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Author:  State  Horticultural  Association  of  Pennsylvania 

Title:  Proceedings  of  the  State  Horticultural  Association 
of  Pennsylvania...  191 4 

Place  of  Publication:  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Copyright  Date:  1914 

Master  Negative  Storage  Number:  MNS#  PSt  SNPaAg228.12 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF  THE 


Fifty-fifth  Annual  Meeting 


OF  THE 


State  Horticultural 
Association 


of  Pennsylvania 


HELD  IN 


York,  Pa.,  January  20,  21,  22,  1914 


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State  Horticultural  Association  of  Pennsylvania 

Officers  for  1914 

PRESIDENT. 
Chester  J.  Tyson,  Flora  Dale. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 
Dr.  I.  H.  Mayer,  Willow  Street ;  W.  J.  Lewis,  Pittston ; 

F.  H.  Fassett,  Meshoppen. 

SECRETARY.  TREASURER. 

J.  A.  Runk,  Huntingdon.  Edwin  W.  Thomas,  King  of  Prussia. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS  CERTIFIED  FROM  COUNTY  ASSOCIATIONS. 

(Presidents  of  County  Associations  for  Current  Year.) 

Adams,  Robert  M.  Eldon ;  Beaver,  Paulus  E.  Koehler;  Bedford,  A.  C.  Rich- 
ards ;  Blair,  Lynn  R.  Brua ;  Cambria,  Abram  Hostetler ;  Chester  and  Delaware, 
C.  Percy  Barnard;  Lackawanna,  A.  B.  Kilmer;  Montgomery,  Irvin  P.  Knipe ; 
Somerset,  D.  B.  Zimmerman;  Susquehanna,  J.  C.  Morse;  Washington.  Robert 
M.  Carrons;    Wyoming,  O.  M.  Trcible. 

EXECUTIVE  BOARD. 

All  of  the  above  named  officers. 

STANDING  COMMITTEES  FOR  1914- 

Legislative  Committee. 

H.  C.  Snavely.  Cleona ;  J-  H.  Peachy.  Belleville ; 

Ralph  Gibson,  Williamsport. 

Exhibition  Committee. 

Prof.  F.  N.  Fagan,  Chairman,  State  College. 

C.  A.  Wolfe,  Aspers;    H.  F.  Hershey,  Harrisburg,  R.  2 ;    R.  H.  Bell.  Williamsport; 

G.  W.  Kessler,  Tyrone. 

General  Fruit  Committee. 
Dr.  John  P.  Stewart,  State  College. 
Membership  in  this  committee  is  composed  of  one  member  from  each  county 
represented  in  the  Association  and  such  others  as  the  chairman  may  request  to 
assist  him. 

Membership  and  Expansion  Committee. 
One  member  from  each  county  in  the   State  showing  horticultural  activity. 


MEMBERSHIP 


NAME. 

Adams,  W.  S.,    

Anderson,  H,   W 

Anwyll,  Harry  L.,  ... 
Atkinson,  D.  W.,  .... 
Atwater,  Richard  M., 

Bauzhah,  W.  H 

Barlow,  Thos.  W.,  ... 
Bartram,  Frank  N.,  . . 
Bennett,  Eugene  B.,  . 
Blaine,  George  W.,    . . 

Bell,  R.  H 

Blessing,   David   S.,    . . 

Boltz,   Peter  R 

Boles,  McClellan  T.,   . 

Boyer,  John  F.,    

Blair,  Charles  P 

Brinton,  Wm.  P., 

Brinton,   S.  L.,    

Cation,  Wm.  R.,   

Chase,  Charles  T 

Chase,  Howard  A.,    . . 

Cooper,  C.  A., 

Corcoran,  J.  Paul,  . . . 
Creasy,  Hon.  Wm.  T., 

Crouse,   E.  A 

Cummings,  Jos.  F.,    . . 

Dickson,   B.   M 

Dill,   Robert 

Dunlap,  Jas.  M., 

Dunlap,  R.  Bruce,    ... 

Eldon,  Robert  M.,   

Engle,  Enos  B.,    , 

Engle,  John  G.,    , 

Espe,  August  G.,    . . . . , 

Fassett,  F.  H.,   

Filbert,  R.  J 

Fox,  Cyrus  T.,   

Freed,  A.  J 

Freed,  W.  A.,   

Garrahan,   R.   H 

Garrettson,  Eli  P.,  ... 

Good,   C.   W 

Griest,  C.  A 

Griest,  Frederick  E.,   . 

Grove,  W.  E 

Haddock,  John  C,  ... 
nail,  iv.  v^..    ......... 

Hartman,  D.  L.,    

Hartman,  George  R., 

Hartman,  L.  E 

Hartman,   Wm.,    

Haverstick,  Paul  E.,  . 
Hawkins,  Chas.  A.,   . . 

Heard,  R.  E 

Hershey,   H.  F 

Hill,  William  D 

Hoopes,  Abner,   

Hostetler,   Abram,    . . . 

Huey,  S.  R.,    

Huff,  Burrell  R 


Life  Members 


POST  OFFICE 


COUNTY. 


Aspers Adams. 

Stewartstown,    York. 

Harrisburg,    Dauphin. 

Wrightstown Bucks. 

Chadds   Ford,    Chester. 

Muncy Lycoming. 

Fort    Washington,    Montgomery. 

1639  Race  St.,  Philadelphia Philadelphia. 

Easton,  Route  3 Northampton. 

North    East,    Erie. 

State    College Centre. 

4  N.  Court  St.,  Harrisburg,    Dauphin. 

Lebanon,  Lebanon. 

Hanlin    Station Washington, 

Middleburg Snyder. 

Monaca,    Beaver. 

,  Christiana Lancaster. 

West    Chester Chester. 

Orrtanna Adams. 

Devon Chester. 

Union   League,   Philadelphia,    Philadelphia. 

1000  Highland  Ave.,  Coraopolis,  ...Allegheny. 

New  Albany 

Catawissa,    Columbia. 

Gettysburg,     Adams. 

Sunbury,     Northumberland. 

571 1  Elgin  Ave.,  Pittsburgh Allegheny. 

North    East Erie. 

Walnut  Bottom,    Cumberland. 

Walnut  Bottom Cumberland. 

Aspers Adams. 

Harrisburg Dauphin. 

Marietta,     Lancaster. 

Perrysville,     Allegheny. 

Meshoppen Wyominj?. 

Fox   Chase Philadelphia. 

Reading,   Berks. 

Racine,    Beaver. 

Racine Beaver. 

Kingston Luzerne. 

Biglerville,    Adams. 

Waynesboro,    Franklin, 

,  Guernsey,    Adams. 

,  Santa  Lucio,  Oriente,  Cuba,   

,  York    oprings,    Adams. 

,  Wilkes-Barre Luzerne. 

,  Avonia Erie. 

Little   River,   Fla.,    

,  Biglerville Adams. 

,  Etters York. 

,  Etters York. 

,  Lancaster,     Lancaster. 

.  York, York. 

.  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,   

,  Harrisburg,    Dauphin. 

.  North    East Erie. 

.  West    Chester Chester. 

.  Johnstown,  Cambria. 

.  Newcastle,    Lawrence. 

.  Greensburg,    Westmoreland. 


NAME. 


POST  OFFICE 


COUNTY. 


1 


C 


Huff,  L.  B Greensburg Westmoreland. 

Hull,  D.  W Waymart Wayne. 

Johnston,  Mrs.  F.  C Dallas Luzerne. 

Jones,  J.  F Willow   otreet Lancaster. 


Jones,  S.  Morris, 

Keller,  H.  M 

Kessler,   Geo.   W., 

Kister,  U.  G 

Koehler,  Paulus  E., 

Landis,  D.  M 

Landis,    Israel, 


West  Grove Chester. 

Gettysburg,  R.  5 Adams. 

Tyrone,   Blair. 

Etters,   York. 

Monaca Beaver. 

Lancaster,  R.   i,   Lancaster. 

Lancaster Lancaster. 

Large,  Miss  Katherine  S.,  Orrtanna,    Adams. 

Lightner,  Wm.  A., Landisburg Perry. 

Loop,  A.  I., North    East Erie. 

Lord,  John Wyoming,   R.   i Luzerne. 

Macneal,  Wm.  H Parkesburg Luzerne. 

Maffet,  Miss  M.  A 264  S.  Franklin  St.,  Wilkes-Barre,  .Luzerne. 

Martin,  J.  O Mercersburg Franklin. 

Mayer,  Guy  S.,   Willow   Street Lancaster. 

Mayer,   Dr.   I.   H.,    Willow    Street,    Lancaster. 

McClelland,  J.   B Canonsburg Washington. 

McCormick,  James Harrisburg Dauphin. 

McFarland,  J.  Horace,   . .  Harrisburg Dauphin. 

McKee,  J.  M Washington Washington. 

McLanahan,  J.   King,    . . .  Hollidaysburg Blair. 

Meehan,  S.  Mendelson,  . .  Germantown Philadelphia. 

Mendenhall,  J.  Howard,  .  Glen    Mills Delaware. 

Metzger,  Dr.  A.  H Millersville Lancaster. 

Mitchell,  Ehrman  B Harrisburg Dauphin. 

Moon,  Henry  T Morrisville,    Bucks. 

Muller,   Adolph,    Norristown Montgomery. 

Myers,  Levi  M Siddonsburg,    York. 

O'Connor,  Haldeman,   ...13  N.  Front  St.,  Harrisburg Dauphin. 

Pannebaker,  Wm.  M Virgilina,  Virginia 

Pierce,  H.  W Wilkes-Barre Luzerne. 

Rankin,   Chas.   C,    West  Chester Chester. 

Reist,  John  G.,   Mount  Joy,    Lancaster. 

Rick,   John Reading Berks. 

Rinehart,  E.  S Mercersburg Franklin. 

Roberts,   Horace,    Moorestown,  N.  J.,   

Robinson,  A.  Blaine North  East Erie. 

Rohde,  Wm Johnstown Cambria. 

Runk,  J.  A Huntingdon Huntingdon. 

Rush,  Perry  M Sycamore,  R.  I.,  Greene. 

Satterthwaite,  Fred'k  G., .  Fallsington Bucks. 

Searle,  Alonza  T Honesdale Wayne. 

Settlemeyer,   C.   T Wilmore 

Shaffner,  Jacob,    Harrisburg,    Dauphin. 

Shallcross,  Frank  R Frankford,    Philadelphia. 

Shank,  H.  L Lancaster,  cjo  Conestoga  Stage,  . . .  Lancaster. 

Sharpe,  Miss  E.  M Accotink,    Va 

Smedley,  Samuel  L 2442  Bryn  Mawr  Ave.,  West  Phila- 
delphia  Philadelphia. 

Snavely,  H.  H.,    Willow   Street,    Lancaster. 

Stem,  Dr.  J.  C Lemoyne Cumberland. 

Stewart,  Dr.  J.  P State  College Centre. 

Strasbaugh,  E.  F.,   Orrtanna Adams. 

Swank,  Luke  H.,   Johnstown Cambria. 

Taylor,  Ralph  S 325  N.  Matlack  Ave.,  West  Chester, Chester. 

Thomas,  Chas.  L King  of   Prussia Montgomery. 

Thomas,   Edwin   W King  of   Prussia Montgomery. 

Trexler,  Harry  C,   Allentown Lehigh. 

Tyson,  Chester  J Flora  Dale Adams. 

Tyson,   Edwin   C Flora  Dale,    Adams. 

Tyson,  Wm.  C Guernsey Adams. 

Van  Deman,  H.  E., 3630   13th  St.,  N.  W.,  Washington, 

D.  C 

Walton,  Robert  J Hummelstown Dauphin. 

Weaver,    Abram Windber Somerset. 

Weimer,  E.  A Lebanon Lebanon. 

Wertz,  D.  Maurice, Waynesboro,    Franklin. 

Wertz,  Geo.  M., Johnstown,    Cambria. 


NAME. 


POST  OFFICE 


COUNTY. 


NAME. 


POST  OFFICE 


Westrick,  F.  A.,   Patton,  R.  2 Cambria. 

Whisler,   Edgar Etters,  R.  i York. 

White,  Arthur  H.,    Pulaski,   Lawrence. 

Williams,   Irvin  C,    Royersford Montgomery. 

Wister,   John   C Germantown Philadelphia. 

Witherow,  R.  T Punxsutawney Jefferson. 

Wolfe,   Chas.  A.,    Aspers Adams. 

Woods,  Edward  A Frick  Bldg.,  Pittsburgh Allegheny. 

Youngs,  L.  G.,   North  East, Erie. 


COUNTY. 
Philadelphia. 


Acker,  A.  Norman 

African  Ostrich  Farm  & 

Feather   Co 

Alleman,  R.  R 

Anderson,  A.  J.,   

Arthur,   C.   M 

Atwater,  C.  G 

Aurandt,  J.  J 

Auten,  v^.  Lf., 

Backman,  A.  W.,   

Bailey,    E.    M 

Baker,   H.   C 

Banks,   William 

Banard,   C.   P.,    

Barnes,  P.  T. 

Barnhart,  Albert,    

Bartram,  Geo.   H.,    

Baugher,   H.  G.,    

Baughman,   F.   E 

Bayard,  E.  S.,   

Beaver,  Geo.  W.,   

Bechtel,   J.    R 

Behrhorst,   C.  E.,    

Belt,   J.   E 

Benn,  M.  L 

Bergey,  James,    

Bitterman,  J.  W.,   

Bouton,    Chas.    S.,    

Botscheller,  A.  P.,   

Bowers,   E.   C,    

Boyd,  J.  C 

Bream,  Samuel 

Briggs,   J.    S 

Brinton,  Chas 

Brinton,  H.  C 

Brinton,  William,   

Brooke,    R.   G 

Brown,   H.   H 

Brown,  Wilbur  J 

Brown,   Wm.,    

Bruner,  W.  W 

Brunges,   Howard   F 

Brunner,  Chas.  S 

Bucher,   F.   S 

Bucher,  Dr.  I.  Reily,   .., 

Bullock,  W.  A , 

Butt,  J.  L , 

Card,  Fred  W 

Carrons.    Robt.    M 

Chandler.  W.  H 

Claar,  William,  , 

Clark,  R.  L 

Clegg,  Wm.  S 

Clouse,  W.  H 

Clovis,  A.   E , 

Cocklin,  J.   A , 

Collins,   Daniel  J ., 

Coarsen,  I.  H , 

Cox,  J.  W.,    

Criswell,  Robert  T.,  


Annual  Members 

Lionville, Chester. 


