3915. 
'1'MK RURAL MKW-VOIV KEK 
333 
Experience in Leasing and Improving 
an Old Orchard. 
Part I. 
IIE PROPOSITION IN GENERAL. 
—In working up a trade in fruits 
and vegetables direct with grocers and 
consumers, it seemed easier in order, to 
keep up a satisfactory trade, to have 
a good variety over as long a season 
as possible. Our home place has been 
largely planted to fruit trees with the 
object of meeting this want. P>ut while 
many of these trees are growing up to 
bearing size. I saw we would have to wait 
some years for any considerable quantity 
of apples from these young trees. I saw, 
too, that our local market was poorly 
supplied with first-class apples. These 
considerations led me to lease an orchard, 
nearby, covering about 25 acres, but with 
many trees missing, many dead and many 
with dead, dying and cankered branches. 
Some parts of the orchard had been in¬ 
termittently cropped, considerable bay 
sold off, and cows and sheep pastured. 
Some trees had been injured by a former 
owner scattering large quantities of salt 
around the trees (“to kill the insects I 1 ’) 
most inspiring sight, then, with trees on 
all sides bending with the finest apples 
ever seen here, while the country below, 
in sight for miles and miles, with prac¬ 
tically no apples. For 1014 the crop was 
not nearly so large, only about 1.400 
bushels against 5.400 the first year. But 
the orchard is now in better shape for 
succeeding crops. 
Tiie Lease. —I should have tried to se¬ 
cure the property on an annual cash rent, 
but considering everything T did not feel 
disposed to take even the risk of a cash 
rent, so I agreed to trim and clean up 
the orchard, do the spraying, the owners 
paying for the spraying material, pick 
the apples and divide the crop equally in 
the orchard. Furthermore, I agreed to 
plant trees in the vacancies, and some 
eight acres additional, having the full use 
of the land for any other crops I might 
raise for five years, keeping the young 
trees cultivated during that time. The 
latter is working out well, as. with inter¬ 
cropping with tomatoes and raspberries. 
I am getting good results. But I soon 
discovered that the proposition of divid¬ 
ing the crop was likely to lead to some 
RENOVATING AN OLE ORCHARD. 
In fact some of the trees were nearly 
killed rather than the “insects.” There 
was considerable kindly intended advice 
wasted on me in the effort to induce me 
to abandon “this foolish undertaking.” 
Some said there wouldn’t be any apples, 
“the trees are all dyingothers, that if 
there was a full crop they wouldn't be 
worth anything. As this is not an apple¬ 
growing section few people saw anything 
in this orchard proposition except a lot 
of hard work and small pay. 
Beginning The Work. —However, I 
leased the orchard about February, 1913, 
and at once began to trim and cut out 
dead wood. For a while it was a pretty 
tough-looking place—looked like some 
“clearing”—brush and timber everywhere. 
We got pretty well over some of the 
worst part, the rest only here and there, 
where most needed. Then it was time 
for the dormant spraying; unsuitable 
weather day after day, followed by warm 
weather and the buds opening. I was 
discouraged in not being able to carry out 
my plans, but got ready for a thorough 
spraying with arsenate of lead and dilute 
lime-sulphur, as soon as the blossoms 
would drop. Just as we should have be¬ 
gun to spray, we had more bad weather, 
then the May freeze, that killed nearly 
all the apples in this part of the country. 
Tree fruits on our home place were badly 
killed, apples wholly so. When I saw the 
havoc I was too much discouraged to go 
near this orchard for a day or two. When 
I got courage enough to look, there was 
no indication of any harm done anywhere 
—trees heavily set with apples that ap¬ 
parently meant to stay. The fact just be¬ 
came apparent that I had blundered into 
something that I hadn’t even known the 
value of—an orchard site with elevation 
and air drainage enough to place it above 
that usual frost line! 
