years; 2000 of them six years. I prefer for market Ben Davis, Missouri
Pippin, and Winesap, and for family orchard would add Early Harvest, Red
Astrachan, Maiden's Blush, and Rambo. Have discarded Yellow Bellflower
because it won't bear; Milam, because it is too small; Rawle's Janet,
off on color. Only a few varieties should be in a commercial orchard. I
prefer bottom land; mine slopes to the north. Any soil is good, either
clay or loam. I would set thrifty two-year-old trees in furrows. I have
raised thousands of root grafts in the nursery, growing my own seedlings
to graft on. I cultivate in corn until they begin to show fruit, then in
millet twice; I have never cultivated the orchard without a crop. When
the ground gets bad, break it up and put in millet to shade the ground.
I have never used any windbreaks; plant my trees close, to protect each
other from the wind. I use axle grease for rabbits, and have had very
little trouble with borers. I prune in the early years to shape the
tree; later, to remove surplus wood, and think it increases the size of
the apple. I believe stable litter is beneficial; I have applied it only
on heavy clay soil. I pasture my orchard to a slight extent with horses
and cows. I do not gather the down apples, but let my stock gather them.
I have sprayed with London purple for canker-worm and tent-caterpillar;
I use a barrel and a wagon, from first of May on, and am only partially
successful; I think I have reduced the codling-moth some. I pick with
baskets and wagons, and pile the apples in the orchard. I sort into
three classes--first, shipping; third, culls; second, betweens. As I
sell to shippers at wholesale, I put in the first class as small ones as
the contract will allow; the second class includes all that look
salable, and I sell them in the home markets; I sell what culls I can,
and make cider of the others. I do not ship any. My apples mostly go
south. I tried shipping once, but it did not pay. I do not dry any, nor
store any for winter. Have never irrigated. Prices vary from 20 cents to
$1.25 per bushel, according to variety, time of year, etc. I use men and
women for picking, and pay three cents per bushel.

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B. RONEY, Benedict, Wilson county: Have lived in Kansas since the fall
of 1869; have 1400 apple trees, planted from six to twenty-seven years.
For market I prefer Baldwin, Winesap, Missouri Pippin, Jonathan, Ben
Davis; for family, Re