Harrisburg,    

Camp   Hill 

214  S.   I2th  St.,  Philadelphia 

214  S.  i2th  St.,  Philadelphia, 

17  Battery  Place,  New  York  City,  . 

Lewistown 

West    Chester,     

So.  Langhorne 

cjo  Mcjunken-Strate  Co.,  Pittsb'gh, 

Tunkhannock,    

Mifflintown 

Northbrook 

1 726  Regina  St.,  Harrisburg 

Annville,    

West  Chester,  R.  D.,    

Aspers 

Manox 

no   Shady  Ave.,   Pittsburgh,    

Middleburgh,  R.  4,  

State  College 

417   7th  Ave.,   Pittsburgh,    

Wellsville 

Coudersport 

Mifflintown,    

325   Walnut  St.,   Steelton 

Springdale,  Ark 

Dalton,    

East   Petersburg 

Guy's  Mills 

Biglerville,    

Norristown 

Glenrose, 

Hanover 

Timicula, 

Schwenksville,   

Spring  Valley.  N.  Y 

1617  N.  52d  St.^  Philadelphia 

2108  Myrtle  St.,  Erie,    

Paxtonville,    

Tunkhannock 

New    Bloomfield 

6  W.  King  St.,  Lancaster,  

Lebanon,   

Honesdale,   R.  3 

Gettysburg,     

Sylvania,  

Washington, 

Scranton 

8ueen,     
illsburg,    

New    Bloomfield 

414  Shaw  Ave.,  McKeesport 

Jollytown,     

Siddonsburg,    

Wawa 

Wyoming,     

New   Wilmington 

Chambersburg 


Dauphin. 
Cumberland. 
Philadelphia. 
Philadelphia. 

Mifflin. 

Chester. 

Bucks. 

Allegheny. 

Wyoming. 

Juniata. 

Chester. 

Dauphin. 

Lebanon. 

Chester. 

Adams. 

Westmoreland. 

Allegheny. 

Snyder. 

Centre. 

Allegheny. 

York. 

Potter. 

Juniata. 

Dauphin. 

Lackawanna. 

Lancaster. 

Crawford. 

Adams. 

Montgomery. 

York. 

Chester. 

Montgomery. 

Philadelphia. 

Erie. 

Snyder. 

Wyoming. 

Perry. 

Lancaster. 

Lebanon. 

Wayne. 

York. 

Bradford. 

Washington. 

Lackawanna. 

Bedford. 

York. 

Perry. 

Allegheny. 

Greene. 

York. 

Delaware. 

Luzerne. 

Delaware. 

Franklin. 


t 


Crowell,  Ralph  T 3242  N.  13th  St.,  Philadelphia, 

Cumberland  Nursery  Co.,  Winchester,  Tenn., 

Darby,  R.  U.,   804   Continental   Bldg.,   Baltimore, 

Md.,   

Deathers,  C Howard, Centre. 

Decker,  Aaron Tunkhannock Wyoming. 

Denlinger,  Amos  B.,   Strasburg,  R.  i,   Lancaster. 

Detweiler,  D.  W Wrightsville,  R.  i,  ..; York. 

Dickey,  Samuel 4  Chalmers  Place,  Chicago,  111 

Doan,  John  Lindley Ambler, Montgomery. 

Dulles,  John  W.,    West    Chester Chester. 

Dusmvi.  W.  F Hanover X,°m  j  1  ,.• 

Ebert,  Carl Holmesburg Philadelphia. 

Edge,    Samuel Jackson  Center ??,"^^.''* 

Ellsworth    Farms,    Ellsworth Washington. 

Estabrook,  F.  L.,   Athens Bradtord. 

Estabrook,   H.   S Harford Susquehanna 

Evans,  J.  W.,   Spring    Mills,    Centre. 

Everhart,  G.  W York York. 

Fagan,  F.  N State  College Centre. 

Felty,  G.  B.  O Millersville •  Lancaster. 

Fenstermacher,  P.  S Allentown Lehigh. 


. . .  Lebanon,     Lebanon. 

. . .  Newtown    Square,    Chester. 

. . .  Clifford Susquehanna. 

. . .  Selinsgrove Snyder. 

. . .  Glen    Ridge Delaware. 

. . .  Spring    Grove York. 

. . .  Lewisburg,    Union. 

Factoryville Wyoming. 


Fertig,  F.  R., 
Fielder,    Henry, 
Finn,  A.  O.,  .... 
Fisher,   M.   O.,    . 

Ford,  A.  E 

Forry,  L.  S 

Foster,  T.  C,    .. 

Frear,  Edgar  C,    . 

Funk,  J.  Keiff er,    Chewsville,    Md.,    

Gable,  A.  P Windsor,  R.  i York. 

Gardner,  F.  D., State    College Centre. 

Gardner,  L.  M.,  Jr York    Springs, ^^"^t- 

Carver,   IT.   B.,    i37  E.  Water  St.,  Middletown Dauphin. 

General  Chemical  Co.,    ..l\2  Lafayette  St.,  Philadelphia,   ...Philadelphia. 

Gibson,    Ralph Williamsport,   •,•:•,-.• ^y^.°'?*!i'^u- 

Gidern,  Geo.  D 1722  Arch  St.,  Philadelphia Philadelphia. 

Glass,    S.  J..    Bulger Washington. 

Goodling,   D.   B LogansviUe York. 

Gorham,  Ray State  College ?/ °*f ^• 

Gottshall,  U.  S.,   Schwenksville,   Montour. 

Graybill,  L  B Refton Lancaster. 

Green,  James,  Jr Creighton, Allegheny. 

Greishaber,  J.  A West    Fairview,    .......... ..... . . .  Cumberland. 

Grief  Bros.  Cooperage  Co.,  1937  Wiley  Ave.,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  . 

Griest,  Geo.  G 69  Forge  St.,  Toronto,  Canada,   ... 

Gross,  E.  Z.,   119  Market  St.,  Harrisburg,   Dauphin. 

Haase,  Heinman,    i33  Lafayette  Av.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 

Haines,  Miss  Mary  M.,  . .  Cheltenham,   Montgomery. 

Hall,  Robert  W Bethlehem ''."V"\ Northampton. 

Harman,  T.  D.,  Jr., no  Shady  Ave.,  Pittsburgh Allegheny. 

Harris,   Frank  C.,    Light  Street,  R.  i Columbia 

Harris,  Joseph Shamokin Northumberland. 

Harrison,  J.  G.  &  Sons,  . .  Berlin,  Md., 

Harrison,  W.  0 531  Wood  St.,  Pittsburgh,   Allegheny. 

Harvey,  Frank  L Foxburg Clarion. 

Harvey,  H.  R Foxburg Clarion. 

Hawkins,  E.  B Delta. York 

nayman,  Guy  L Northbrook,   Chester. 

Hayward,  Harry Newark.    Del.,     

Heilman,  J.  R Palmyra.  R.  2 Lebanon. 

Heilman.  R.  P Emporium,    Cameron. 

Herr,  David  T., Lancaster,  R.  7 • Lancaster. 

Herr,  Frank  H Millersville Lancaster. 

Herr.  John  D.,   216  N.  Duke,  St.,  Lancaster Lancaster. 

Hershey,  C.  A Tillie,  Adams. 

Hershey,  H.   S East    Petersburg ^f^^^^M 

Hile,  Anthony Curwensville Uearheld, 

Hitz,   Cyrus  N HockersviUe dauphin. 

Hockman,  H.  E Lock    Haven «V      "' 

Holdridge,  F.  L Tidioute Warren. 


Huflf,  B.  P 

Hummel,  P.  T., 
Hutchins,  E.  A., 
Hyde,  T.  E., 


8 

NAME.  POST  OFFICE  COUNTY. 

Roanoke,  Va.,   

63 1   Maclay  St.,  Harrisburg,    .*  .*  Dauphin. 

Liverpool,    Perry 

,       ,      ^     .  ,  ^,      Bloomsburg,     .'....*!!.' Columbia. 

Jacobs,  Daniel  Clarence,  .  Gettysburg,  R.   5 Adams 

Jaques,  Mrs.  David  R.,     .  Haines  H..  Germantown Philadelphia. 

Jaques,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  H.,  Germantown Philadelphia. 

jonn»on,  C  B Warren,   Box  82,    Warren 

Jones,  J.  H Newport ....'..'    Perry 

Jones,  Mrs.  Matt.  S.,   ...  Brandy  wine    Summit,    .....'..'.  Delaware 

Kams,  M.   G.,   c|o  Orange  Judd  Co.,  New  York,   . 

Kane.  J.  A^    BiglerviUe Adams. 

Kauffman,  Chas.,    Stony    Creek,    York 

Kauffman,  D.  C York,  R.   i,    York! 

Kauflfman,  E.  F York York 

Kauffman    J.  Benj York,  R.  5 .■.';.';;  York.* 

^^f^^^'J^-  ,S    Laceyville,    Wyoming. 

KeUer,   Paul  J Gettysburg,  R.  5 Adams. 

^  1,     ',?/  ?^a''ence, Gettysburg,  R.  5 Adams. 

J^«"y'.  ^^J'r   v. ?*^*^    College Centre. 

Kendig    Dr   J.  D., Manheim Lancaster. 

^■lli^-^-'r. Stony  Creek  Mills Berks. 

Kibbler,   C.   P.,    572   Market   St.,  York York. 

Kjtner,  Joshua New    Bloomfield Perry 

Kein,  LewisA do  U.  of  P..   Phila Philadelphia. 

K  OSS,  D.  S^ Tyrone Blair. 

Klussman,  F.  C Millvale Allechenv 

Knouse,  T.  C,  Benton    R.   3 .\c;iumbiT 

Knuppenburg,    D.  A Lake    Carey Wyoming. 

Krebs,'  Harry  B Mercersburg Franklin. 

Kunke  ,  Jonas New   Ringgold Schuylkill. 

i>""V  W    •  A ^^^   Ringgold Schuylkill. 

Kusel,  Dr.  Geo 1831   Chestnut   St.,   Philadelphia.    ..Philadelphia. 

Larner,  John  B 1709  19th  St.,  Washington,  D.  C,  . 

f^arson    C.  W     State  College Centre. 

Laub,  H    H.,  Jr Lewistown,     Mifflin. 

7"*?'  **•  ** Hancock,    Md.,    

Leighton,  Jas.   G Tunkhannock ,."  Wyoming 

Leonard    F    E New  Kingston Cumberland. 

Lerch,  Fred,    Virginia,  Minn 

Leslie,  Wm.  H Arnold      Westmoreland. 

Levi,   N    R 2243  N.   i6th  St.,  Philadelphia,    ...Philadelphia. 

Lewis,  W.  J Pittston Luzerne 

Mck,   bimon,    Marysville Perrv 

Linde    J.  E..    Orefield ,',    ' Lehigh 

Linvill,  Arthur  S Media.   R.  2 !  Chester 

Lippmcot.   J.   E Melrose  Park,  N.J 

Loose,  H.H Menges  Mills York. 

Loux,  E.  L Souderton Montgomery. 

K^'  y-J J?.°rKa".?,a Washington. 

^"PP'  Si  H- Biglerville,   R.   2 Adams. 

Lyon.  Claude  E Emporium Cameron. 

MacAskie    KG     .......  Brooklyn Susquehanna. 

MacVeagh    Walter  F.,    . .  WiUiamsport Lycoming. 

Maloney    Bros.   &    Wells  wcummg. 

,,Co.,    ..      Dansville,  N.  Y 

^tl^u\^}^^T^ X°'"K.  R-  2 York. 

Marshall    C    J Harrisburg Dauphin. 

{Jf*«"'  J-   P.:, Julian Centre. 

Mayes,  J.  Will Howard Centre 

McDowell,   M.   S State    College Centre. 

M^n*^"'^'  ?I't 5^"*°"'  •••    • :       Columbia. 

Mcllvaine    J    S.,  Jr Fayetteville Franklin. 

JJ^Jf '":  J-  A., Allenport Washington. 

mI^^^^^^'vY""'  i^'A  •  •  •  •  Canonsburg,  R.  4 Washington. 

Mechhng.   Edward   A..    . .  Moorestown,  N.  J  .   . 

Messersmith,  Milton  G..  .  York.  R.   10,      . . . .'  ..:::::::::::••  York. 

Mf^ll^\   tJ Firileyville Washington. 

\f iSfi   '  J*  ^"  'li '  Norristown,   R.   3 Montgomery. 

Kt  '     T    ^r^ S18  Market  St.,  Philadelphia Philadelphia. 

Mickley,  J.   W..    Fairfield,     .' Adams. 


■49  r 


4» 


^1 


>r 


NAME. 


POST  OFFICE 


COUNTY. 


la. 


Miller,  E.  M.,   Hanover York. 

Miller,   Phillip,    Beaver    trails Beaver. 

Minnick,  D.  W.  &  Bro.,   .  Chambersburg Franklin. 

Minter,   Mrs.  D.   G.,    ....  Arendtsville Adams. 

Moon,  Jas.  M 21   S.  12th  St.,  Philadelphia Philadelphi 

Moon,  R.  Barclay,   Morrisville Berks. 

Moore,  B.   S Kulpsville,    Montgomery. 

Moyer,  H.  B Cape  May  City,  N.  J 

Mt.  View  Nursery  Co.,    .  WiUiamsport,    Md 

Murray,  D.  E.,    Catawissa Columbia. 

Musgrove,  John  K Camp    Hill Cumberland. 

Myers,   C.   E State  College Centre. 

Myers,  Walter  F York York. 

