orchard of 1800 trees, planted from seven to
fifteen years. For commercial purposes he prefers Missouri Pippin,
Winesap, Willow Twig, Ben Davis, and Rome Beauty, and for family use
adds early apples. Has tried and discarded Red Winter Pearmain, because
of blight. He is located in river bottom, with sandy soil, and a blue
clay subsoil. Prefers a north and east slope. Plants two-year-old trees,
with heads two feet from the ground, in deep dead furrows. Cultivates
until the middle of July with a disc harrow, plow, and weeder. Never
ceases cultivation. In the young orchard he plants corn, potatoes, and
garden-truck, and would plant the same in a bearing orchard, and cease
cropping when the trees got too large. Windbreaks are essential; would
make them of any fast growing timber, by planting two rows, six to eight
feet apart, and three feet in the row. For borers and rabbits he uses
paint, whitewash, and poison. He prunes his trees with a knife and
shears, and thins out the tops to let the sun in, and thinks it pays,
and is beneficial. He thins the fruit as soon as he sees that it is too
thick. His trees are in mixed plantings, and fertilized with all the
stable litter he can get. He finds it beneficial, and would advise its
use on all soils. Does not pasture his orchard, excepting in late fall
and early winter, when he lets the calves run in to tramp the ground,
and thinks it advisable. His trees are troubled with canker-worm,
bark-louse, and some other insects; and his fruit with codling-moth. He
sprays his trees twice before the buds open, with Bordeaux mixture and
arsenical solution, for blight; thinks he has reduced the codling-moth.
Picks his apples from the trees into sacks, and hauls in a padded wagon
box. Sorts them from tables into three classes--extra, good, and medium.
Never sells apples in the orchard; wholesales, retails and peddles them.
His best market is at home, but he has not enough to fill it. Does not
dry any. Is successful in keeping a few apples for winter market in
barrels and boxes in a cellar, as near air-tight as possible. They keep
well until May 25, and he does not find it necessary to repack stored
apples before marketing. He does not irrigate. Prices have been:
Wholesale, 60 cents to $1.20 per bushel; retail, 80 cents, $1.40 to
$1.60 per bushel. He employs good help at one dollar per day and board.

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F. F. HANSBERRY, Larned, Pawnee county: Have resided