: Have lived in Kansas twenty-nine
years. I have 700 trees planted, five, ten and twenty-seven years. For
market I use Missouri Pippin and Ben Davis; for family use I plant Early
Harvest, Maiden's Blush, Lowell and Jonathan for summer, and Missouri
Pippin and Winesap for winter. If I were putting out now I would only
plant Missouri Pippin and Winesap. I prefer bottom, and such soil as has
formerly been brush and timber land. A part of my orchard slopes a
little to the south. I plant thrifty two-year-olds, with the top leaning
to the southwest. I cultivate until they begin bearing; the plow is as
good a tool as any, but care must be taken not to injure the roots. The
best crop is buckwheat or potatoes; I have had strawberries and
blackberries in the orchard, but do not consider it best; I cease
cropping after they come into bearing. I believe in windbreaks; I do not
know what would be best; mine is protected by natural forest-trees and
Osage-orange hedge. To protect from borers, I use a wash with lye or
strong soap-suds. I tie corn-stalks around young trees to protect from
rabbits. I believe it pays to prune with the saw to improve the quality
of the fruit. I think stable litter is good for old orchards, but should
not be put close up around the body of the tree. I should pasture very
little, as stock of all kinds destroy the trees and injure the fruit. I
have sprayed little, but cannot say much about it. I pick by hand, and
do not pack at all, as those that I do not find a market for here at
home I sell to shippers. I sell many in the orchard, and when there is a
full crop I sell to shippers and they grade and mark them. I sell culls
for cider when there is a call for them. I tried drying, but did not
find it profitable. I do not store any apples for winter, as I have no
good place. Prices per bushel have ranged from twenty-five to fifty-five
cents. I use men for help, and pay seventy-five cents per day.

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JESSE WOLVERTON, Barnes, Washington county: I have lived in Kansas
twenty-three years; have an apple orchard of 6000 trees, five to
twenty-one years planted. For commercial purposes I prefer Ben Davis,
Missouri Pippin, Winesap, Rawle's Janet, and Jonathan, and for family
orchard would add Early Harvest, Oldenburg, and Smith Cider. Have tried
and discarded Willow Twig, Lawver, Talman's Sweeting, Stark, Wagener,
Missouri Superior and Red Astrachan on account of blight and shy
be