1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
95 
The Connecticut Pomological Society 
LIVELY MEETING AT HARTFORD, CONN. 
“RED APPLES SOUND AS GOVERNMENT BONDS ” 
The Problem of Waste Farm Lands. 
[editorial correspondence.] 
Ail Eastern Problem. —The Connecticut Pomo¬ 
logical Society met at Hartford, February 1-2. It met. 
There wasn’t a dull minute during the sessions. The 
Western New York Horticultural meeting was like a 
broadax—the Connecticut meeting was like a razor. 
The society is not satisfied to discuss varieties and 
new methods. It tackles hard problems of State wel¬ 
fare—goes at them in true Yankee fashion with a 
sensible remedy and keen questions. 
President J. H. Hale gave the pith of one hard 
problem as follows: 
Acres upon acres of so-called abandoned farm lands in Con¬ 
necticut, if planted to good varieties of red Winter apples, might 
easily be made to earn dividends on land values of $1,000 per 
acre; yet such lands are in the tax list at the present time at 
prices ranging from $5 to $15 per acre. Just at the present time 
in the market, a bushel of good apples will sell for as much as 
two bushels of wheat, yet to produce a dollar’s worth of wheat, 
will take 30 times as much plant food out of the soil as it would 
to produce a dollar’s worth of apples. 
That was the keynote of the meeting. Some experts 
will always make money at growing peaches, Japan 
plums or small fruits. All these crops, however, are 
more or less of a gamble. They are short-lived, sub¬ 
ject to disease, at the mercy of glutted markets. On 
the other hand, a good apple orchard, well cared for, 
is “ safe as a Government bond.” The western New 
York growers lost money on the great apple crop of 
1896, because the share demanded by the railroad 
companies was too large. These Connecticut growers 
are so close to the markets that they can deliver most 
of their crop from their own wagon or from a trolley 
car. In this way, they have an advantage over the 
western growers. 
An Apple Growers’ Trust. —Edwin Hoyt, of New 
Canaan, took a gloomy view of average New England 
farming. Yankee farmers have reached a crisis. They 
cannot make a living along the old lines. Western 
competition has ruined the home market for staple 
farm products, and nearly stopped the sale of farms. 
Good fruit, and especially the apple, is the most 
promising crop for New England soil. Illinois alone 
has 20,090,000 apple trees. The best markets in the 
country lie inside a line drawn 10 miles west of the 
Hudson, north to Albany and northeast to Portland, 
Me. He advocated a combination among Connecticut 
farmers to produce and sell apples. This is the way 
to compete with the vast orchards of the West. 
Such a combination could afford to hire a few 
skilled and expert men for the benefit of all the 
farmers. Fertilizers, chemicals and tools could be 
bought at a saving of 25 to 30 per cent. Steam-power 
machines could be used for spraying. Barrels could 
be bought cheaper, a cold-storage house could be 
built, and a drying and evaporating plant could be 
erected so that even the skins and cores would not be 
wasted. Agents could be placed in New York, Boston 
and Europe to make sales* These things would be 
impossible without such a combination or trust. Mr. 
Hoyt would organize it through the State Grange. He 
thinks the plan entirely practicable. Should it result 
in overproduction, the West only would suffer, for 
New England apples would always have first choice 
in local markets, and would have first chance for for¬ 
eign shipment. 
A Massachusetts Orchard.— John W. Clark has 
an apple orchard on a typical New England hill farm. 
He said that much of the land formerly farmed ought 
to go back to the forest, but that thousands of acres 
will produce good apples. Care for the trees while 
they and you are young, and when you are old, they 
will care for you. He said that oranges probably affect 
the prices of New England apples more than all other 
fruits combined. His orchard of 13 acres, set 20 years 
ago, produced 1,300 barrels in 1896, 300 in 1897, and 500 
in 1898, an average of 700 barrels per year, or 54 barrels 
per acre. An apple tree in New England does not reach 
full bearing until 25 or 30 years old, though it bears 
at 10 to 12 years, and with good care, will produce 
fair crops for 40 years longer. 
Cost of a Barrel. —Mr. Clark gave the following 
estimate of the cost of a barrel of apples at the cars : 
Picking.....$0.12*4 
Sorting and packing.05 
Heading.0214 
Barrel.20 
Hauling three miles.05 
Total.$0.45 
One year with another, good apples have brought $1.50 
per barrel at the cars. This leaves $1.05 for the use of 
the land and growing the fruit. He gave the cost of 
growing an acre as follows : 
Plowing.$2.00 
Cultivating four times.3.00 
Fertilizers and sowing. 2 !25 
Pruning. 1.50 
Total. $ 8.75 
He plants 27 trees to the acre, and reckons 1% barrel 
per tree. At $1.05 per barrel net, this gives $42,52 per 
acre. Deducting the cost of growing, $8.75, he claims 
$33.77 clear. This is 10 per cent interest on $337.70. 