Spraying. —Everything else was side¬ 
tracked and we began to spray, but with 
more bad weather and Sunday interven¬ 
ing. and the slow work with a hand pump, 
trying to do thorough work, it got to be 
about time for the second spraying when 
we finished the first and that was all we 
were able to do to it till picking time. A 
dissatisfaction, and accordingly I bought 
their half outright, before picking, pay¬ 
ing in 1913 an even $1,000. I had little 
trouble in handling, probably little more 
than I would have had in dividing the 
crop. I received over $1,200 for their 
•share. Last Fall I bought their share for 
$300. For the two years they have had 
$1,300 rent, and very little expense. I 
feel that the price paid should largely 
have gone toward the purchase of the 
property or a smaller sum for cash rent. 
As it is, about my only way out is to buy 
the property at their pretty stiff price, 
inside of the five year lease and option, 
or pay increasingly heavy rent by pur¬ 
chasing their share, as the orchard im¬ 
proves in crop production. 
Cultivation and Mulching.—A por¬ 
tion of the orchard was fairly thrifty. I 
decided to leave that in sod, mow tin* 
grass and mulch. I’p to date I have not 
been able to do muon mulching, except 
such as I could do with the grass that 
grows on the ground. Nothing is taken 
off. Under some trees that seemed to 
lack vigor, we broadcast five pounds ni¬ 
trate of soda last May with marked im¬ 
provement following, and expect to extend 
its use. In a portion of the orchard 
there were so many trees missing, and the 
rest so far in decline that I thought best 
to plow and cultivate to induce new 
growth, as well as to give the young trees 
a good start. These old trees were cut 
back severely, even large limbs cut back 
to form new tops, and we are still cutting 
back those limbs that have got “’way up 
and out yonder.” Cultivation has won¬ 
derfully revived these old trees, and the 
crops grown in the vacant spaces are al¬ 
most clear gain except for fertilizer used 
to replace or more than replace what 
these crops remove from the soil. 
Ohio. c. WECKESSER. 
“.Tiggs says lie can’t warm up to his 
work.” “Certainly not: he makes arti¬ 
ficial ice.”—Buffalo Express. 
Woman : “What are you selling to¬ 
matoes for today?” Peddler: “Because 
I haff a wife and ten children, lady.”— 
Boston Globe. 
^iliiaiTiPStark jj 
Nurseries.fr jj 
Star/cGityf'Missouri jj 
-A-.,-ATT,,-,1 
Strawberry ’Planfa \j 
Mailed 
FREE 
Shall 
We Send 
Them Both? 
William P. Stark’s Two Books for Fruit Growers 
132-Page Tree Book. —Lists all select, 
profitable varieties; gives season and 
time of ripening; tells habits of growth, 
age of bearing, good qualities and 
weak points. Profusely illustrated. 
42-Page Strawberry Book —New and 
strictly up-to-date. Describes over 30 
varieties, both standard and Everbearing; 
how to prepare land, plant and cultivate: how 
to grow berries in orchard rows; best varieties 
for your soil and section, etc. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS FROM NEW BEDS 
Grown in the heart of the Ozark Strawberry country, in specially prepared 
nursery propagating beds —tiot from old fruiting beds. We pinch off all blooms, 
so all vigor of mother plants goes into producing strong, heavy crowns and 
abundant roots on the runner-plants. . They make faster-growing, thriftier 
plants in your fruiting rows, heavier matted rows, more productive; berries of 
better quality. Order NOW—safe arrival guaranteed. 
HARDY FRUIT TREES 
William P. Stark Trees are famous for heavy root-systems, well developed, 
wide-spreading, well-balanced. Their hardiness and vigor make them adapted 
to your section. We have thousands of customers in New York. All good 
apple, peach, pear, plum, grape, bush-fruits, roses, shrubs, etc. 
J. H. Hale Peach.—Originated by J. 
II. Halo, the Peach King. Immense size, 
high quality, better keeper and shipper 
than Klberta. Got genuine only from 
Win. I*. Stark, Stark City. Mo. Every 
tree with trade-marked tag and signa¬ 
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Delicious Apple.—At growers’ prices. 
