bbits I use sixteen-inch lath woven with
four strands of wire. I prune, to allow only three or four main
branches. I believe in fertilizer, and would use it if I had it. I think
pasturing in the orchard advisable, with young cattle or hogs, and that
it pays. Am troubled some with canker-worm, tent-caterpillar, and
codling-moth; for these I spray with London purple, using a tank, with a
pump run by a sprocket and chain, from a wagon wheel. I believe I have
reduced the codling-moth by spraying. We pick in a sack over the
shoulder, as used in sowing oats. I sort only into first class and
culls, as emptied by the pickers on canvas-covered tables. I use
eleven-peck barrels, marking the name of variety and quality. Sell only
at wholesale, making cider of the culls. Have shipped to distant
markets, but it did not pay. Have never dried any, but think I ought to.

* * * * *

J. S. HACKNEY, Walton, Harvey county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-seven
years. Have an orchard of 325 apple trees twenty-four years old, eight
to sixteen inches in diameter. For commercial orchard I prefer Ben
Davis, Winesap, Snow, Maiden's Blush, Huntsman's Favorite, and Grimes's
Golden Pippin, and would plant the same for family orchard. Have tried
and discarded Winter Strawberry and Paradise Pippin for shy bearing. I
prefer high land, rich subsoil, with north slope. I prefer two-year-old
grafts, the more fibrous roots the better. I checked my land to corn and
then dug out the hill of corn where tree was to stand. I raise my own
root grafts. I cultivate my young orchard with corn, wheat, and oats,
using disc and smoothing harrow. I plant a bearing orchard to clover,
and cease cropping when the limbs interfere with work. I think
windbreaks are essential, and would make them of rapid-growing
forest-trees. To protect the trees from rabbits, I wash them with blood
and liver and tie up. I prune while young to shape and balance the top,
and think it beneficial. I never thin apples. I fertilize with barn-yard
litter and wood ashes. I pasture my orchard with hogs and young cattle;
think it advisable, and that it pays.

My trees are troubled with tent-caterpillar; my fruit with codling-moth,
curculio, and gouger. I spray for the above-named insects after the
blossom has fallen and until apples are as large as quail eggs. I think
I have reduced the codling-moth. For the insects not affected by
spraying I wash with soap and strong lye