Naginey,  R.   O Milroy Mifflin. 

Neal,  H.  C,   Dravasburg Allegheny. 

Neilson,    John,    Trooper Montgomery. 

Newcomer,    W.    S.,    Glen    Rock,    York. 

New  Way  Motor  Co Lansing,    Mich 

Nissley,  Walter  B State  College,    Centre. 

Noll.  C.  F State  College Centre. 

Northrup.  A.  M Ashley Luzerne. 

Norton.  W.  C Dalton Lackawanna. 

Orrtanna  Canning  Co..   . .  Orrtanna Adams. 

Orton,  C.  R State   College Centre. 

Oyler,  Geo.,    Gettysburg,  R.  5 Adams. 

Palmer,    Henry Avondale Chester. 

Peachy,   J.    H Belleville Mifflin. 

Peirce,  Ernest  F.,    West    Chester Chester. 

Peirce,    E.    F.,    Swathmore,    Delaware, 

Pennock.  Mrs.  A.  J Lansdowne Philadelphia. 

Pershing,   Theodore Pineville Bucks. 

Philips,   M.   T..    Pomeroy,     Chester. 

Plank.   H.  K Morgantown,    Berks. 

Pratt.   B.  G 50  Church  St.,  New  York  City,   . . . 

Prickett,  J.   W Aspers,    Adams. 

Purdy,   H.   L..    Sunbury Northumberland. 

Putney.  F.  S..   State  College Centre. 

Pyle,  Robert West   Grove Chester. 

Raffensperger.  Chas.  E.,   .  Arendtsville Adams. 

Rakestraw,   Thomas,    Kennet    Square,    Chester. 

Rorer.  Erwin  C Glen    Rock York. 

Reichert,  J.    H.,    Womelsdorf.    York. 

Reider.  W.  A.  H 340  Chestnut  St.,  Reading Berks. 

Riddlesmoser,   H.   E McKnightstown Adams. 

Ridge,  W.  H Trevose Bucks. 

Rife,  J.   L..    Camp    Hill,    Cumberland. 

Rinehart.   Geo.   W.,    York,   R.  4,    York. 

Rice,    Daniel New    Bloomfield Perry. 

Rice.    F.    G Monroetown Bradford. 

Richards.  A.  C Schellsburg Bedford. 

Riberts.  Arthur Gettysburg,    R.    5.    Adams. 

Rohland.   Otto Narrowsburg,  N.  Y.,  R.  i 

Root,  J.  W.,    Manheim,    Lancaster. 

Rose,   Wm.   J.,    413  Market  St.,  Harrisburg Dauphin. 

Rosenberger,  Dr.  J.  M.,   .  Wycombe,   Bucks. 

Ruhl,  Harry  F.,    Manheim,    Lancaster. 

Ruof,    Frederick Hummelstown,     Dauphin. 

Rupp,  D.  C,    Shiremanstown Cumberland. 

Rupp,  H.  D Rupp  Bldg.,  York York. 

Rush,  J.  G West  Willow,   Lancaster. 

Russel,  N.  W.,    Erie,  R.  6 Erie. 

Sampson,  H.  n., Scranton,    Lackawanna. 

Schell,   Walter  S Harrisburg Dauphin. 

Schwartz,  Samuel,   Spring  Grove Lancaster. 

School     of     Horticulture 

for  Women,   Ambler Montgomery. 

Severson,  B.  O.,   State  College Centre. 

Sharon   Fruit   Farm Newport Perry. 

Sharpless,  John Avondale.    Chester. 

Shaw,    R.    C,    Stewartstown,    York. 

Shay,  M.  E.,    Holmesburg Philadelphia. 

Shearer,  Walter  J Vinemont,     Berks. 


lO 


NAME. 

Shellenberger,  John  H.,  . . 

Shorb,   Albert 

Shuman,  E.  H.,    

Seigfried,  A.   H 

Siegler,    Franklin,    

Silvis.   Bert  W 

Smedley,  Walter 

Smith,  C.  M 

Smith,   N.   F.,    

Snavely,  J.  R 

Snyder,  C.  B.,   

Snyder,  E.  Bane,    

Snyder,  T.  S.,   

Sonneborn,  Henry,  Jr.,   . . 

Staley,  R.  M 

Stark,  O.  V 

Stein,  Geo.  E 

Stewart,  Dr.  J.  P 

Stewart,   Wm.,    

Stickter.  Geo.  B.,   

Stizter,  Clyde  E 

Stover,  F.  S 

Strain,  Thomas,   

Strode,  A.  D 

Strode,  Marshall  D 

Strong,  Geo.  C 

Surface,  H.  A., 

Taylor,  B.  C,   

Taylor,   Harry   E 

Thomas,  Carl  B.,    

Thomas,  Jackson  M.,    . . . 
Thorpe,  Francis  Newton,. 

Throne,   S.   E 

Tomhave,  W.  H 

Tompkins,  L.  C 

Treible,   C.    E 

Treible,  O.  M 

Trox,  Ralph  L 

Trump,  Geo 

Turk,  Jesse  C,   

Tyson,  A.   R 

Van  Norman,  Geo.  T.,   . . 

Vance,  T.  L 

Vogel,  Adam  B., 

Wadhorns,  Miss  Lydia  F., 

Walter,   Wm.,    

Waple,  C.  W 

Warner,   John   W.,    

Watts,   R.   L 

Weidner,  A.  J 

Weise,  H.   Benson 

Wenger,  J,  K 

Werner,   Harvey  O 

Wheat,  John  C 

Wickersham,  R.  A., 

Wilder,  H.  C 

Wiley,   J.    C 

Willson,  J.   C 

Wilson,   Capt.  J.   L.,    . . . . 

Windle,    Francis,    

Wirt,    Charles 

Wolflf,  Dr.  W.  E 

Woolman,  Anna,    

Work,   Paul 

Wright,  A.  Cooper,    

Zimmerman,  D.  B.,   


POST  OFFICE  COUNTY. 

McAllisterville,    Juniata. 

Hanover York. 

Hamburg Berks. 

Selinsgrove Snyder. 

320  S.  44th  St.,  Philadelphia Philadelphia. 

Export,   R.    I,    Westmoreland. 

904  Stephen  Girard  Bldg.,  Phila.,   .Philadelphia. 

Lewistown Mifflin. 

Dansville,    N.    Y 

125  Liberty  St.,  Harrisburg,   Dauphin. 

Ephrata,   R.   i,    Lancaster. 

Jacks    Mountain,    Adams. 

Brodbacks York. 

401   Chestnut  St.,  Philadelphia,    ...Philadelphia. 

Harrisburg,    Dauphin. 

Nicholson Wyoming. 

East    Prospect York. 

State    College,     Centre. 

Landisburg Perry. 

Pottsville Schuylkill. 

Millmont Union. 

Bowmansville,     Lancaster. 

Cave  Road,  Merchantsville,  N,  J.,  . '     •»-        «^S:l>1VC 

West    Chester,    Chester. 

West    Chester,    Chester. 

Orrtanna,    Adams. 

Mechanicsburg Cumberland. 

Chester,    Delaware. 

Chicora,    Butler. 

West    Chester,    Chester. 

Emporium Cameron. 

North  East Erie. 

York York. 

State  College Centre. 

State  College,    Centre. 

Vosburg,  Wyoming. 

Vosburg Wyoming. 

Library Allegheny. 

Muncy,    Lycoming. 

Euclid, Butler. 

Norristown Montgomery. 

Langhorne,     Bucks. 

Warrenton,  Va.,   

Lititz,    Lititz. 

275  Franklin  St.,  Wilkes-Barre,  . . .  Luzerne. 

Blairsville Indiana. 

Tyrone,   Blair. 

Hatboro Montgomery. 

State  College Centre. 

Arendtsville,    Adams. 

Parkesburg,    Chester, 

Chambersburg Franklin. 

State    College Centre. 

100  Hudson  St.,  New  York  City,  .. 

Mechanicsburg,    Cumberland. 

Bureau  of  Soils,  Wash'ton,  D.  C.,  . 

Bridgeton York. 

Wallace   Run,    Lycoming. 

Overbrook,    Philadelphia. 

West  Chester Chester. 

129  Cliveden  Ave.,  Germantown,   ..Philadelphia. 

Arendtsville Adams. 

21  N.  Highland  Ave.,  Lansdowne,  .Delaware. 

Ithaca.  N.  Y 

Hummelstown Dauphin. 

Somerset,    Somerset. 


CONSTITUTION. 


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Article  i. — Name  and  Object.  The  name  of  this  organization 
shall  be  The  State  Horticultural  Association  of  Pennsylvania.  Its 
object  shall  be  to  foster  and  encourage  the  development  of  horti- 
culture in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 

Article  2. — Membership.  Any  person  may  become  an  An- 
nual Member  of  this  Association  by  paying  two  dollars  ($2.00)  to 
the  Secretary,  such  membership  to  expire  on  the  first  day  of  the 
following  annual  meeting,  unless  renewed.  Any  one  paying  twenty 
dollars  ($20.00)  to  the  Secretary  at  one  time  shall  be  entitled  to 
Life  Membership.  Persons  of  distinguished  merit  in  horticulture 
may  be  elected  to  Honorary  Membership  for  the  current  year,  by  a 
majority  vote  of  the  members  present  at  any  regular  meeting. 

Article  3. — Officers.  The  officers  shall  consist  of  a  President, 
three  Vice-Presidents,  a  Secretary  and  a  Treasurer,  all  of  whom 
shall  be  elected  by  ballot  at  each  annual  meeting,  to  hold  office  for 
one  year  or  until  their  successors  shall  be  chosen,  except  that  the 
retiring  Secretary  shall  edit  the  report  of  the  annual  meeting  at 
which  his  successor  is  elected.  No  one  may  serve  as  President  for 
more  than  two  consecutive  terms.  These  elective  officers  shall  con- 
stitute an  Executive  Board  in  conjunction  with  an  additional  in- 
determinate number  of  Vice-Presidents  whose  names  shall  be  an- 
nounced by  the  Secretary  at  the  annual  election  of  officers.  These 
Vice-Presidents  shall  be  the  regularly  elected  Presidents  of  any 
County  Associations,  organized  in  Pennsylvania  for  horticultural 
purposes,  whose  Constitution  is  approved  by  the  Executive  Board, 
and  whose  income  from  annual  membership  dues  during  the  pre- 
ceding year  was  not  less  than  ten  dollars  ($10.00).  In  order  to 
secure  admittance  to  this  Board,  the  Secretary  of  such  County 
Association  shall  certify  to  the  Secretary  of  the  State  Association 
that  the  applicant  has  been  duly  elected  to  serve  as  their  President 
for  the  current  year  and  shall  also  submit  a  statement  showing 
number  of  members  and  amount  of  dues  paid  for  the  preceding 
year.  All  officers  must  be  members  of  the  Association  in  good 
standing  at  the  time  of  their  election  and  shall  assume  their  duties 
at  the  close  of  the  meeting  at  which  they  were  elected. 

Article  4. — Quorum.  Twenty-five  (25)  members  of  the  As- 
socifition  and  five  (5)  members  of  the  Executive  Board  shall  consti- 
tute a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business. 

Article  5. — Standing  Committees.  The  following  Standing 
Committees  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President  to  serve  during  his 
term  of  office:  A  Committee  on  Legislation,  to  consist  of  three  (3) 
members;  a  Committee  on  Exhibitions,  to  consist  of  five  (5)  mem- 
bers ;  a  Committee  on  Membership,  to  consist  of  one  ( i )  member 
from  each  county  in  the  State  showing  evidence  of  horticultural 
activity,  and  a  General  Fruit  Committee,  consisting  of  one  from 

II 


12 

each  county  represented,  with  a  general  chairman  of  the  whole,  each 
member  of  the  General  Fruit  Committee  to  have  the  privilege  of 
appointing  two  assistants. 

Article  6. — Annual  Meeting.  The  Annual  Meeting  of  this 
Association  shall  be  held  during  the  month  of  January  in  each  year, 
at  such  time  and  place  as  the  Executive  Board  shall  determine.  The 
regular  meetings  of  the  Association  shall  be  closed  to  all  persons,  ex- 
cept paid-up  members  of  the  Association,  speakers,  delegates  from 
associations  outside  of  Pennsylvania,  all  ladies,  and  the  minor  sons 
of  members. 

Article  7. — Amendments  to  the  Constitution.  This  Consti- 
tution may  be  amended  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  members  pres- 
ent at  any  annual  meeting,  provided  such  amendment  shall  have 
been  presented  to  the  Secretary  in  writing  at  least  sixty  (60)  days 
prior  to  time  of  holding  the  annual  meeting,  and  by  him  referred  to 
all  members  in  connection  with  the  announcement  of  said  meeting. 


BY-LAWS. 


!! 


Article  i. — Duties  of  the  President.  The  President  shall  be 
the  executive  officer  of  the  Association  and  of  the  Executive  Board, 
and  shall  preside  at  all  meetings  of  either  body  designating  one 
of  the  Vice-Presidents  to  serve  in  his  stead  when  necessarily  absent. 
He  shall  pass  upon  all  bills  and  accounts  of  the  Association  before 
they  are  ordered  paid  by  the  Secretary;  he  shall  appoint  all  dele- 
gates to  other  associations  and  all  special  and  standing  committees 
of  the  Association  unless  otherwise  ordered. 

Article  2. — Duties  of  Vice-Presidents.  The  Vice-Presidents 
shall  serve  on  the  Executive  Board  and  any  one  of  them  may  be 
called  upon  by  the  President  or  the  Executive  Board  to  assume  the 
duties  of  the  Chair  at  any  meeting.  They  shall  also  actively  repre- 
sent the  Association  in  its  various  lines  of  work  in  their  respective 
counties. 

