s
possible, and it pays. I don't think it necessary to mix varieties to
insure fruitfulness, yet this spring I planted 1000 Missouri Pippins,
filling every sixth row with Winesaps for a test. The varieties I have
discarded as not bearing were thoroughly mixed in with other kinds. I
would use no fertilizers unless on very thin soil, and then would prefer
to use before planting. I use fertilizers after the trees come into
bearing, but up to bearing age good, thorough cultivation in the early
part of the season is all that I would give. I do not pasture orchards;
it might be advisable to turn hogs in to eat up windfalls affected with
codling-moth, but never any other stock.

Am troubled only with root aphis, codling-moth, and curculio. I spray
right after the blossoms fall with London purple, for codling-moth, and
have reduced them to a great extent. Have prevented borers by wrapping.
I contemplate using kerosene emulsion on curculio and insects that I
cannot reach with poison. I pick in canvas lined half-bushel baskets,
and sort into firsts, seconds, and culls, carefully, by hand. I pack in
boxes, if I can get them; have used barrels well shaken and pressed
down, marked with stencil, and shipped by rail. Denver has been our best
market thus far; sometimes I have sold most of my apples in the orchard;
never have to peddle any. I feed the culls to my hogs. Never dry any,
but think I will try it in the near future, as there is a good home
market for a large part of them. Have stored a good many in cellar in
barrels and in bulk; some I have buried. I don't like either plan, and
am figuring to put up some kind of cold-storage building for future use.
Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and Ben Davis, in the order named, have kept
best for me, my losses being about one-fifth. I irrigate by flooding the
ground all over thoroughly when necessary. Prices have ranged from 75
cents to $1.25 per bushel; from $2.50 to $3 per barrel. I use the best
men I can get, and pay $1 a day and board, or $1.50 per day without
board.

* * * * *

A. W. SWITZER, Hutchinson, Reno county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-six
years; have 2000 apple trees twelve, fifteen and eighteen years old.
Winesap, Missouri Pippin and Ben Davis for market purposes; Maiden's
Blush, Rambo and Roman Stem added for family use. Have discarded Limber
Twig and Willow Twig, both subject to blight. I prefer bottom land,
sandy loam soil, and sandy subsoil;