rd of 1000 trees, from six to
eighteen years old. For a commercial orchard I prefer Missouri Pippin,
Ben Davis, and Winesap; and for a family orchard Yellow Transparent,
Early Melon, Jonathan, and Gano. I have tried and discarded Gilpin,
Lawver, and McAfee; they were not productive or good. I prefer a sandy
river bottom. I prefer one-year-old trees, set as they grew in the
nursery. I cultivate my orchard to small fruits, using a disc or
cultivator; cease cropping when the trees spread too much. The more
cultivation the better. Windbreaks are not essential. I trap the
rabbits; and dig the borers out in May and September. I prune my trees a
little each year, to let in sunshine; I think it pays and is beneficial.
I thin the fruit while on the trees a very little; but it would pay to
while the fruit is small. My trees are in mixed plantings. I fertilize
my orchard with barn-yard litter and ashes; and would advise their use
on all soils. I do not pasture my orchard; but think it would pay, with
calves and young pigs. My trees are troubled with borers and aphis, and
my apples with codling-moth. I do not spray. I pick by hand, and sort
into three classes; pack in three-bushel barrels, facing the bottoms,
and ship to market by freight or express. I sell apples in the orchard;
sell the second and third grades to evaporators. I have tried distant
markets, and found it paid. I do not dry any. I am fairly successful in
storing apples in boxes and barrels, in a barn cellar, for market and
family use, and find the Fink and Cullins keep best. Never tried
artificial cold storage. I have to repack stored apples before
marketing; the per cent. lost depends on the variety. I do not irrigate.
Prices have been from seventy-five cents to two dollars per barrel. I
pay my help one dollar per day.

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WILLIAM BOND, Rossville, Shawnee county: I have lived in Kansas
twenty-one years; have an apple orchard of about 300 trees, from five to
twenty-five years old. For market I prefer Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin,
and Winesap; and for a family orchard would add Chenango Strawberry and
Maiden's Blush. I have tried and discarded Rawle's Janet on account of
rot, worms, and shy bearing, and Smith's Cider on account of blight. I
prefer bottom land having a deep, porous subsoil and an east or south
slope. I prefer two-year old trees, set in rows thirty feet apart each
way. I cultivate my orchard with corn or potatoes fo