Article  3. — Duties  of  the  Secretary.  The  Secretary  shall  be 
the  recording,  corresponding  and  accounting  officer  of  the  Associa- 
tion and  of  the  Executive  Board ;  he  shall  incur  no  expenditure  of 
a  large  or  doubtful  character  without  the  sanction  of  the  Business 
Committee;  he  shall  secure  the  written  approval  of  the  President 
on  all  bills  or  claims  against  the  Association  before  drawing  his 
order  on  the  Treasurer  for  the  payment  thereof;  he  shall  attend 
all  meetings  of  the  Association  and  of  the  Executive  Board  and 
shall  keep  a  faithful  record  of  their  proceedings;  he  shall  sign  all 
certificates  of  membership  and  all  Diplomas  and  Certificates  of 
Merit,  awarded  by  the  Association.  All  money  received  by  him 
shall  be  promptly  paid  to  the  Treasurer.  He  shall  have  charge  of 
the  Association's  books  and  papers  and  shall  be  responsible  to  the 
Board  for  all  property  placed  in  his  charge ;    he  shall  be  the  cus- 


todian  of  the  Seal  of  the  Associaton   -d^^^^^^^^by^alS^^^ 
affix  same  to  documents  when  needful    he  shaUse        y.^      ^^ 
means  to  secure  the  fullest  announcement  ot  ^^^^  ^^^^ 

Association  i"  th>^ State,  ^/ J.^^j^'^i.^be  ««  duty,  yearly, .to  pre- 
shall  be  found  desirable.    It  shall  aiso  dc  j  Association,  to- 

pare  for  publication    the  Annua    R«P°;\,  °J J^%,pper,  he  being 

^^■:t  rettSnVs^^h  matter  by  an  ^^^^^J^ 

fieri?  ex^nst  a^d  ^^'^^^'--^  ^^  ^ 
Executive  Board. 

Association  shall  be  paid  into  the  hands  °ttn  ^^^^ 

disburse  the  moneys  °f  t"?^  ^''°"a;rcountersigned  by  t^ 
hands  only  upon  order  of  '^^J^l'^^Hi^Z  by  the  Association  for 
dent :    he  shall  keep  the  '?'°"7f„r"d  shall  invest  the  same  under 
Life  Memberships  as  a  d>stmrt  fund,  and  sha  ^^^ 

the  advice  and  direction  °f  t^.^^''^^^^^^       the  general  fund.    Im- 
interest  accruing  thereon  to  the  purpo^  oB^^^^^j^g  j^.s 

mediately  upon  assuming  his  °^".^'^^„  ^„  official  bond  w.th  suf- 
duties,  he  shall  execute  to  *e  As^°"«'°".,feeping  and  disbursemen 
ficient  securities  conditioned  for  the  sate  Keep    g  ji^eharge  of 

of  the  moneys  of  the  Asscg.at.on.  and  for  the  p^^P  ^         jfied  by 
the  further  duties  of  his  office,  in  sucn  sum  ^^  ^^^ 

he  Executive  Board,  ^he  pt^^"?;  °^"J^^^^^^  of  the  President, 
Association.  This  bond  ^^f  ,."f  I'e'^^retary  I'nn'^diately  preceding 
and  shall  be  deposited  with  the  Secreta  y  .^^  g^^d  a  wnt- 

the  annual  meeting,  he  ^hall  submit  to  t  ^^^^  ^^^^     ^^ 

^  S  Sfh^^err  ^^lom  wKi^  .  has^heen ^- 
tt;.^^J%X^^^^^  ^rthrAssociation. 

Akt:ci.E  S-Dut-s  of  the  ^uU^  Board.^  ;^a'nafem|:t"o1 

Board  shall  enact  all  ^".1^.  ^""l/temir^^ "he  salaries  of  its  officers 
the  aflfairs  of  the  Association^  determme  i  ^^bibitions ;  it  shal 

and  assume  the  control  and  •"^"agement  ^       j    j      j <,r  neglect  of 
have  power  to  displace  ^"V  °'!«^,fall  vacancies  by  appointment  to 
duty  or  abuse  of  position;  ^''f"  ™  .^" ''!,nd  shall  hold  at  least  two 
continue  until  the  next  =l""«tvear  one  of  which  shall  occur  at  the 
ral  reeular  sessions  during  the  year,  one  o         Association.    It  may 
im'e  and  place  of  the  A"""^,  ^I'^'Xlefretrry  under  the  advice 
hSd  other  meetings  when  «lled  by^^^^^^f  ^f  ^  Board  at  such 
or  direction  of  «=^J°"%  °Le^*ed  Z^t  ^nvenient,  but  in  all  such 
times  and  places  ^^^-"^V  ^^^^'duly  "otified  of  the  time,  Pla",  and 
cases,  each  member  must  be  auiy  ^^  ^^^  mterests  of  the 

object  of  such  meeting;  it  ^ll^"  ^"fand  ^ovide  for  its  necessities 
Association,  watch  over  is  finances  anop  ^^^^  ^^^^^ 

as  they  shall  arise;  It  shall  appom^^^^^^^^  f„,  ,he  year   and 

^;;oA  S'jhe  Slry  and^Treasurer  may  not  serve;  and  it  shall 


■H 


14 

submit  to  the  Annual  Meeting,  through  the  Secretary,  such  report 
upon  the  condition,  general  interests  and  prospects  of  the  Associa- 
tion as  it  shall  judge  necessary  or  expedient.  All  important  meas- 
ures shall  be  submitted  to  this  Board,  but  may,  by  the  Board,  be 
re-submitted  to  the  Association  for  recommendations. 

Article  6.— Duties  of  the  Business  Committee.  It  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  Business  Committee,  upon  application  of  the  Secre- 
tary, during  the  recess  of  the  Executive  Board,  to  advise  with  him 
as  to  the  expediency  of  making  any  contemplated  but  questionable 
expenditure  for  which  occasion  may  arise  during  such  recess.  The 
Business  Committee  shall  also  audit  the  accounts  of  the  Secretary 
and  the  Treasurer  just  prior  to  the  annual  meeting  and  submit  writ- 
ten report  of  its  findings  to  the  Executive  Board. 

Article  7.— Duties  of  the  Standing  Committees,  (i)  The 
Committee  on  Legislation  shall  inform  itself  in  regard  to  such  exist- 
ing laws  as  relate  to  the  horticultural  interests  of  the  State  and  bring 
the  same  to  the  attention  of  the  Association,  at  the  same  time  re- 
porting any  additional  legislation  which  in  their  judgment  is  de- 
sirable ;  when  so  directed  by  the  Association,  it  shall  cause  to  be  in- 
troduced into  the  State  Legislature  such  bills  as  may  be  deemed 
necessary  and  shall  aid  or  oppose  any  bills  introduced  by  others 
which  directly  or  indirectly  affect  the  interests  of  the  fruit  grower. 

(2)  The  Committee  on  Exhibitions  shall  suggest  from  time  to 
time  such  methods  and  improvements  as  may  seem  to  them  desirable 
m  conducting  the  exhibitions  of  the  Association,  as  well  as  other 
fruit  exhibitions  throughout  the  State,  and  with  the  assistance  of  the 
Executive  Board,  shall  arrange  the  premium  lists,  and  have  charge 
of  all  the  exhibitions  of  the  Association. 

(3)  The  Committee  on  Membership  and  Expansion,  with  the 
co-operation  of  the  County  Vice-Presidents,  shall  bring  the  work 
of  the  Association  to  the  attention  of  fruit  growers  throughout  the 
State,  and  by  such  means  as  they  deem  best,  strive  to  increase  the 
membership. 

(4)  The  General  Fruit  Committee  shall  carefully  and  thor- 
oughly investigate  the  subject  of  fruit  culture  in  general.  Each 
local  committee  of  three  shall  collect  such  useful  and  interesting  in- 
formation in  relation  to  the  subject  as  may  be  in  their  power,  and 
embody  the  same  in  monthly  reports,  to  be  made  to  the  general 
chairman;  such  reports  to  be  by  him  examined  and  embodied  in 
his  annual  and  semi-annual  reports. 

Such  other  Standing  Committees  may  be  created  by  the  Execu- 
tive Board  from  time  to  time,  as  in  its  discretion  may  seem  de- 
sirable or  necessary. 

All  Standing  Committees  shall  report  to  the  Annual  Meeting  in 
January,  any  information  of  value  to  the  Association  or  its  mem- 
bers, that  may  have  come  to  their  knowledge  during  the  year,  as 
well  as  any  scientific  theories,  deductions  or  facts  that  in  their  opin- 
ion may  be  useful  in  advancing  the  object  for  which  the  Association 
IS  laboring. 


■ 


; 


IS 

Article  8.— Nomenclature.  The  Association  shall  adopt  the 
nomenclature  of  the  American  Pomological  Society. 

Article  9.— Amendments  to  By-Laws.  Amendments  or  addi- 
tions to  these  By-Laws  may  be  made  by  a  majority  vote  of  the 
Executive  Board  at  any  meeting,  but  if  objection  shall  be  made,  the 
same  shall  "lie  upon  the  table"  till  the  next  regular  meeting  of  the 
Board.  These  By-Laws,  or  any  one  or  more  of  them,  may  be  sus- 
pended for  the  time,  by  order  of  a  majority  of  all  the  members  of 
the  Association  present  and  voting.  A  proposition  in  the  general 
meeting  of  the  Association  for  an  amendment  or  addition  to  these 
By-Laws  shall  be  referred  to  the  Executive  Board  for  considera- 
tion and  decision  but  the  Association  may  submit  therewith  its 
advice  or  request. 

SUMMER  MEETING 

June  17  and  18, 1914 

With  the  Department  of  Horticulture  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania State  College,  State  College,  Pa, 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF  THE 

FIFTY-FIFTH  ANNUAL  MEETING 

OF  THE 

State  Horticultural  Association 

of  Pennsylvania 

HELD  AT 

York,  Pa.,  January  20,  21,  22,  1914 


The  Fifty-fifth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  State  Horticultural  As- 
sociation of  Pennsylvania  convened  in  the  Court  House,  York,  at 
1 :  30  P.  M.,  Tuesday,  January  20,  1914,  with  President  Creasy  in 
the  chair. 

PRESIDENT'S  ADDRESS. 


Wm.  T.  Creasy,  Catawissa. 

To  the  Officers  and  Members  of  the  State  Horticultural  Association 
of  Pennsylvania: 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  greet  the  fruit  growers  of  the  State  at 
this  the  55th  Annual  Meeting  of  the  State  Horticultural  Association 
of  Pennsylvania.  The  horticulturist,  in  growing  fruit,  has  many 
things  to  contend  with  (conditions  of  soil,  climate,  insect  pests, 
funguous  diseases,  etc.).  The  past  year  had  the  usual  number  of 
discouragements,  but  strange  as  it  may  seem,  what  was  one  man's 
loss  vvas  another  man's  gain,  somewhat  on  the  same  footing  as 
gambling.  And  in  the  last  analysis,  fruit  growing  is  more  or  less  of 
a  gamble,  some  fruits  more  so  than  others.  The  past  year  in  the 
lowlands,  and  some  other  sections  in  the  State,  the  fruit  was  frozen, 
or  severely  damaged  by  very  cold  weather  in  May  and  June,  so  that 
an  elevation  of  a  few  feet  produced  a  crop,  while  lower  elevations 
were  failures.  The  prices  of  all  the  fruits,  I  believe,  averaged  higher 
than  the  previous  year.  The  cellar  stored  apples  are  not  keeping 
well,  so  that  the  cold  storage  apples  are  bringing  and  will  bring 
very  remunerative  prices  to  the  owners  thereof. 

The  scale  insect  pests,  and  other  diseases,  are  still  with  us. 
And  fruit  growing  without  spraying  is  a  failure,  or  nearly  so.  Our 
advice  is  that  those  who  do  not,  or  can  not  spray,  had  better  discon- 

16 


17 

tinue  the  business.  Pennsylvania  is  a  great  fruit  State,  no  State  in 
the  Union  produces  better  fruit  than  Pennsylvania,  when  it  has 
the  proper  location  and  is  properly  cared  for.  In  my  last  year's  re- 
port 1  said  that  the  census  of  1909  showed  that  Pennsylvania  ranked 
third  in  the  production  of  apples,  and  that  the  average  value  of  the 
fruit  produced  by  each  bearing  apple  tree  in  our  State  is  70  cents, 
so  that  It  can  be  readily  seen  that  of  the  eight  million  bearing  trees 
in  Pennsylvania  we  must  have  a  tremendous  lot  that  do  not  pay 
their  keep.  The  value  of  the  fruit  produced  on  the  bearing  pear 
trees  in  our  State  is  45  cents,  so  of  the  nearly  eight  hundred  thou- 
sand pear  trees,  one-half  could  be  eliminated  and  then  by  proper 
attention  ^ye  could  still  double  the  value  per  tree.  The  average  value 
of  the  fruit  of  our  bearing  peach  trees  in  our  State  is  57  cents,  or 
nearly  twice  the  average  in  the  United  States.  These  comparisons 
show  that  on  the  average  our  fruit  business,  in  Pennsylvania,  is  not 
paying  much,  if  any,  profit.  The  future  of  the  business  in  our 
Mate  IS  more  or  less  a  guess,  but  we  believe  from  the  amount  of 
trees  planted  in  the  last  five  or  six  years  that  there  will  be  a  tendency 
to  over-production,  should  our  orchards  bear  anything  near  a  bumper 
crop.  At  present  we  do  not  have  as  many  cold  storage  houses  as  we 
ought  to  have.  Many  of  the  smaller  towns  have  very  few  apples  on 
sale.  Thousands  of  bushels  could  be  used  if  there  would  be  more 
and  better  places  to  store  them. 

This  leads  up  to  another  question,  and  that  is,  there  should  be 
more  co-operation  in  the  fruit  growing  business,  if  we  wish  to  make 
It  a  paying  one.  And  in  connection  with  this,  the  fruit  growers  in 
the  different  sections  of  the  State  should  devise  ways  and  means  to 
use  up  their  surplus  and  culled  stock.  In  most  instances  this  is 
wasted,  because  there  are  no  available  means  to  utilize  them.  With 
co-operative  canneries,  cider  mills,  evaporators,  etc.,  this  waste 
product  would  be  turned  into  a  profit,  and  I  believe  a  market  could 
be  found  for  our  vinegar  thus  made  at  some  profit.  This  would  give 
the  people  a  pure,  healthy,  cider  vinegar,  in  place  of  the  cheap  acid 
patent  vinegar  now  used  by  so  many  people  with  more  or  less  dam- 
age to  their  health. 

