

 rich in humus and potash, before we were troubled with the myriads of 

 insects and diseases, the orchardists received a good crop without any 

 extra effort, but under present conditions, if the trees are treated as in 

 former years, or I should say, neglected as they generally were, a good 

 crop is obtained only when all conditions are favorable. In such a sea- 

 son the country is flooded with apples, the price is low, and the profit 

 correspondingly small. 



There is a general complaint throughout the country that the apple is 

 not as productive as in former years, and it behooves us to make a special 

 study of the conditions which obtain at the present time, if we expect to 

 raise apples with profit. 



No farmer would expect to raise a crop of corn or potatoes on the same 

 land, year after year, without the addition of some fertilizer. Have we 

 done the same in the orchard? 



Fifty years ago A. J. Downing claimed that it would amply repay the 

 farmer if he wished the trees to continue in a healthy bearing condition, 

 to manure them as regularly as any other crop. 



The farmer has succeeded so well in raising apples without care or 

 expense that he cannot see the necessity for tillage in the orchard, and 

 }-et it is plain that under proper conditions the best results can be 

 obtained by this method. I would not advise putting the plow into an 

 old neglected orchard where the roots are near the surface, but where 

 cultivation is commenced as soon as the trees are set and continued every 

 j'ear, the roots are forced so low that the}- are not reached by the plow 

 and therefore are not injured. 



Much of our land which is adapted to apple growing is too rough and 

 rockv for tillage, but we must remember that here we should make the 

 conditions as near as possible like those in the tilled land. 



The apple tree makes most of its growth in the early part of the season 

 and if the orchard is in sod, the heavj- growth of grass in June carries 

 oft" a large portion of moisture and the roots which nearl}- all run near 

 the surface, suffer for water ; this means also suffering for food which 

 can be obtained only through this medium. Suppose j-ou visit your 

 neighbo'-"s barn and find his cows suftering with disease, covered with 

 lice, furnished with a small quantity of hay and half of this stolen b}' 

 the sheep and colts, running loose in the tie-up. Although at times the 

 water supply is short these trespassers will take the lion's share. The 

 owner appears and says he is getting very little income from his cows 