Highest quality apple grown. Very 
hardy, especially adapted to the cold re¬ 
gions of New York and New England, 
where they reach high-colored perfection. 
Always brings $1 to $1.75 more per box than 
any other apple, regardless of season. 
No Agents—Save */3 to */2 
We have no agents or salesmen. Our catalog is our only representative. 
Lowest direct-frotn-nursery prices. Save money; get trees doubly guaranteed 
true to name. Write today for the Free Fruit Tree and Strawberry Books. 
Mention whether you want one or both. 
WILLIAM P. STARK NURSERIES, Box 445 Stark City, Mo. 
A BIG MONEY MAKER 
Here’s a reproduction of the GENUINE Beurre Bo*c 
pear, the finest flavored pear of the season and 
the biggest profit producer we know. The pick¬ 
ing season’s in the latter part of October, but if 
cold-storaged until the holiday season, they 
bring double the price. When put on the market 
about December 15th they bring $8.50 a barrel. 
We pay all freight 
and transportation 
rid guarantee delivery in good, 
ealthy condition. We sell direct to 
ou and save you the agent’s profits. 
rees from 2 to 6 feet—25c to 75c. 
ur catalogue overflows with inter¬ 
sting, helpful information. Send 
jr your free copy today. 
WM. P. RUPERT & SOM 
n A A C sn M V 
Banker’s Trial Collection —acquainted 
100 Fruit Trees, Berry Bushes and Grape 
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win, 2 Banana; 2 No. Spy, 2 R. I. Greening. 2 
Bed Astraclian, 2 York Imperial, 2 B. Ben Davis, 
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1 2-yr.; 2 Bartlett, 3 Aniou, 5 KiefCer; 1 Me¬ 
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Crawford. 1 Medium Size Montmorency Cherry; 
1 No. 1 2-yr. Crab Apple. 1 No. 1 2-yr. Burbank 
Plum; 10 Grape Vines, 1 yr., 5 Concord 1 , 5 Ni¬ 
agara; 25 Blackberry, largest grade; 25 St. 
Regis Red Raspberry; 5 Perfection Currants. 
This offer good only to March 
D. G. BANKER. DANSVILLE. N. Y. 
ATTRACTIVE OFFER 
IN NURSERY STOCK 
For Spring planting »e have as line a lot of stock as 
can be b lind in the Country. All stock freshly dug, 
and net in cold storage. Special prices on largo 
quantities. Write for Catalogue, and send 11 s your 
list of wants. Apples and Peaches in large quanti¬ 
ties. Send order while there is a full list of varieties. 
THE STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS C0-, New Canaan. Conn. 
“Apples for Profit and Use” 
— an Instructive chapter In our latest 
Fruit Book — yours for the asking. It 
tells why you should help supply the 
ever - growing demand for apples. 
You’ll find it a big paving and per¬ 
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supply of apples for home use as 
extra, Get this book at once. Learn 
from men who have been in the busi¬ 
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How to Grow Apples and Peaches 
— how best to select, plant and culti¬ 
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describes our full line of pear, plum 
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pages—illustrated, highly interesting. 
Send for your free copy today . 
The Barnes Bros. Nursery Co., Box g Yalesvillt, Conn. 
—_—— - ■ 
- — 
Hardy Nut Trees 
for Northern Planting 
Budded Pecan Trees, Thin-Shell Hardy sorts. 
Budded and Grafted English Walnuts. Ask 
for special Nut Catalogue. 
VINCENNES NURSERIES, VINCENNES. INDIANA 
4C|) nnn Finn Grown Apple Trees. 2-.vears 
G)V,VVV old. 6 t<> 7 ft., 10 C'-nis each: 5 to-6 ft., 7 
cents; 4 to 5 ft, 5 cents. Thousands of peaches, 
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Order from the man who lias grown his own trees 
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sale Nurseries, Dansville, N. V. Box 144. 
Fruit Book 
FREE 
Write at once. Secure valuable information 
early. Gives all bent varieties : Apple, Peach, 
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