Another  matter  that  should  demand  the  attention  of  the  or- 
chardist,  as  well  as  the  nurseryman,  are  the  many  diseased  trees 
that  have  been  planted  the  last  few  years.     Thousands  and  thou- 
sands of  trees  aflPected  with  crown  and  root  gall  have  been  planted 
by  the  people  of  our  State.     I  have  given  some  attention  to  this 
disease  and  can  prove  by  photographs  taken  by  Professor  D.  E 
Murray   fruit  inspector  of  our  State  Department,  that  this  disease 
makes  the  trees  comparatively  worthless.     From  my  experience,  I 
believe  there  are  several  kinds  of  crown  and  root  gall,  and  we  be- 
lieve the  time  has  come  for  our  agricultural  department  to  not  per- 
mit the  planting  of  trees  aflFected  with  this  disease.    The  nursery- 
men will  then  be  more  careful  in  the  selection  and  treatment  of  their 
soil,  as  well  as  selecting  the  kind  of  roots,  or  seedlings  used  in  bud- 
ding or  grafting. 

P.  J.  Berckmans,  ex-President  of  the  American  Pomological 
Society,  has  written:  "Trees  should  be  propagated  from  healthy 
and  vigorous  stocks,  either  by  grafting  or  budding.    The  system  of 


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grafting  upon  pieces  of  roots  is  wrong,  to  say  the  least,  but  as  this 
is  the  cheapest  and  quickest  method  to  manufacture  trees,  it  is  much 
resorted  to  by  some  nurserymen.  No  lasting  results  can  possibly  be 
expected  from  trees  propagated  upon  this  plan.  They  never  form 
any  but  small,  fibrous,  hairlike  roots,  and  when  planted  in  the  or- 
chard, they  require  staking  and  seldom  ever  make  a  good  tree. 
Several  years  ago  I  denounced  this  system  as  worthless — calculated 
only  to  disappoint  the  planter — and  my  opinion  is  substantiated  by 
that  of  reliable  cultivators.  To  obtain  the  object  in  view — longevity 
and  fruitfulness — a  tree  should  have  for  its  basis  a  healthy  stock, 
capable  of  penetrating  the  soil  with  strong  roots,  and  an  abundance 
of  lateral  roots  to  draw  its  nutrition." 

The  program  prepared  for  this  meeting  is  instructive  and  made 
up  of  our  own  people.  On  account  of  the  lack  of  funds  brought 
about  by  the  vetoing  of  the  appropriation  given  to  the  State  Horti- 
cultural Association,  we  could  not  offer  prizes  for  fruit  or  secure 
outside  talent  for  this  meeting.  Just  why  the  appropriation  was 
vetoed  by  the  Governor  no  one  seems  to  know.  The  question  for 
this  Association  to  determine  at  this  meeting  is  that  of  funds  to 
carry  on  its  work.  This  body  could  be  made  to  be  of  immense  value 
to  the  fruit  growers  of  the  State,  in  having  exhibitions  of  the  fruit 
grown.  It  would  be  one  of  the  best  advertisements  for  the  fruit 
industry  of  this  State.  The  National  Apple  Show,  held  at  Spokane, 
Washington,  last  year,  paid  out  $15,000.00  in  premiums  and  had  on 
exhibition  fifty-four  carloads  of  apples.  I  would  suggest  that  the 
Secretary  of  the  Association — if  funds  are  available — to  secure  a 
list  of  the  apple  growers  of  the  State  for  the  purpose  of  informa- 
tion for  prospective  buyers.  The  economic  zoologist,  and  the  State 
College,  are  doing  good  work.  Our  county  horticultural  associations 
are  doing  splendid  work  in  some  of  the  counties  and  more  co-oper- 
ative work  is  needed  by  these  county  associations  along  different 
lines  of  activity.  We  have  already  mentioned  this  co-operative 
work,  and  unless  this  is  taken  hold  of  in  time,  we  will,  in  the  near 
future,  find  ourselves  with  a  big  fruit  crop  on  hand,  with  no  plans, 
or  system,  to  dispose  of  it  to  good  advantage.  Better  grading,  bet- 
ter packing,  with  such  inspection  and  guarantees  that  the  consumer 
will  know  what  he  is  getting,  is  necessary. 

Under  the  new  rules  of  the  Association,  the  presiding  officer 
retires  after  serving  two  years.  It  is  my  wish  that  you  show  the 
same  courtesy  and  good  feeling  toward  your  new  President,  as  you 
have  accorded  the  retiring  officer. 

York  County  is  one  of  our  leading  fruit  sections  and  is  noted 
for  its  handsome  red  apples,  and  hospitable  people.  A  profitable 
and  instructive  session  is  awaiting  us. 

WELCOME  AND  RESPONSE. 


Hon.  John  P.  Lafean,  Mayor  of  York,  addressed  the  meeting, 
extending  a  most  cordial  welcome  to  the  members  of  the  Associa- 
tion, wishing  them  much  pleasure  and  profit  in  their  visit  to  York. 

Mr.  Robert  J.  Walton,  of  Hummelstown,  responded,  and  in  a 
few  well  chosen  words  assured  the  mayor  of  our  appreciation  and 
acceptance. 


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19 

FRUIT  CONDITIONS  IN  PENNSYLVANIA. 


By  Prof.  D.  E.  Murray,  Chairman  General  Fruit  Committee, 

Catawissa,  Pa, 


In  writing  this  report,  the  chairman  of  the  General  Fruit  Com- 
mittee determined,  so  far  as  possible,  to  gather  data  and  statistics 
which,  when  properly  arranged,  would  not  only  give  an  approxi- 
mately correct  survey  of  the  general  conditions  as  regards  yields 
and  prices,  but  would  at  the  same  time  cover  those  conditions  which 
determine  largely  the  success  or  failure  of  the  fruit  grower.  With 
this  end  in  view,  a  series  of  questions  were  prepared  and  sent  out 
from  which  we  received  nearly  a  hundred  per  cent,  replies.  Right 
here  it  seems  right  to  state  that  owing  to  a  lack  of  money  your 
chairman  had  not  a  penny  at  his  disposal  to  get  this  information, 
but  through  the  courtesy  of  Prof.  H.  A.  Surface,  State  Zoologist, 
the  information  blanks  were  printed  and  sent  out  making  this  report 
possible.  Here,  too,  I  want  to  express  my  thanks  to  those  loyal 
horticulturists,  my  correspondents,  who  so  willingly  and  ably  re- 
sponded, not  only  answering  the  questions  but  following  each  with  a 
letter  full  of  the  spirit  of  co-operation. 

Pennsylvania,  as  a  whole,  lacks  nothing  to  make  her  the  great- 
est all-round  fruit  State  in  the  Union.  Nature  has  been  lavish  in 
her  gifts  and  generous  in  her  distribution.  If  we  do  not  grasp  these 
opportunities,  or  if  we  do  not  follow  her  directions  we  are  from  the 
necessity  of  things  sufferers  from  the  horticultural  standpoint. 

Our  markets  are  the  best ;  we  are  at  their  doors ;  if  they  are 
congested  it  is  due  to  a  lack  of  co-operation  among  the  fruit  growers. 
This  is  an  economic  problem  which  must  be  solved  by  this  Associa- 
tion in  conjunction  with  the  various  county  or  district  organizations. 
Our  proximity  to  the  sea-board  gives  us  every  advantage  in  export 
trade.  Why,  then,  should  we  not  take  advantage  of  these  natural 
conditions  and  let  the  limit  be  one  of  production  only  ? 

Crop  Varies. 

The  crop  of  apples  in  the  State  varied  from  two  per  cent,  in 
Forrest  County  to  seventy-five  per  cent  in  Bradford,  Wyoming, 
Sullivan,  Clinton  and  Lycoming,  making  a  general  average  for  the 
entire  State  of  thirty  per  cent.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  in 
Forest  County  with  a  two  per  cent,  crop  of  apples,  little  if  any  up- 
to-date  orcharding,  is  practiced,  and  yet  it  is  a  fact  that  apples  are 
the  surest  crop  which  can  be  raised ;  compare  this  with  Bradford, 
Wyoming,  Sullivan,  Lycoming,  Clinton  and  Bedford,  with  seventy- 
five  per  cent,  crop ;  in  these  counties  the  most  scientific  methods  are 
used.  The  story  is  easily  told.  Neglect  more  than  climatic  condi- 
tions is  the  cause.  In  every  instance  which  has  been  reported  to  me 
and  those  cases  which  have  come  under  my  personal  observation 
while  traveling  over  the  State,  poor  quality  has  been  the  result  of 
poor  practice.  The  time  has  gone  by  when  we  may  expect  to  grow 
marketable  fruit  to  our  advantage  financially  without  labor.  Qual- 
ity is  spelled  in  the  intelligent  care  given  a  tree.  One  gentleman  in 
writing  me  stated  that  he  has  an  orchard  of  three  acres,  the  trees 


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being  between  thirty  and  thirty-five  years  old;    from  this  orchard 
he  niver  raised  enough  apples  for  his  own  use  until  five  years  ago 
when  hrcame  in  coLct  wi^  an  enthusiastic  inspector  from  the 
^ffi'ce  of  Prof.  Surface.     Since  then  he  has  sold  apP  -  -^^^^^^^^ 
tiav  the  original  investment  in  his  160  acre  farm.    He  turtner  statea 
AaVthose  tl^ree  acres  in  trees  brought  him  more  money  than  thirty 
acrls  in  corn.    This  is  but  one  of  many  such  experiences  which  have 
come  to  my  attention  but  all  those  men  have  been  willing  to  gve 
thdr  orchards  careful  attention,  recognizing  in  them  a  profitable  in- 
vestment    Sometimes  we  are  very  apt  to   ay  at  the  door  of  proyi- 
dencTthe  result  of  our  indolence.     Nothing  more  beautiful  could 
have'b  en  fmmd  in  days  of  travel  than  could  have  been  seen  as  you 
anoroach  the  home  of  our  president,  the  Hon.  William  T.  Creasy. 
T^^ees  loaded  with  the  most  beautiful  apples  which  graded  Number 
I    Hundreds  of  bushels  sired  and  colored.    Adjoining  this  orchard 
was  anoti,  the  apples  so  poor  as  to  -kecomparjson  ridiculous. 
In  another  valley,  with  the  same  character  of  soil,  higher  altituae 
miles  from  the  river,  with  every  natural  advantage   the  owner  did 
no    get  five  bushels  from  over  a  hundred  trees.     I  mention  these 
casefto  emphasize  the  fact  that  man,  not  nature  is  responsible  for 
the  la  ge  percentage  of  waste  and  loss.    This  part  will  be  d^cu  sed 
ater     The  fact  of  quality  always  opens  up  the  market  at  the  high- 
est price      This  has  been  demonstrated  repeatedly;    Pennsylvania 
applies  fn  competition  with  the  apples  of  O^f  ""•  C°l°'-ado  and 
Washineton  is  well  known  to  most  of  you  and  that  the  price  re 
S  vfas  on  an  average  of  $2,25  per  box  more  may  not  be  so  gen- 
erally known.    Last  year  on  the  eastern  -/^"^^t  *^J"='''  ^  "^^ntTto 
sylvania  apples  was  recognized  to  the  extent  "^  f^"-^  "'^  "^  f,t° 
a  dollar  a  box  more  than  either  western  or  New  York  products. 
This  Fall  a  gemleman  of  "y  acquaintance  sold  his  entire  crop  in 
Cuba   receiving  f.  o.  b.  cars  $3.25  a  barrel.     In  a  later  letter  tne 
buye;  stated  that  he  could  have  purchased  western  frui    cheaper 
hut  the  auality  wa.s  what  he  was  after.    Let  me  insist  that  we  pro- 
ceed to  ratsfqiTality  rather  than  quantity  and  I  am  sure  that  we 
will  be  surprised  to  find  that  we  have  both. 

Buyers  Numerous. 

This  year  the  prices  have  varied  from  60  cents  a  cwt  to  $1.40: 

from  25  cents  a  bushel  to  $1.25:    from  $2  per  barrel  to  $5,  and 

from  7^  cents  per  box  to  $2.50.     Buyers  were  numerous  and  bid 

ver^ealerly  agl^inst  each  otlie?;   in  one  instance  from  60  cents  per 

'"'•Th!mo°st  destructive  pests  of  the  apple  tree  and  fniit  are  the 
following:  Codling  moth,  borers,  aphis,  bud  moth,  leaf  blister  mite 
San  Tose  scale,  curculio,  caterpillars,  railroad  worm  wooly  aphis, 
ovster  shell  scale.  Most  if  not  all  of  which  could  have  been  pre- 
vented "by  spraying.  One  interesting  experiment  was  carried  out  in 
Iprayhig  for  the  railroad  maggot.  Seven  gallons  of  syrup  forty 
gallons  of  water  and  three  pounds  of  lead  arsenate  were  used  about 
fhesth  of  June.  Whether  other  measures  taken  the  year  before 
prevented  the  recurrence  of  the  fly  this  year  cannot  be  definitely  de- 
termined but  the  fact  is  that  whereas  the  year  of  1912  we  saw  the 


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whole  crop  practically  destroyed  by  the  maggot,  yet  this  last  season 
less  than  one  per  cent,  of  the  apples  were  destroyed.  I  have  a  firm 
belief  that  if  proper  attention  is  paid  to  this  we  will  reduce  this 
enemy  to  the  same  place  as  we  have  the  scale  and  the  codling  moth. 

The  diseases  which  were  the  most  destructive  were  the  scab, 
brown  rot,  blight,  collar  blight,  crown  gall,  and  the  so-called  baldwin 
spot. 

