AMERICAN POMOIvOGICAI, SOCIETY 
II 6 
at all if it did not more than pay its way, and in order to win the confidence 
of the “solid men,” who want no gush or side sentiment, even though data 
from prosperous fruit growers suggest some warrant for it, I will give a 
bit of personal experience. 
A Bit of Real Personal Experience. 
In the winter of 1911-12, I was engaged to manage a forty acre apple 
orchard bordering the limits of the city of Des Moines, Iowa. For twenty 
years the place had been rented, depleted and suffered to run wild. Thickets 
of brush extended from the fences far out among the trees, and in notable 
instances across entire sections of the orchard. The trees were standing in 
a sod bound soil. They had not been pruned for many years, and no 
intelligent effort had ever been made to check the encroachment of insects 
or disease. 
It was decided that the first year wasl to be spent in cleaning up and 
equipping the place. The first year the operations were to be limited to 
pruning, spraying and orchard heating, and harvesting whatever crop might 
result. 
As soon as weather conditions would permit, we began cleaning up the 
orchard. A number of men equipped with axes and grub hoes began removing 
the brush from the trees. Others with pruning saws and shears 
under my own supervision began to remove the surplus growth, crossing 
branches and dead wood from the trees. At this time we did not thoroughly 
prune the trees. However, enough of the growth and dead wood was 
removed to permit fairly good circulation of sunlight and air, also making 
it possible for the spray to reach all parts of the tree. The task was a 
difficult one and the expense per tree was high. The cost of pruning, 
including the disposal of the brush, averaged thirty-six cents per tree. 
To protect the blossoms from the late spring frosts, an orchard heating 
equipment was provided for. This consisted of 2,500 two-gallon Hamilton 
Competition orchard heaters; two 385 gallon metal wagon tanks; four rapid 
orchard heater lighters; and two large oil storage tanks with a combined 
capacity of 15,000 gallons, representing a total cost of $698.00. Two tank 
carloads of crude oil were purchased at a cost of three and three-fourths 
cents per gallon or at a total cost of $487.50. 
It was further decided that the trees should be sprayed in a thorough 
and intelligent manner. Accordingly, a power sprayer was secured. This 
was equipped with a three and one-half horse power gasolene engine 
and a two hundred and fifty gallon tank. This represented an outlay 
of $250.00. 
The additional equipment consisted of two teams of horses, two wagons 
and various other farm implements representing a cost of $975.00, making 
a total outlay for equipment of $2,430.50. 
Crops Show Results. 
This first year’s crop, while somewhat above the average, just about 
offset the expense of cleaning up the orchard. The second season, how- 
ever, gave more flattering results. Additional equipment was secured. 
