DO APPLES PA Y? 



213 



Are American cultivators so stupid as to go on grow- 

 ing crops year after year, for more than a century, at a 

 loss ? It might as well be asked if keeping a store, or 

 running a mill, "pays." Some it pays, and some it 

 does not pay. As for apples, they will pay any man to 

 grow them, who is favorably situated, knows how, and 

 intelligently uses that knowledge. Orchard specialists 

 are subject to the competition of farmers who grow 

 more apples than they can use, and sell for what they 

 can get for such fruit as they bring to market. But 

 such competition, though it infringes upon local trade, 

 does not injuriously affect growers who produce stand- 

 ard varieties in sufficient quantities, and pack their 

 fruit honestly. Orcharding as a specialty is, or can be 

 made, more profitable than mixed farming ; but the 

 number who can make it profitable is less. It is like 



vigorous and productive varieties, and the individual 

 trees well selected and carefully trained. Gather, han- 

 dle and market with care, and the apple crop promises 

 to reward the cultivator in the future as in the past, as 

 well as any crop in New England. — T. S. Gold, Western 

 Connecticut . 



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The apple crop, when put in comparison with pota- 

 toes, grain, hay or dairy products for a period of ten 

 years will make a favorable showing. The loss of the 

 apple crop the past year on many farms with only 

 small orchards, in addition to losses on other crops, has 

 been keenly felt. One orchard of full grown trees for 

 fifteen years has netted an average of $125 per acre. 

 The soil must be fertilized annually, fruit must be pro- 

 tected from insect attack, that full value may be ob- 



A Maryland Astrachan Orchard. (See Page 214.) 



"gilt edge " dairying in this respect. Intelligent farm- 

 ing of any sort is not yet so prevalent as to put it upon a 

 non-paying platform. It not only pays now, but will 

 continue to pay as long as men are hungry three times 

 a day. — Dr. T. H. Hoskins, Northern I'ennont. 



The conditions for the profitable growing of apples are 

 a good strong soil, better on the hills, with partial pro- 

 tection from the winds and reasonable proximity to mar- 

 ket. The fertility of the land must be maintained with 

 home-made or artificial fertilizers. The trees and fruit 

 must be protected from insects. Have a good selection 

 of varieties adapted to the soil, climate and market ; 



tained for it, while the foliage must be saved from 

 leaf eating insects, that more perfect growth of wood 

 and stronger development of fruit-bud may be ob- 

 tained. With this care apple culture has been remun- 

 erative, and promises well for the future. — George T. 

 Powell, Eastern New York. 



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To supply my evaporator and to pack for market I 

 have bought large quantities of apples for the past 

 twenty years, and know what owners of many orchards 

 in this locality have received for a series of years for 

 their apple crop, and that no root or grain crop has paid 

 as well. Yes, a fair apple orchard, well cared for, has 