It  has  been  demonstrated  that  those  diseases  which  attack  the 
fruit  may  be  controlled  by  spraying  with  bordeaux  or  lime-sulphur, 
either  self -boiled  or  diluted  concentrate.  The  subject  of  blight, 
whether  of  apple  or  pear,  has  been  one  for  much  controversy ;  and 
while  the  specialists  have  been  disputing  among  themselves,  the 
practical  orchardist  has  been  using  the  saw  and  knife  taking  proper 
antiseptic  measures  with  the  result  that  he  thinks  he  is  getting  the 
better  of  it.  Crown  gall  is  a  disease  of  an  insidious  character;  its 
results  are  in  a  great  many  instances  slow  about  showing  but  sure 
in  the  end  to  the  owner.  I  have  personally  made  some  investigation 
along  this  line  and  believe  if  the  loss  to  the  orchardist  was  known 
for  just  what  it  is  we  would  be  startled  by  the  ravages  of  this  dis- 
ease ;  measures  both  efficient  and  effective  must  be  taken.  We  know 
for  a  certainty  that  cutting  off  the  gall  and  treating  the  roots  anti- 
septically  have  not  proven  in  the  main  satisfactory.  Preventive 
measures  may  be  taken  in  the  handling  of  the  young  trees  both  be- 
fore and  after  planting,  care  being  taken  that  the  roots  are  not 
injured. 

As  nearly  as  can  be  determined,  planting  in  191 3  increased 
about  five  per  cent,  over  191 2,  my  information  being  obtained  from 
railroad  agents  of  the  various  lines  in  a  given  territory;  just  why 
this  increase  in  planting  was  the  basis  of  an  inquiry  put  to  approxi- 
mately 200  men ;  the  answers  resolved  themselves  into  the  one  ex- 
pression— demand  for  fruit.  If  these  men  were  correct  in  their  de- 
ductions then  the  question  as  to  whether  planting  is  being  overdone 
can  be  answered  in  the  negative.  Besides  these  men  I  put  the  same 
question  to  twenty-five  experts  who  are  constantly  in  the  field  and 
in  close  touch  with  the  fruit  grower ;  the  answers  with  but  one  ex- 
ception were  the  same  as  the  answers  of  the  fruit  growers  them- 
selves and  the  same  reason  given.  There  is  little  danger  of  over- 
planting  with  that  view  in  mind  simply  because  we  all  realize  that 
the  demands  are  becoming  more  critical  with  each  year,  with  the  re- 
sult that  quality  will  rule,  other  kinds  being  eliminated  from  the 
market.  But  in  the  planting  of  young  orchards  care  should  be  taken 
to  select  those  varieties  which  are  most  resistant  to  sudden  climatic 
changes.  A  careful  survey  of  the  State  shows  that  from  Snyder 
County,  west  and  south,  the  most  resistant  varieties  were  the  Rome 
Beauty,  Northern  Spy,  Baldwin,  where  grown ;  Tolman  Sweet  and 
Ben  Davis ;  south  and  west,  the  most  resistant  were  the  Baldwins, 
Northern  Spy,  Greenings,  Tolman  Sweet,  Ben  Davis,  Grimes  Golden, 
Pewaukee ;  in  that  territory  west  of  Huntington  County  there  seems 
to  have  been  no  difference  as  to  the  power  of  resistance,  except  in 
two  instances  where  the  early  varieties  seem  to  have  been  the  only 
ones  to  give  crop.  The  Stayman  Winesap  in  one  instance,  but  this 
variety  in  Bedford  County  showed  the  strongest  resistance,  was  dis- 


i^ 


f 


22 

astrously  injured  April  and  May.    The  Jonathan  wherever  fruiting 
gave  a  good  crop. 

Results  of  Pruning. 
The  general  concensus  of  opinion  was  to  the  effect  that  prun- 
ing had  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the  disturbance  of  the  crop 
but  on  the  other  hand  it  was  thought  that  proper  pruning  resulted  in 
two  things ;  first,  the  stronger  development  of  the  bud  which  had  a 
strong  tendency  to  resist  any  of  the  sudden  changes  which  might 
take  place  in  the  spring,  and  second,  the  development  of  a  quality 
which  was  superior^    Where  frost  in  May  and  April  swept  through 
a  given  territory  destroying  one  variety  or  a  whole  orchard  we 
found  on  careful  examination  that  the  soil  conditions  were  prac- 
tically the  same  but  in  nearly  every  instance  the  higher  altitude  es- 
caped  complete  destruction  with  this  one  exception  that  trees  of  the 
Winesap  varieties,  if  planted  in  heavy  soil,  were  largely  destroyed. 
In  several  instances  such  as  in  Potter,  Forest,  Tioga  McKean,  Law- 
rence   Mercer,  Butler,   Columbia,   Northumberland  and   Montour 
Counties,  very  little  damage  was  done  by  the  April  frosts   so  far  as 
could  be  determined  but  the  May  frost  froze  the  little  apples  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  destroy  in  some  places  the  entire  crop. 

One  of  the  peculiar  conditions  in  the  peach  orchards  of  the 
State  was  that  in  a  given  territory,  orchard  after  orchard  was  non- 
productrve  on  account  of  the  late  April  and  May  frosts,  and  yet 
these  orchards,  planted  on  the  highest  elevations,  were  frozen  while 
t'ees  m  the  lo^er  land,  in  fact  the  lowest  part  of  the  farm  seemed 
not  to  have  been  injured  in  the  least— one  of  the  paradoxes  of  horti- 
cultural science.     Another  feature  which  at  first  seemed  peculiar 
was  that  in  orchards  of  equal  elevation  the  fruit  of  one  was  de- 
stroyed while  that  of  the  other  was  not  damaged  beyond  thinning 
On  closer  investigation  it  was  found  that  where  the  same  cultural 
methods  were  given  the  orchards  bore  the  same  ratio  of  crops. 
The  best  results  seemed  to  have  been  gotten  by  a  clean  culture  up 
to  about  the  middle  of  June  or  the  ist  of  July  then  cover  cropped; 
late  growths  were  checked,  buds  hardened,  and  the  trees  went  into 
wintir  well  seasoned;  the  following  spring  cultivation  did  not  begin 
early  and  no  nitrogenous  fertilizer  applied  until  the  middle  of  May , 
pruning  was  also  delayed,  in  some  cases  wholly  neglected,  with  the 
result  as  j  found  it,  some  sort  of  a  crop.  .        .         ^ 

The  data  shows  that  there  was  about  a  fifteen  to  twenty  per 
cent,  crop  of  peaches,  showing  that  the  Elberta  Iron  Mountain, 
Early  Crawford,  Champion,  Lemon-Free  and  Smock  to  be  the 
varieties  which  gave  the  best  crop;  a  preponderance  of  opinion  giv- 
ing the  record  to  the  Elberta  and  the  Champion  as  the  strongest. 

What  to  Plant. 

The  prices  varied  from  80  cents  per  basket  to  $1.75,  with  an 
average  of  $1.00.  At  this  point  it  might  be  well  for  us  to  00k  for 
a  moment  just  what  varieties  should  be  planted.  If  Nve  follow  the 
present  plan  of  planting  a  number  of  different  varieties  we  are 
almost  certain  to  get  some  peaches,  but  does  it  pay  to  follow  that 
system^     Might  we  not  better  take  those  varieties  which  have 


.1 


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23 

proven  winners  in  our  locality  the  past  and  especially  the  last  two 
seasons,  and  plant  of  them  ?  Some  are  induced  to  plant  of  the  newer 
and  earlier  varieties,  the  argument  being  that  the  earlier  varieties 
are  placed  on  the  market  without  competition  from  the  orchards  of 
the  South,  and  as  a  result  a  better  price  is  received.  This  may  be 
true  but  the  risk  seems  too  great  to  place  everything  on  it.  My  own 
personal  observation  leads  me  to  say  that  during  the  past  season 
it  was  not  competition  with  the  foreign  fruit  which  lowered  the 
price  in  our  home  markets,  but  rather  that  lack  of  co-operation  of 
which  I  have  spoken,  which  congested  the  markets  and  naturally  the 

price  fell. 

The  insects  which  were  most  harmful  were  the  borer  and  cur- 
culio,  with  here  and  there  reports  of  San  Jose  scale.  These  are 
enemies  which  can  easily  be  eliminated  as  an  economic  factor  in 
the  peach  orchard.  I  need  not  go  over  the  whole  subject  of  spraying 
but  would  state  for  our  mutual  benefit  that  the  borer  has  been  re- 
duced to  the  minimum  in  orchards  throughout  the  State  by  different 
means.  One  man  reports  to  me  that  he  controlled  them  by  placing 
around  his  trees  the  fine  siftings  of  coal  ashes ;  quite  a  number  have 
taken  to  spraying  the  trunks  of  the  trees  with  a  lime-sulphur  solu- 
tion (Sp.  gravity  1.03),  repeating  several  times  during  the  season  be- 
tween June  10  and  September  15,  and  claim  immunity  from  the 

borers. 

Among  the  diseases  of  the  tree  I  found  "Yellows"  in  the  orchards 
of  the  State  except  the  counties  of  Armstrong,  Clarion,  Monroe, 
Lancaster,  Venango,  Pike,  Franklin,  Blair,  Bradford,  Wyoming, 
Sullivan,  Crawford  and  Juniata;  throughout  the  balance  of  the 
State  this  disease  is  of  greater  or  less  importance.  In  its  treatment 
there  seems  nothing  else  to  do  but  to  pull  out  and  burn  the  infected 
trees.  Leaf  curl  is  reported  from  several  counties;  this  condition 
should  not  exist.  It  is  so  easily  controlled  by  spraying,  just  before 
the  buds  shove,  with  lime-sulphur  full  scale  strength  (1.03  sp.  gr.) 
but  so  long  as  men  will  not  spray  there  can  be  no  other  result.  The 
opinion  has  gotten  out  among  some  men  that  the  only  reason  we 
spray  is  for  the  control  of  the  scale  insects ;  let  this  be  most  em- 
phatic that  we  spray  for  fruit,  and  though  we  may  have  no  scale  it 
pays  to  spray  just  the  same;  a  great  many  reasons  could  be  ad- 
vanced for  this  statement.  Brown  Rot  is  the  only  disease  of  the 
peach  which  is  controlled  by  spraying  with  bordeaux  mixture  3-4-50 

formula. 

Pears  seemed  to  have  suffered  by  the  late  spring  frosts  nearly 
as  much  as  apples.  Fifty-two  counties  reported  no  pears  at  all  to  as 
high  as  an  eighty  per  cent,  crop,  but  generally  it  ran  about  a  forty 
per  cent,  with  a  good  yield  of  Keiffers,  which  brought  on  an  average 
of  90  cents  per  bushel,  while  other  varieties  brought  from  $1.25  to 
$1.75  per  bushel.  Blight  is  the  chief  enemy  of  the  pear  tree  and  is 
destroying  from  fifteen  per  cent,  to  twenty  per  cent,  of  the  trees  per 
year.  At  this  rate,  if  the  information  which  I  have  secured  is  any- 
where at  all  correct,  we  will  be  looking  elsewhere  for  our  better  class 
of  pears.  The  only  remedy  for  this  disease  known  at  present  is  to 
cut  out  and  apply  an  antiseptic  wash  to  the  wounds  and  then  paint 
with  white  lead  and  linseed  oil ;  this  treatment  to  be  effective  must 


24 

be  followed  up  with  the  greatest  care,  going  through  the  orchard  at 
least  once  a  week.  In  view  of  this  disease  more  Keifters  are  being 
planted  they  seeming  to  be  more  resistant  to  the  disease. 

The  cherry  crop,  from  what  I  have  been  able  to  gather,  was  but 
a  ten  per  cent,  one,  and  sold  at  an  average  of  I2>4  cents  per  quart. 
The  Yellow  Spanish,  Black  Tartarian  and  the  Napoleon  Big  arreau 
and  Lullean  being  about  the  only  sweet  cherries  to  crop.  Of  sour 
cherries  there  was  a  sixty  per  cent,  crop,  the  Early  Richmond  and 
the  Montmorency  being  the  heaviest  bearers.  The  crop  sold  at  an 
average  price  of  lO  cents  per  quart. 

Spring  Frosts. 

Raspberries  and  blackberries  were  about  a  twenty  per  cent, 
crop  owing  first  to  the  frosts  of  May  and  June  and  in  the  second 
place  to  cane  blight.  The  crop  sold  well,  averaging  15  cents  per 
quart.  There  is  no  new  planting  being  done  to  warrant  a  report 
along  that  line.  Strawberries  were  a  forty  per  cent,  crop  and  sold 
well.  There  is  ever  a  demand  for  this  lucious  fruit  and  the  grower 
appreciates  this  in  the  more  extensive  planting,  the  Glen  Mary 
Gandy  and  the  William  Belt  being  the  favorites,  with  the  Gandy 
leading  in  productiveness  and  in  price  received. 

Plums  were  nearly  all  destroyed  by  the  late  Spring  frost ;  they 
suffered  as  much,  if  not  more,  than  the  cherries,  there  being  less 
than  ten  per  cent.  crop.  The  varieties  most  resistant  were  the  Brad- 
shaw,  Lombard,  Abundance,  Wickson  and  the  German  Prune; 
prices  ranged  from  4  cents  per  quart  box,  to  10  cents, 

I  have  not  been  able  to  get  any  definite  statistics  on  the  culture 
of  grapes  or  nuts,  two  industries  which  we  in  Pennsylvania  have 
neglected,  permitting  Erie  County  to  represent  us  in  grapes  and  C. 
K.  Sober,  of  Lewisburg,  and  a  few  others  to  represent  us  in  the  cul- 
ture of  nuts.  I  saw  grapes  selling  at  5  cents  per  pound  with  the 
demand  greatly  beyond  our  production.  At  the  same  time  I  saw 
hundreds  of  bushels  of  nuts  sold  by  Sober  at  $4  and  $5  per  bushel, 
his  grove  yielding  him  in  the  neighborhood  of  4,cxx)  bushels.  We 
recognize  the  fact  that  the  weevil  will  put  the  chestnut  grower  out  of 
business  if  he,  the  grower,  does  not  put  the  weevil  out.  There  is  a 
conflict  between  an  insect  and  an  intelligent  being,  and  I  still  have 
confidence  in  the  intelligence  of  man  if  backed  by  a  lot  of  industry. 

