20 



BULLETIN 446, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the end of each strand is a loop which is placed over a nail driven in 

 the end of a pole. This pole is raised to a position nearly parallel to 

 the trunk of the tree and set. This draws the wires tight, holds the 

 tree in shape, and prevents the limbs from breaking. (See also fig. 4.) 



The single-pole prop method (D, fig. 3) is most common. This 

 single pole usually consists of a 1 by 2 inch or 1 by 4 inch pine strip 

 varying in length as conditions demand. The 8 to 12 foot lengths are 

 most commonly used. These props are usually sharpened at one 

 end so as to make it easy to place them in the ground. The end which 

 is to hold the limb is V-notched or small lath strips are tacked on each 

 side of the prop, practically forming a notch. 



There are three methods of single-pole propping in common use. 

 First, one crew may haul and scatter the props through the orchard 

 while another crew sets them up (A, Table XII); second, a crew 

 may haul the props out and set them as they go (B, Table XII); 

 third, the props may be hauled out and set up as needed (C, Table 

 XII). Sometimes an orchardist may carry out and set them as 

 needed. 



The time required for this operation is no doubt, more variable than 

 that for any other operation. 



Table XII.— 



time per acre required on farms studied for propping with the 

 single-pole prop used in three ways. 





Number of— 



Acres 

 per 10 

 hours. 



Per acre. 



Operations . 



Men. 



Horses. 



Man- 

 hours. 



Horse- 

 hours. 



Cost. 



Method A: 



Hauling to orchard 



1 

 1 

 1 



2 



4.56 



.596 



4.60 



2.19 

 16.81 

 2.17 



4.38 



$1,205 





4.203 





2 



4.34 



1.194 







Total 



21.17 



8.72 



6.602 





1 

 1 



1 



5.58 

 .694 

 5.58 





Method B : 



Hauling to orchard 



1.79 

 14.40 

 1.79 



1.79 



.716 





3.60 





1 



1.79 



.716 







Total 



17.98 



3.58 



5.032 





1 

 1 



2 

 2 



.878 

 4.42 





Method C: 



Hauling out and propping 



11.39 



2.45 



22.78 

 4.90 



6.265 



Hauling from orchard 



1.348 







Total '. 



13.84 



27.68 



7.613 













All records considered, there is an acre charge of $6.36 for propping. 



SPRAYING. 



All orchardists in the valley spray annually, realizing the vital 

 importance of a thorough and systematic application of spray mate- 

 rials to insure the production of marketable apples. 1 



i Since the investigation, other diseases and insects have caused some change in the spray calendar in the 

 Wenatchee Valley. 



