Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1909 — MONEY IN OLD ORCHARDS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MONEY IN OLD ORCHARDS.

Profitable Fruit Crops From Run Down Farms. . A woman who own» and manages large orchards in the centra’ part of New York state furnishes interesting information which will be of interest tn all states where fruit is raised. Bbe says:

"Within the last two months I’ve had as many as twenty letters from women asking for advice about investing in fruit trees. Most of these women are thinking of investing in farms or small country places where there are already what they term old, run down orchards. They come to me to find out if they can ever make those old trees bear.

“According to my experience, an apple tree in this climate has. to be pretty far gone to be ready for the ux- - I mean, of course, when it is a good variety. The trouble with the apple trees which we see on these old places is that they need care and attention.

“They have been allowed to stand year after year with their roots covered by sod. They are actually dying of thirst and starvation. If one will only study the difference in the color of the leaves of trees growing in a tilled orchard and in one allowed to go to grass in midsummer he will see the signs of starvation and thirst. “The first thing to do with such an orchard is to plow it up. If it has been in sod for a number of years there will be many roots near the sur face. Do not be afraid of hurting the trees by cutting these roots with the plow. “This plowing should be done early In the spring and should be repeated several times during the first season. If the roots are so thick that yon cannot plow, then chop up the sod with a disk harrow. If the land is too rough even for that, turn In. hogs. Drop a few grains of corn here and there in crowbar holes and leave the rest for the hogs.

"Trees in such neglected orchards always need pruning. This should be done -when the trees are dormant. February is usually the best month. “If the tree has not been pruned for Mveral years, do not take out all the useless wood at one time. Let some of It go over. ’ “Nfiw. pruning is something that should never be carelessly done. Tbe prunlngs should all be burned and tbe ashes scattered about the roots of tbe trees.

"After this severe pruning you will get a big crop of water sprouts in the summer. Rub them off promptly. After this first pruning it will be necessary to prune a little every season. “As a rule, there is enough plant food in the soil if it is only put in shape so that the trees can use it. If, however, this should not be the case, then a fertilizer containing nitrogen is the best tonic. A liberal dressing of barnyard manure is the very best way of supplying this nitrogen. Nitrate of soda is also good. "I have found it impossible to raise good fruit without a spray pump. If you have never sprayed, begin by writing to your state experimental station for its spraying bulletins. Don’t spray feebly, but do the job thoroughly. “Trees may be healthy and blossom year after year and no fruit be formed. This condition can be remedied in two ways. One way is to graft about every third tree in every third row with a pollen bearing variety. The other and sometimes the more convenient is to replant certain rows with pollen bearers. When setting out new orchards I always plant every fourth row with pollen bearers. “Fortunately it is only In isolated orchards of a single variety that such conditions prevail. In fruit growing districts where several varieties are raised and bees are kept a total failure is next to impossible. It is not always necessary to keep bees, but It will pay a fruit grower, especially in a new country, to be on the safe side.” A Homemade Barrel Header. A simple and handy device for the farm is that shown in the accompanying cut. It is of special value where the article contained in the barrel should be safely secured either in ship-

ping or in Storage. It* Utility in other respects will be recognized at a glance. The barrel beader 1* so simple hi its ffipantruction that any directions as to bow to make it would be superfluous. Rh*umetiam In Cows. Cows are subject to rtieumatlsm, snya a writer, and it affects them in the legs between the knee and the hip. The following treatment is recommended by the writer: First of sll provide a comfortable, warm, dry, well ventilated stable and well lighted, but protected from strong drafts. There should be an abundance bf dean, dry bedding. The food should be soft, easily digeottole, slightly laxative, and the water dean, pure and eooL Give half an oonee vt saltpeter three time* a day. At the outaet of the treatment give One pound of epoom salts In half a gallon of water and occasional smaller doeee afterward to keep the boweto open. If you ean locate the peia rub Mur wim campßoratM rant*.

JUMDY BARREL HRUDER.