Cheap Feeding. —Mr. Clark uses sulphate of pot¬ 
ash and South Carolina rock—one part potash to two 
parts rock. This makes a fertilizer costing $25 per 
ton. He uses four to six pounds per tree. If the 
trees lack thrift, he adds nitrate of soda, which quick¬ 
ly makes itself felt. He claims that a barrel of ap¬ 
ples contains less than five ounces of potash and one 
ounce of phosphoric acid. He uses clover, and gives 
good cultivation. This seems like a small dose of fer¬ 
tilizer, but Mr. Clark claims that the trees show good 
growth, and that the fruit is fine and large. It cost 
nine cents per tree to spray three times. Thinning 
cost five cents per barrel. These operations, also, 
increase the value of the fruit. By thinning, we can 
make trees bear every year. Baldwin always over¬ 
bears. Thinning looks like a bigger job than it 
really is. 
Overproduction.— A. C. Sternberg said that, 40 
years ago, 200 quarts of berries would glut the Hart¬ 
ford market. Last year, one dealer sold 1,500 quarts 
in one day at 10 cents. He suggested a selling agent 
in each community to handle fruit. He should be paid 
a salary, and discharged when he begins to look after 
his own interests better than those of growers. He 
also advocates cold-storage rooms. The discussion 
brought out the fact that commission men are now 
limiting the amount of fruit they will receive on con¬ 
signment. There is not enough in it to pay to handle 
all they can get. The question of markets is giving 
these Connecticut growers many sleepless nights. 
They have the best local markets in the world in the 
manufacturing towns, yet, through lack of proper 
J. H. HALE. 
President Connecticut Pomological Society. Fig. 34. 
organization, they are unable to regulate supply and 
price. If they could only “ get together ” and handle 
the selling end, they would be much better off. This 
year’s peach crop will surely be light, and there will 
be an extra demand for small fruits and plums. 
Peach Culture. —This promises to be a dead year 
with Connecticut peaches, as most of the buds are re¬ 
ported killed. Still, great interest was taken in the 
lecture by Roland Morrill, of Michigan, who told how 
he cultivated and pruned his famous orchard. He 
startled the Yankees by saying that he stirs the 
ground from 35 to 50 times during the season. This, 
with liberal feeding, on wood ashes and ground bone 
(300 pounds bone and 100 bushels of ashes per acre) 
pushes the trees wonderfully. The trees are headed 
low. Mr. Morrill gave stereopticon pictures illustrat¬ 
ing his method of pruning. We hope to reproduce 
some of them later. He seems to cut back as vigor¬ 
ously as he cultivates. Connecticut growers appeared 
to think it would hardly pay them to stir the ground 
so much. Potash, he says, has made his fruit stick to 
the trees. He leaves fruit about eight inches apart on 
tree—thins before pits begin to form. 
Ernest E Coe gave an illustrated lecture on Land¬ 
scape Gardening. He showed how trees and shrubs 
may be used to beautify the home grounds. Several 
pictures of old-time farmhouses were given. In old 
days, people lived in square boxes with no attempt at 
ornamentation. It meant nearly a revolution when 
the girls demanded a bay window or a flower garden. 
Connecticut fruit growers do not seem to be desper¬ 
ately afraid of the San Jos6 scale. They will fight it, 
however. Maryland seems to be the worst section 
thus far for this insect. The outcry against this scale 
has done some good in arousing growers to make a 
fight against other insects and diseases. J. H. Hale 
says, “God sent this scale to thin out the trees that 
were chiefly engaged in supporting Codling worms.” 
The scale is now found in about 20 towns. It spreads 
slowly, more so than farther south. It is found near 
the heads of trees, and kills them in four years. 
Wet Weather and Fungi. —Dr. B. D. Halsted, of 
New Jersey, showed a chart giving a 10-years’ record 
of the rainfall in his State for the six growing months, 
He showed that fungous diseases like blights and 
rusts grow best in wet seasons or the following ones. 
We should keep spraying through the wet weather, 
if we hope to save the crop—and also prune and culti¬ 
vate. By cutting back severely so as to open up the 
body and top of the tree, we let in more sun and air, 
and thus give better conditions. Constant and thor¬ 
ough cultivation of the soil alsotends to keep the tree 
healthy. 