My  confidence  in  the  intelligence  of  man  right  here  seemed 
about  shattered  when  we  behold  the  waste  in  his  orchards.  Thou- 
sands of  dollars  going  to  waste  which  could  easily  be  worked  into 
vinegar  and  sold  at  a  handsome  profit,  and  then  when  I  am  told  that 
he  does  not  make  vinegar  because  the  storekeeper  is  afraid  to  buy  it, 
I  begin  to  feel  slightly  pessimistic.  I  won't  make  it  because  I  can- 
not sell  it!   yet  the  market  is  offering  from  $7  to  $8  a  barrel  for 

cider  vinegar.  •     ,         i,r 

Pennsylvania  is  a  great  State,  great  in  every  particular.  We 
have  developed  her  various  industries.  Let  us  now  place  her  on 
the  horticultural  map,  leading  in  every  line  of  our  calling.  It  can  be 
done. 


r 

i 


I 


Products  to   Market. 


r 


] 


Fcrtilitv   to  tilt'   harm. 


V 


i 


25 
Discussion  on  General  Fruit  Report. 
Question.— Will  you  tell  us  again  the  age  of  the  peach  trees 
that  proved  most  frost  resistant? 

Mr.  Murray. — Four  years  old  and  over. 

Question. — How  would  you  get  ahead  of  the  frost  ? 

Mr.  Murray. — It  was  reported  that  orchards  that  were  culti- 
vated till  late  in  the  season  had  no  fruit,  while  on  those  that  were 
cultivated  till  mid-June  and  then  stopped,  provided  trees  were  four 
years  and  older,  there  were  peaches.  Do  not  fertilize  and  begin 
cultivating  too  early.  I  am  sure  you  can  kill  your  crop  by  forcing 
too  early. 

Question. — What  will  be  the  crop  next  year  in  the  orchards  re- 
ported unpruned  and  uncultivated  this  year? 

Mr.  Murray. — The  conditions  look  good  at  this  time. 

Dr.  J.  P.  Stewart.— It  is  not  safe  to  take  the  results  of  one 
year  as  conclusive  evidence.  Early  Crawford  escaped  the  frost  this 
year  in  many  places.  That  does  not  mean  that  it  is  necessarily  a 
hardy  peach.  It  is  simply  a  question  of  the  conditions  in  which  the 
blossom  is  at  the  time  of  frost.  The  same  is  probably  true  of  apples. 
It  is  a  question  with  me  whether  the  time  of  the  frost  with  respect 
to  condition  of  bloom  did  not  have  more  to  do  with  this  matter  than 
the  treatment  of  the  soil. 

Mr.  Murray. — Most  of  my  correspondents  stated  that  the 
peaches  were  in  full  bloom  when  the  frosts  came. 

Prof.  H.  A.  Surface.— What  was  the  previous  condition  of  the 
orchard  that  you  reported  uncultivated  and  pruned  this  year? 

Mr.  Murray.— Previously  it  was  cultivated  and  pruned,  which 
is  the  point  to  be  made  here. 

Mr.  P.  S.  Fenstermacher.— I  want  to  make  a  strong  point  of 
keeping  the  peach  orchard  up  out  of  the  low  ground  and  pockets. 
I  am  sure  it  is  most  important.  You  cannot  be  sure  of  a  crop  un- 
less you  do  this. 

THE  CULTURE  OF  BUSH  FRUITS. 


Prof.  W.  B.  NisslEy,  State  College. 


The  growing  of  bush  or  small  fruits  such  as  strawberries, 
raspberries,  blackberries,  currants,  and  gooseberries,  has  been  neg- 
lected to  some  extent  by  Pennsylvania  growers.  The  opportunities 
in  this  State  are  much  greater  than  one  at  first  reahzes.    Here  we 


11 

,1 


26 

are  in  Pennsylvania  with  between  f  and  f^^^^^^^^^^    ^^o^ 
within  its  boundaries,  w  th  NewJ^ork  next  wiin  i^tj^n  ^f 

'•"'Troh^v'one  reason  why  the  small  fruit  industry  is  not  very 
"''•  I  will  confine  myself  to  raspberries,  blackberries  ctrrrants^  a^^^ 

th!  firs!  tWng  to  be  considered  is  the  location  or  site,  and  the  soil 
T,  ^i»lt  h^faid  in  a  few  words  that  land  that  will  produce  good 
Lm'ropswn 'produce  bush  fruits.    The  soil  does  "ot  need  to  be 

l^n  find  AattKld  berries  do  best  where  they  are  grown  in  partly 
ThadeS  condit^Tons,  thus  dry  soils  and  the  direct  o^  burning  rays  o 
1  ^^  ;«iiirinii«;  nr  tend  to  produce  small,  dry,  witnerea  oer 

'•'  'Te^nfle  sCes  are  very  good  provided  the  soils  are  not  too 
:;"'•  or  s,m^  raT  too  direct,  fhe  ai?  is  usually  very  good  on  the 

E5,"  S  Z»  *.uf  « '.Ml.  *.  ^f *s';%"if  * 

berries  prefer  deeper,  richer  soils,  and  are  also  heavier  leeaers. 


27 

Stable  manure  is  undoubtedly  the  best  fertilizer  as  humus  must 
be  incorporated  in  the  soil  to  hold  the  moisture  or  a  mulch  of  some 
kind  must  be  maintained.    If  manure  is  used  no  nitrogen  fertilizer 
need  be  applied.    One  should  also  watch  that  too  much  nitrogen  is 
not  applied  in  the  manure,  especially  with  red  raspberries.     Black 
raspberries  are  heavier  feeders  and  will  stand  more  nitrogen.    Very 
little  commercial  fertilizer  need  be  applied.    Potash  seems  to  be  the 
important  element  next  to  nitrogen.    A  good  proportion  is  as  fol- 
lows •  potash  100  lbs.  per  acre  in  the  form  of  muriate  or  sulphate  ot 
potash,  or  wood  ashes  may  also  be  used.    Cover  crops  or  manure 
for  nitrogen,  or  if  these  are  not  used,  100  lbs.  of  nitrate  of  soda  or 
12';  lbs  of  dried  blood.    For  phosphoric  acid  250  lbs.  of  floats  or  150 
lbs   of 'acid  phosphate  per  acre.    These  amounts  can  be  varied  ac- 
cording to  soil  conditions.    But  it  can  be  readily  seen  that  the  ap- 
plication should  not  be  too  heavy.  r    u     ^    ^. 
Red  raspberries  are  self  propagating  by  means  of  shoots  or 
suckers  that  may  be  reset  when  young.    Never  pull  the  young  plants 
up  as  they  are  sure  to  break  oflf ,  but  dig  them.    They  may  be  planted 
in  rows  or  hills;    when  planted  in  rows  they  are  usually  placed 
three  feet  apart  in  the  row,  with  the  rows  five  feet  apart,  and  when 
set  in  hills  they  are  usually  planted  4x4  or  5x5  feet.    Great  care 
must  be  taken  to  keep  the  excess  suckers  destroyed  either  with  a 
hoe  or  cultivator.    If  this  is  neglected  the  stalks  will  grow  too  spind- 
Iv  and  will  not  fruit.    Blackberries  are  ordinarily  propagated  in  the 
same  manner  as  red  raspberries.    Black  raspberries  are  propagated 
bv  tip  layering.    The  top  or  the  whole  cane  may  be  burned,  depend- 
ing upon  the  number  of  plants  desired.    The  small  stalks  may  be 
plLted  during  the  Fall  or  Spring,  but  it  isP^^^^^^^le  to  heal  them 
in  and  protect  them  over  Winter  and  plant  them  early  in  the  Spring. 
The  pruning  problem  is  an  important  one.     With  black  rasp- 
berries, and  blackberries,  the  young  shoots  that  come  up  m  the 
Spring  should  be  tipped  when  about  thirty  inches  high ;    in  black 
raVerries  four  or  five  feet,  in  blackberries  ^o  that  laterals  will 
grow  the  same  season.     The  next  Spring  these  laterals  should  be 
cut  oflf  from  eight  to  twelve,  or  fourteen  inches  froni  the  stalk 
this  will  make  a  stiff  support  for  bearing  the  fruit,  which  will  be 
bornron  the  laterals.     Then  after  fruiting,  cut  out  the  old  canes 
close  to  the  ground  and  burn  them  so  as  to  prevent  the  spread  of 

One  must  remember  that  in  bush  fruits  the  stalk  is  grown,  it 
fruits  the  next  year  and  then  it  is  useless  With  red  raspberries  1 
is  a  question  whether  the  young  cane  should  be  topped  or  not.  Most 
growers  do  not  summer  prune  this  type  as  it  has  a  tendency  to  pro- 
duce more  suckers  when  tipped,  and  the  lateria  s  do  n^t^iature  suf- 
ficiently in  the  fall  to  winter  over  properly.  With  red  raspberries 
the  important  prunings  are  to  keep  down  the  excess  suckers  and  cut 
out  the  old  canes  after  fruiting. 

Constant  tillage  from  early  spring  until  fall  must  not  be  over- 
looked; this  is  all  important  for  several  reasons:  (O  For  conserv- 
ing mo  sture.  This  is  very  important  about  the  time  the  berries  are 
Kbg  and  ripening.     (2)  For  releasing  plant  food,  or  making 


M 


ii 


the  fertilizing  elements  in  the  soil  more  easily  available  to  the 
plant.     (3)  For  destroying  suckers  in  the  case  of  the  red  varieties. 

A  raspberry  or  blackberry  plantation  will  be  profitable  as  long 
as  you  take  proper  care  of  it,  ordinarily  they  are  renewed  at  from 
four  to  eight  years,  due  to  disease  and  insects  becoming  troublesome. 
Yet  they  may  last  for  twelve  to  fifteen  years. 

Currants  and  gooseberries  are  very  similar  in  all  respects; 
hence  can  be  treated  together.  They  will  grow  on  poor  soil,  but  will 
respond  very  quickly  to  good  treatment  and  to  be  profitable  should 
be  on  a  fairly  rich  soil,  rather  heavier  than  for  raspberries.  They 
are  heavy  feeders,  hence  will  require  a  heavier  application  of  fer- 
tilizer of  the  same  nature  as  raspberries.  They  can  be  propagated 
most  conveniently  by  taking  hard  wood  cutting  six  to  eight  inches 
long,  of  well  seasoned  one-year-old  wood  in  the  fall.  These  are 
buried  several  inches  deep  with  the  large  end  up  in  order  to  callus 
or  heal  over  properly.  They  may  then  be  planted  or  stored  away 
in  damp  saw  dust  or  sand,  and  under  low  temperature  until  spring, 
when  they  should  be  planted  early.  Prune  so  as  to  leave  from  six 
to  eight,  or  sometimes  more  stems,  to  a  stalk,  and  practice  a  gradual 
renewal  of  the  plant.  In  this  way  the  plantation  should  be  good  for 
eight  to  twelve  years.  They  are  very  hardy  and  will  endure  the  most 
severe  winters. 

All  persons  growing  small  fruits  are  especially  interested  in  the 
returns.  A  good  yield  from  a  well  cared  for  acre  of  red  raspberries 
should  be  140  bushels,  or  4,480  quarts,  at  twelve  cents  a  quart  would 
amount  to  $537.60. 

Black  raspberries,  150  bushels,  4,800  quarts  at  twelve  cents,  is 
$576.00. 

Currants,  350  bushels,  11,200  quarts  at  twelve  cents,  is  $1,- 
34400. 

Gooseberries,  400  bushels,  11,200  quarts  at  twelve  cents,  is  $1,- 
536.00. 

If  twelve  cents  a  quart  is  too  high  for  some  localities,  estimate 
at  ten  cents,  or  even  eight  cents  a  quart,  and  the  returns  will  still 
be  quite  large. 

Last  year  large  canneries  paid  $100  a  ton  for  currants  and 
gooseberries,  which  is  about  ten  cents  a  quart,  wholesale. 

The  harvesting  problem  is  the  difficult  one  and  in  the  case  of 
gooseberries  a  cranberry  picker  would  be  a  great  labor  saving  de- 
vice. 

Varieties  to  be  planted  will  depend  upon  your  particular  condi- 
tion with  particular  reference  to  climate,  soil  and  market. 

The  most  profitable  varieties,  under  general  conditions,  are  as 
follows : 

Red  Raspberries. — Cuthebert,  Columbian,  Loudon,  and  Marl- 
boro. 

Black  Raspberries. — Cumberland,  Gregg,  Kansas,  Eureka,  Con- 
rath,  Mammoth  Cluster,  and  Older. 

Blackberries. — Snyder,  Taylor,  Agawam,  Eldorado,  Rathbun, 
Erie,  and  Early  Harvest. 

Currants. — Red  Cross,  Perfection,  Victoria,  Fay  Prolific, 
Pamona,  Versailes,  and  Cherry. 


29 

Gooseberries. — Downing,  Houghton,  Columbus,  Chatauqua,  and 
Industry. 

Discussion  on  Mr.  Nisslcy*s  Paper. 

Question. — Do  red  raspberry  stalks  deteriorate  as  quickly  as 
black  ones  ? 

Mr.  Nissley. — Not  if  they  are  kept  from  getting  too  thick.  If 
they  get  too  thick  they  will  soon  go  down. 

Mr.  E.  B.  Engle. — A  grower  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State 
is  growing  red  raspberries  in  stool  clusters,  fifteen  to  twenty  canes 
to  the  stool.  He  has  the  stools  far  enough  to  cultivate  both  ways, 
and  it  seems  to  work  very  well. 

Dr.  Mayer. — How  many  canes  of  red  raspberry  should  there  be 
to  a  yard  of  running  row  ? 

Mr.  Nissley. — I  should  say  about  four  to  the  yard. 

Mr.  Creasy. — Is  there  money  in  gooseberries? 

