COMMERCIAL ORCHARDING IN WEST VIRGINIA. 1k 
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 14 or 2 pounds of arsenate of lead to 50 gallons of 
water. It takes about 14 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 “worm” 
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 skilful 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 agang 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. 
