day.

* * * * *

PHILLIP LUX, Topeka, Shawnee county: I have lived in Kansas thirty
years. Have an apple orchard of 1200 trees from six to nine years old.
For market I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Jonathan, York Imperial,
and Grimes's Golden Pippin, and for family would add to the above
Benoni, Maiden's Blush, Early Harvest, Red June, Duchess of Oldenburg,
Early Ripe, and Yellow Transparent. Have tried and discarded Willow
Twig, Smith's Cider, Kansas Keeper, Wagener, Talman Sweet and White
Winter Pearmain on account of blight and other good reasons. I prefer
clay upland and subsoil, with northeast aspect. I use only number one
two-year-old trees, planted in furrows opened up with a plow, and deep
enough to receive them without the use of a spade. I plant sixteen by
thirty-two feet. I cultivate my orchard to corn for four or five years,
using a hoe, plow, and five-shovel cultivator with one horse; cease
cropping after four or five years; grow clover and weeds in a bearing
orchard, mowing twice a year and let lay on the ground. Windbreaks are
not absolutely necessary. For rabbits I find wood veneers to be best and
cheapest; they come in blocks; turn one end to the sun or fire to dry;
then put on coal-tar and stick this end in the ground. I prune a little
during the first five years after planting, keeping the heaviest part of
top to the southwest. It will always pay if judiciously done. I never
thin my apples while on the trees. Do not pasture the orchard with
anything but chickens; it pays in eggs. My trees are troubled with
roundhead borer, fall web-worm, leaf-roller, and canker-worm, and my
apples with codling-moth. Have not sprayed, but soon intend to, with
London purple. I dig borers out with a knife. I pick apples in
half-bushel baskets; sort into two classes, putting all fine, sound and
good size in first grade. I pack in three-bushel barrels and send to
market as soon as ready by railroad. I sometimes sell my apples in the
orchard. I also wholesale and retail, and sell the second and third
grades where I can get the most for them; feed the culls to stock or let
rot. Have tried distant markets and found it paid. Do not dry any.

* * * * *

FAYETTE A. SMITH, Belleville, Republic county: I have lived in Kansas
thirty-one years; have an orchard of 200 apple trees from six to eight
years old. For commercial purposes I prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, and