ed Astrachan,
Duchess of Oldenburg, Maiden's Blush, Ben Davis, Winesap, and Rawle's
Janet. I prefer hilltop with northern slope. I prefer one-year-old,
switch-like trees, set 16x30 feet. I plant young orchards to corn, using
double-shovel and diamond plow, and harrow; plant the bearing orchard to
clover and cease cropping at five years. For rabbits I use paint during
summer and wrap during winter. I also use paint for borers. I prune with
shears and knife to secure an open center; do not think it beneficial.
Never thin apples. I fertilize with barn-yard litter; it seems to
benefit the trees and prolong their fruitfulness. Do not pasture my
orchard. My old trees are affected with flathead borer and leaf-roller.
The codling-moth trouble my apples. I sprayed three seasons; saw no
benefit, so quit. I pick by hand, in a basket. I sort into three
classes: First class, for market; second class, for immediate sale, and
small ones, for cider. I usually sell at the nearest market. Best market
is at home. Never dry any. I store for winter markets in cellar, in
barrels, boxes, and in bulk, and am successful; find that the Winesap
and Rawle's Janet keep best. We have to repack stored apples before
marketing; sometimes lose more than at other times. Do not irrigate.
Price has been fifty cents per bushel. I hire help at one dollar per
day, or twenty dollars per month and board.

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P. M. HOWARD, Clyde, Cloud county: I have lived in Kansas twenty-six
years; have an apple orchard of 450 trees. For market purposes I prefer
Ben Davis, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Rawle's Janet, and Jonathan; and
for family orchard Ben Davis, Winesap, Early Harvest, Maiden's Blush,
Jonathan, and Wealthy. Would prefer a deep loam soil, clay subsoil, if
not too close to the top, and almost level. I prefer two-year-old,
low-head trees with no forks, planted in furrows. I cultivate my orchard
to corn planted east and west as long as I can, using the plow and
cultivator shallow; and cease cropping when the trees so shade the crop
that there is no profit; I grow clover or weeds in a bearing orchard,
and mow and leave on the ground for a mulch. Windbreaks are essential; I
would make them of Osage orange planted in rows 2x4 or 2x6 feet. For
rabbits I wrap the trees with corn-stalks, and for borers I mulch and
keep the trees growing. I prune my trees when planted; I think it
beneficial. I never thin the fruit on the trees. I fer