Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 240, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1913 — WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE FARM ORCHARD? [ARTICLE]

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE FARM ORCHARD?

Purdue Expert to Answer Question At Meeting in Local Orchard, ' Saturday, October 18th. Farm/orehards are seldom a paying investment. Acre after acre of good Indiana farm land is being wasted and worn by unproductive home orchards. Fruit trees are planted on every farm but fruit is harvested from very few of them. When a crop is secured the fruit is almost worthless, due to the ravages of the numerous pests which prey upon the trees.’ This condition of aflairs has long existed and the farmer has blamed the soil and the climate for his failure. He need never have left his own door step to locate his trouble. His fruit trees were planted—that was all. They received no further care nor attention and a crop was expected. A corn belt farmer would never think of planting a corn crop and allowing it to grow unattended until harvest time and then gather in a bumper yield. Neither can he secure a satisfactory yield of fruit from uncared for trees. Prof. C. G. Woodbury, chief in horticulture, of Purdue experiment station, says: “We have great faith in the future of the Indiana orchard. During the past few seasons the horticultural department has been directing the operations in several home orchards in different parts of the state. These orchards have netted their owners over SIOO per acre in the season of 1912. They were neglected when taken by Purdue. They

are now paying 10 per cent interest on valuations of from S9OO to SI,OOO per acre. We do not do the work, our representative merely tells the owner how to proceed. In order that more farmers might receive this help a series of outdoor demonstration meetings has been inaugurated. Several' leading fruit growers of this community have requested that Purdue hold a meeting in this neighborhood explaining how to make the orchard pay. Such a meeting has been granted. It will be an all day affair and will be held in the orchard of S. 8. Shedd.,ln the morning various orchard problems, such as orchard cultivation, cover-crops, fertilization and pruning will be discussed. The demonstrator will have with him a kit of pruning tools and he will actually prune one or two trees so that those present may become familiar with a properly pruned tree. In the afternoon spraying problems will be taken up. The reasons for spraying will be given and the proper times for applying the mixture will be mentioned. Several of the most important spraying materials will be made on a practical scale and will be applied to the trees. Good and I>oor spray pumps will be shown and advice given to possible purchasers. This is to be a thoroughly practical out-door school of orchard management and will be conducted by an expert. We desire to assist every farmer in Indiana in the care of his orchard and hope that every person in this county who is interested in fruit growing will attend this meeting.” Plan to take advantage of this splendid opportunity to receive actual first hand Information on pruning and spraying. Take your lunch and arrange to stay all day for you cannot afford to miss either session. The morning session will begin promptly at 9:30 and the afternoon session at 1 o’clock. The meeting will be held Saturday, Oct. 18th, in the orchard of S. S. Shedd, Rensselaer, Indiana.