OOMMEECIAL ORCHARDING IN WEST VIRGINIA. 11 



at from $7 to $9 per barrel, delivered. This is diluted in the ratio 

 of 1 part of the mixture to 8 or 10 parts of water. The homemade 

 solution can not conveniently be made as strong in solution, so 

 that the dilution should be made in the ratio of 1 to 7. Arsenate 

 of lead costs about 7 cents per pound in 100-pound lots. The self- 

 boiled lime-sulphur mixture can be made at a cost of about 25 

 cents per barrel, using the 8-8-50 formula/ and arsenate of lead is 

 used in the ratio 1J or 2 pounds of arsenate of lead to 50 gallons of 

 water. It takes about l\ gallons per tree of mature size when 

 dormant and 2 gallons when in leaf. It would take about the same 

 quantity on apple trees up to 8 and 10 years of age. 



"WORMING" FOR THE PEACH BORER. 



The peach borer is one of the worst enemies of peach trees in this 

 region. In April of each year a special operation called "worming" 

 is required to deal with this pest. The implements used are a trowel, 

 penknife, and sometimes a piece of wire to aid in digging out the 

 borers. The trees should be gone over twice in order to do the 

 work thoroughly. Under average conditions one man will "worn" 

 50 full-grown trees a day. 



THINNING. 



After the "June drop" the fruit may need thinning. This is an 

 operation that adds considerably to the expense of producing the 

 crop. On the average large orchard for varieties which fruit heavily 

 and require thorough thinning one man will thin 20 to 25 trees a day. 



TOP BUDDING. 



Top budding is sometimes done to change the variety of a tree 

 which has not come true to name, and in some cases it is found best 

 to change the variety in order to get those better adapted to the 

 local conditions. 



Three men form the crew for the operation of top budding, one 

 man to trim the branches on which the buds are to be placed, one 

 to place the buds, an operation requiring skillful work, and one to 

 tie. It has been found that three men can perform these operations 

 on 30 to. 40 trees a day. 



HANDLING THE FRUIT. 



In picking fruit, one wagon may be expected to keep a gang of 10 

 men busy picking 50 baskets to a load and 12 loads a day. 



The grading is done as a rule by women, who seem to acquire more 

 expertness for this work than men. One woman will average about 

 75 baskets a day. 



The packers and experts in heading packages are sometimes brought 

 from Florida and are usually paid by the piece. A packer gets 2 cents 



1 Eight pounds each of unslaked lime and flowers of sulphur to 50 gallons of water. 



