PROPAGATION OF APPLE TREES. Ill 



there and soak into the soil. Here the rain falls thick and fast, and 

 nine-tenths of it rims off before sinking to any great depth ; result, 

 the roots lack for water, perish, and die. Perhaps in 100 years apple 

 trees now growing will still be living and bearing. 



Stephens — Oar trees grow too late in the fall and do not fully 

 ripen their wood before cold weather sets in, and when the severe 

 freezing comes on they are much injured thereby. Hardiness of a 

 tree depends greatly on its condition when frosts begin ; if fully ri- 

 pened it will be hardy, otherwise it will not. Was much interested 

 in Mr. Barnard's talk on marketing apples, and like his advice about 

 avoiding commission men. We have sold 18,000 quarts of fruit in 

 the past year at better prices than the Lincoln markets, which I must 

 say are very irregular. We think the best method is to arrange as 

 Mr. Barnard has said and ship direct and you and the merchant have 

 the profits between you. We had no difficulty in getting $2 to $3.50 

 per bushel, wholesale, for our cherries. Regarding marketing apples, 

 we believe in careful grading. In our grading last fall we said we 

 will establish a brand and stick to it: No. 1 means no worm holes; 

 No. 2 means some holes; No. 3, cider. We put up 4,000 bushels 

 last fall ; got $2.25 per barrel. Grade carefully, keep clean packages, 

 and you have a wide market. When eastern buyers found we had 

 apples they came in and bought up all they could ; then apples came 

 to $2.50 and $3.50 per barrel. Ben Davis brought $4.85 in Liver- 

 pool, and many of our Nebraska apples went there last fall. I am 

 sure Nebraska won't lack for buyers if we are careful in our handling 

 fruit. 



Masters — Our soil has its defects ; it lacks some things, but we 

 can supply them ; one is lime, the other potash. I have experimented 

 with both with good success. Where I used lime the trees are healthy, 

 large, and bear best. I think we should experiment with more than 

 one element so we can discover what does best in our soil. 



Youngers — How do you apply? C 



Masters — I put it on the surface a little distance from the tree 

 and dig it in with a hoe or spade. Lime is a decomposer; part of 

 it is used by the tree as lime and part of it liberates certain gases 

 which are also used by the tree. Concerning root decay being caused 

 by some defect in the soil I think that is an error. I have examined 

 a good many trees and found those affected by rotten-root are invari- 