Fertilizers for Fruits. —Dr. E. H. Jenkins read a 
valuable paper on this subject which we hope to give 
later. He spoke ol four needed elements, viz., nitro¬ 
gen, potash, phosphoric acid and lime. Dr. Jenkins 
gave considerable importance to lime, saying that 
many Connecticut soils are deficient in that sub¬ 
stance. Both scientists and practical men in the 
East are coming more and more to advocate the use of 
lime. Most growers at this meeting appeared to be 
trying to cheapen the cost of their fertilizers by sav¬ 
ing nitrogen. They either apply less than formerly, 
or plan to make greater use of clover or peas. A few 
of the more conservative growers do not consider this 
wise practice, and are using as much nitrogen as ever. 
There is a rage now for constant cultivation through 
the season, and this, of course, bars out the clover crop. 
Baldwins In “Off - Years”. —Mr. Edwin Hoyt 
suggests for red Winter apples, Baldwin, McIntosh 
Red, Sutton Beauty and Jonathan. The last must 
have high culture. If the orchard is to be neglected, 
plant Baldwin. Prof. Gulley also spoke well of Bald¬ 
win ; in fact, it is the standard apple with most grow¬ 
ers. The old New England standard had a pine tree 
pictured on it. This may now be changed to a picture 
of a Baldwin apple tree. Yet the Baldwin has its 
faults and perversities. Mr. Hale said that, while 
most other varieties of apples could be fed and pruned 
so as to make them hear annual crops, it was hard to 
make the Baldwin give up the “ off year”. 
Mr. Hoyt explained this “off year” as a habit of 
the tree. The first thing a tree does is to take care 
of itself. When not properly fed or cared for, it first 
makes wood growth to the neglect of buds. Result, 
no crop. The next year, the main energies of the 
tree go to the production of fruit buds. This is over¬ 
done, and a great crop of fruit starts, which weakens 
the tree so that the next year is spent in building up 
wood growth. The remedy is to feed well every year, 
to cut back excessive wood growth and to thin out the 
fruit. h. w. c. 
FRUIT BUDS. 
Tub “ average farmer ” Is a stubborn critter. 
Even the Crosby peaches are dead this year. 
Italian laborers are well liked by Connecticut fruit growers. 
Laurel green was reported as being less reliable than Paris- 
green. 
Fruit growers’ “ Golden Rule “ Do the other fellow before 
he does you!” 
Tue Cumberland raspberry is reported big and fine. Doubtful 
as to market value. 
We have better markets than our forefathers—but we have to 
work harder for them. 
It’s hard to fight the Apple maggot. Spray will not reach him. 
Destroy all infested fruit. 
Mr. Morrill would not plant peach trees in the apple orchard. 
Give the apple every chance. 
Farms suitable for fruit growing can be rented for about three 
per cent of their selling value. 
Mr. Morrill says that he does not prune in early Winter— 
wants to see what frosts will do later. 
The Jonathan apple has made rapid growth at the Storrs Col¬ 
lege. Looks like a desirable variety for Connecticut. 
New England has neglected her apple trees, and this has given 
western Ben Davis a chance to dictate markets and prices. 
Strawberries may be kept in cold storage if you are quick 
about it. Put them in at once when picked. Don’t let them start 
to decay. 
The American elm is a good enough shade tree for Connecticut. 
Nothing will take its place. All the more reason why we should 
fight the leaf beetle. 
Crimson clover is doing well in Connecticut, though some fail¬ 
ures are reported. American seed is best. Some peach growers 
fear the effect of too much humus in the soil. 
Mr. Morrill made a good point in saying that New England 
land is cheap while New England men are valuable. A combina¬ 
tion of the two will produce—money in fruit. 
Dig out rusted raspberry bushes. Spray for anthracnose. Mr. 
Morrill says that we must drench the young growth with the 
spray. Throw it up under the vines. Carry the nozzle low. 
Can we use Bordeaux Mixture on Japan plums? Mr. Morrill 
says yes—but he uses only four pounds sulphate of copper with 
six pounds lime in 50 gallons of water. Connecticut growers did 
not agree with this. 
Triumph and Sneed peaches are reported favorably, and among 
“best” sorts for Connecticut reported are Mountain Rose, 
Stump, Oldmixon, Elberta, Crawford, Globe and Wheatland. 
Champion is likely to supplant older sorts. 
