Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1892 — ORCHARD AND GARDEN. [ARTICLE]

ORCHARD AND GARDEN.

Handling Apples. Less is really known .about the .apple crop, and bow -to grow -and handle the fruit, than almost any other product on the farm. Potatoes, wheat, com and othererops have been studied and experimented with so persistently that most farmers cam gave good reasons for everything they do -concerning them. But apples have been allowed to take cane -of themselves, and It is only recently that thorough efforts to cultivate and improve them have been generally adopted- Good crops of apples are as much dependent upon good cultivation and handling as a crop of corn. Our trees will produce more and better fruit when they are treated as cultivated fruits, and not as wild trees, transplanted to the orchard. Trees need choice location, they need good soil, mulches, pruning, scrubbing and similar work. If a good variety of an apple is obtained it can b# made to produce excellent fruit, with scarcely a poor specimen on it. But this means that the trees must be protected in winter, and be adapted to the soil and climate. It means that we must study apple disease and fungus more than heretofore, and to give good thorough cultivation. The different varities of apples need studying, so that we can select Intelligently those specially marketable, and likely to be adapted to our farms. On many old homesteads dozens of apple trees may be found where poor specimens of fruits are grown. The apples are bitter, small, knotty and almost worthless, except as hog feed. It is not alone due to the poor cultivation, but because the variety is not worth cultivating. Half the apple crop in this country is not fit to send to the market because of poor growth and poor variety, and half of the other half is not fit to send because of poor handling. Yet many claim that there is no profit in apple growing. The market is overstocked, and those sent to the city rot before they can be sold. When we handle our apples as we now do our eggs the profit will be much larger, and when we study the needs of the trees is we study stock raising,

we will be blessed with fine trees and good crops. Apples that are well grown and matured can be kept finely all winter without decay. But bruised or injured apples will not keep until the holidays. The choicer the varieties the more care there is demanded to keep them through winter. Many of our fruit cellars smell with mold and decay, and apples can not preserve their naturalness in such places. Cellars where furnaces are kept are, on the other hand, generally too dry. It is not so much a dry cellar needed, as a cool, clear place. This part of the question needs studying, too, for many good apples are spoiled by lack of proper knowledge in storing and keeping them over winter. Horticultural Items. The willow, elm, poplar or locust should never be planted close to wells or drains. Before setting out trees Of any kind, mark off the ground carefully and set a stake where each tree is to be planted. A few dollars spent in trees, flowers and shrubbery, and a day’s time spent in setting them out will enhance the value of many farms. Do not gauge the value of trees by their size; young and thrifty trees of moderate growth are always better than overgrown ones. In timbered sections many fail to properly preserve their timber lots. It is not necessary to destroy the timber lot to get wood. While studying and planing foi next year’s work, get it firmly impressed upon your mind that in setting a tree the mangled roots should be trimmed with a sharp knife, and that tty; fine moist soil should be firmed about them.