Mr.  Nissley. — Where  you  have  a  market,  I  should  say  they  are 
quite  profitable. 

Mr.  Engle. — Erie  County  is  the  great  gooseberry  field  of  the 
State.  They  are  grown  there  in  very  large  quantities,  and  large 
buyers  go  there  after  them.    They  are  decidedly  profitable. 

Question. — What  are  the  chief  uses  of  gooseberries  ? 

Prof.  S.  B.  Heiges.— They  are  used  chiefly  as  the  base  of  fruit 
juices  furnishing  the  acids  to  which  various  fruit  flavors  are  after- 
ward added. 

Prof.  H.  A.  Surface. — Do  you  recommend  the  use  of  bush 
fruits  as  fillers  in  an  apple  orchard  ? 

Mr.  Nissley. — Some  of  them  do  well  in  the  young  orchard,  but 
owing  to  the  tendency  to  crown  gall,  I  consider  it  a  doubtful  prac- 
tice. 

Mr.  Samuel  Swartz. — How  do  you  avoid  too  many  shoots  in 
red  raspberries?  Would  it  be  practical  to  plow  deep  between  the 
rows  to  avoid  root  sprouting? 

Dr.  Mayer. — That  would  be  pretty  risky. 

Prof.  Heiges.— It  is  no  trouble  to  keep  out  superfluous  sprouts. 
I  use  a  narrow  hoe  and  cut  them  right  out.  In  regard  to  black- 
caps, I  let  them  get  to  be  four  or  five  feet  high  before  I  pinch  off 
the  tips. 


30 

A  Member. — A  good  deal  is  said  about  Eldorado  blackberry. 
I  live  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State  and  get  good  cane  growth, 
but  in  fruiting  it  is  a  failure  with  me. 

Mr.  Engle.— Western  Triumph  is  a  good  one  in  the  western 
part  of  the  State.  It  is  hardy,  free  from  disease,  a  good  bearer  and 
in  great  demand  where  it  is  known. 


ORNAMENTAL  PLANTING  FOR  THE  FARM  HOME. 


James  M.  Moon,  President,  Wm.  H.  Moon  Company,  Morrisville. 

Coming  here  as  a  substitute  and  on  short  notice,  I  have  no  set 
speech  to  deliver,  but  want  to  talk  to  you  in  a  social  manner  regard- 
ing the  Ornamental  Planting  for  the  Farm  Home.  I  went  around 
to  the  library  to  see  what  books  were  there,  which  would  likely  en- 
lighten me  concerning  this  topic.  Of  course,  among  the  first  I  no- 
ticed were  Downing's  Landscape  Gardening,  one  of  the  oldest  pub- 
lications of  the  kind  in  the  country ;  then  Scott's  Suburban  Homes, 
as  well  as  the  various  works  by  Parsons  and  Miller,  and,  in  fact, 
there  were  over  thirty  volumes.  Among  the  latest  were  those  of 
David  Grayson,  some  of  which  I  hope  you  have  been  reading,  or  if 
not,  I  encourage  you  to  do  so.  After  looking  over  this  wealth  of 
literature,  I  decided  it  would  be  impossible  for  me,  out  of  all  this, 
to  condense  much  that  would  be  of  value  in  making  an  address  of 
less  than  a  half  hour,  and  was  reminded  of  the  story  which  appeared 
in  the  Outlook  on  the  27th  of  last  month,  on  Salesmanship,  by  Pete 
Crowther.  He  was  being  paid  $50.00  to  give  a  lecture  to  a  large 
company  of  salesmen,  and  felt  that  he  would  have  to  study  up  a 
good  deal,  and  write  out  carefully  just  what  he  had  to  say,  but  he 
made  out  so  miserably  trying  to  deliver  a  set  speech,  that  after  talk- 
ing a  minute  or  two,  he  tore  up  his  manuscript,  and  began  speaking 
right  from  his  heart,  taking  everyday  conditions  and  conversing  with 
his  audience,  and  asking  them  to  interrupt  him  with  all  the  questions 
they  wished  to  ask.  This  method  resulted  in  a  most  entertaining  and 
profitable  evening,  and  I  ask  you  to  join  with  me  in  this  same  con- 
versational way,  and  at  any  time  ask  all  the  questions  that  you  like, 
and  I  will  feel  more  at  home  in  trying  to  answer  these  than  in  de- 
livering any  set  speech. 

In  the  days  of  our  grandfathers  the  lawns  had  to  be  kept  in 
order  with  the  scythe,  and  in  the  days  of  their  fathers  with  the 
sickle,  so  that  there  was  little  inducement  for  the  farmer  to  try  to 
keep  a  fine  green  sward  surrounding  his  house.  The  introduction 
of  the  lawn  mower  has  changed  these  conditions,  and  it  is  now  un- 
pardonable for  the  farmer  altogether  to  neglect  his  yard  or  lawn. 

I  do  not  plead  for  expensive  or  extensive  planting  for  most 
farm  homes.  Do  not  undertake  to  keep  four  or  five  times  as  large 
a  lawn  as  can  be  kept  in  an  attractive  manner.  It  was  an  old  say- 
ing that  a  farmer's  love  for  his  wife  might  be  measured  by  the  size 
of  the  wood  pile  he  gave  her,  and  we  also  might  add  to  this  the 
kind  of  a  yard  to  the  home  which  he  furnishes  her.     If  we  men, 


31 

who  are  busy  with  outdoor  affairs,  and  with  the  diversity  of  our 
work,  which  claims  our  attention,  were  to  exchange  places  with  our 
women,  who  have  to  perform  the  routine  of  daily  duties  with  little 
variations  or  diversions,  I  believe  we  would  claim  the  right  to  have 
a  flower  garden,  where  we  could  find  that  pleasure,  recreation  and 
uplift,  which  comes  from  the  absorbing  interest  of  watching  the  de- 
velopment of  one's  flower  garden. 

I  do  not  plead  for  the  planting  of  large  specimens,  or  of  expen- 
sive varieties  of  trees  and  plants.  It  would  be  a  surprise  to  many  to 
find  how  great  a  showing  could  be  produced  by  the  planting  of  a 
shrubbery  border,  using  just  the  old  favorite  varieties  of  forsythia, 
lilac,  mock  orange,  weigelas,  snowball  and  hydrangeas,  all  of  which 
could  be  bought  at  from  thirty  to  fifty  cents  apiece,  if  only  young 
plants  are  purchased ;  then  supplement  these  by  planting  in  the 
flower  garden  hardy  perennials,  embracing  pinks,  phlox,  iris, 
peonies,  hollyhocks,  coreopsis,  asters  and  chrysanthemums.  From 
ten  to  twenty-five  dollars,  if  judiciously  expended,  will  procure  a 
good-sized  shrubbery  bed,  which  will  produce  a  succession  of  bloom 
from  early  spring  to  late  autumn,  and  will  not  necessitate  a  great 
amount  of  care,  although,  of  course,  the  ground  will  have  to  be  kept 
in  good  condition. 

Farmers,  I  ask,  you,  whether  your  silent  partner  (though  she 
be  not  always  silent)  is  not  deserving  of  the  pleasure,  which  this 
slight  amount  of  expense  and  labor  would  incur  in  keeping  the  yard 
and  flower  garden  in  proper  condition,  in  return  for  her  untiring 
labor  in  trying  to  make  your  house  a  real  home,  as  well  as  your  farm 
a  success,  and  do  we  not  also  want  to  make  life  on  the  farm  so  at- 
tractive as  to  keep  our  boys  and  girls  in  the  country,  and  not  have 
them  go  in  droves  to  the  city.  How  many  fathers  and  mothers  have 
had  their  hearts  almost  broken  with  grief,  as  sons  and  daughters 
have  left  the  shelter  of  the  home  to  try  the  unprotected  life  of  the 
city,  and  often  times  a  meager  expense  of  fifty  to  a  hundred  dollars 
would  have  made  things  so  attractive  as  to  have  kept  them  in  the 
country  growing  crops,  which  means  being  producers  of  wealth, 
rather  than  going  into  the  city  with  its  unknown  dangers.  Let  us 
cultivate  the  friendship  of  our  children;  let  us  try  to  be  interested 
in  the  things  they  are  interested  in  ;  that  there  be  more  unity  of  pur- 
pose in  trying  to  make  life  worth  while,  with  higher  aims  and  higher 
ideals,  realizing  that  these  can  be  striven  after  and  attained  in  the 
country  quite  as  effectually  as  in  the  city.  It  is  not  hard  work  which 
drives  our  bovs  from  the  farms  to  the  city,  as  much  as  it  is  lack  of 
congenial  environment.  It  used  to  be  that  the  smart  boys  would 
be  sent  to  town  to  make  their  living,  and  the  duller  ones  kept  at 
home  on  the  farm.  We  now  recognize  that  we  want  the  bright  boys 
as  well  as  just  the  good,  ordinary,  plodding  fellows,  to  bring  the 
power  of  their  intellect  into  scientific  agriculture  and  horticulture, 
and  the  life  which  these  fields  offer  in  the  way  of  remuneration, 
pleasure  and  independence,  is  far  greater  than  that  experienced  by 
the  average  person  who  goes  to  the  city.  Do  we  not  realize  that 
the  general  appearance  of  the  farm  buildings  and  ground  surround- 
ing them  are  pretty  true  indexes  of  the  financial  condition  of  the 
owner?     Do  we  expect  to  find  thrift  where  buildings  are  delapi- 


32 

dated;  where  the  house  and  its  environments  are  cold  and  unat- 
tractive; no  flowers,  and  a  general  appearance  of  shif tlessness  ? 
There  are  some  farmers  who  say  that  they  have  such  an  uphill  road 
to  travel,  that  they  can't  afford  to  do  anything  towards  fixing  up 
their  yards  or  lawn.  That  reminds  me  of  the  story  of  the  man  who 
met  a  stranger,  and  said  to  him,  "Mister,  how  long  is  this  hill — I 
have  been  travelling  up  hill  for  the  last  three  hours,  and  don't  find 
that  I  am  any  nearer  the  top  now  than  I  was  when  I  started.  When 
am  I  going  to  come  to  the  top  of  it?"  The  man  replied,  "Why, 
Mister,  you  ain't  going  up  hill — this  is  just  a  level  road — the  only 
matter  with  you  is  that  you  have  lost  the  wheels  off  of  your  hind 
axle."  It  strikes  me  that  there  are  a  good  many  people  in  this  world 
that  are  having  an  extremely  hard  time  to  ever  reach  the  top,  who 
have  either  lost  their  wheels  off  their  hind  axle,  or  have  lost  their 
proper  view  of  life,  or  are  suffering  from  dyspepsia. 

My  topic,  I  believe,  is  Ornamental  Planting  for  the  Farm  Home, 
but  while  you  are  thinking  of  the  questions  you  want  to  ask  me 
regarding  this  phase,  let  me  speak  to  you  for  a  few  moments  regard- 
ing the  adjunct  to  this  ornamental  planting,  which  is  also  frequently 
neglected  by  too  many  country  people — I  mention  the  flower  garden 
— how  many  of  us  realize  the  great  saving  that  can  be  made  by  rais- 
ing vegetables  which  are  necessary  for  the  home  consumption,  and 
how  much  easier  the  work  of  the  housewife  to  have  a  good  supply 
of  fresh  vegetables  when  planning  her  routine  of  meals,  and  how 
much  more  healthy  to  live  on  these  freshly  grown  products,  rather 
than  the  canned  goods  which  the  poor  city  people  have  to  live  on  to 
such  a  great  degree.  I  believe  we  can't  afford  to  neglect  the  kitchen 
garden  to  the  extent  we  do,  and  I  am  sure  if  we  men  had  the  plan- 
ning of  the  meals,  we  would  insist  on  the  product  from  a  good  gar- 
den, and  would  be  convinced  that  it  was  a  necessity  from  an  eco- 
nomical standpoint,  as  well  as  that  of  health  and  pleasure.  If  there 
was  a  more  general  and  judicious  planting  of  shade  trees  around  the 
farm  buildings,  it  would  add  to  their  attractiveness  and  monetary 
value,  and  not  only  the  standard  shade  trees,  but  why  not  plant  fruit 
trees  in  some  of  the  waste  places — near  the  pig  pen  or  around  some 
of  the  corners  that  are  now  producing  no  profit. 

The  speaker  devoted  considerable  time  to  answering  questions 
put  to  him  by  various  ones  throughout  the  audience  regarding  the 
best  variety  of  trees,  flowers  and  shrubs  to  plant  for  various  pur- 
poses, and  emphasized  the  following  facts : 

First :  Planting  of  fast  growing  shade  trees  such  as  catalpa, 
soft  maple,  Carolina  poplar,  and  willow,  produce  a  quick  effect,  but 
not  a  lasting  one.  Slow  growing  trees,  such  as  oaks,  hard  maples, 
last  for  generations. 

Second :  Certain  shrubs  such  as  viburnum,  bush  honeysuckle, 
symphoricarpus,  mountain  laurel,  rhododendrons,  azaleas,  and 
privets  thrive  in  partial  shade  as  well  as  in  the  more  open  spaces. 

Third :  A  judicious  planting  of  the  old  standard  varieties  of 
shrubs  and  perennials  massed  in  border  planting  are  most  effective 
and  moderate  in  cost. 


33 
Discussion. 

Prof.  Surface. — What  plant  is  best  for  a  low  hedge  under  large 
trees  ? 

Mr.  Moon. — That  is  hard  to  manage.  No  plant  will  continue 
to  do  well  under  large  trees  on  account  of  the  lack  of  moisture. 

Question. — Do  trees  dug  out  of  the  woods  transplant  safely  and 
easily  ? 

Mr.  Moon. — No;  on  account  of  the  character  of  the  root  sys- 
tems they  are  harder  to  move  than  nursery  grown  trees  which  have 
been  frequently  transplanted  in  the  nursery. 

Question. — W^ould  you  advise  the  planting  of  the  quicker  grow- 
ing shade  trees? 

Mr.  Moon. — Yes ;  under  some  circumstances  when  it  is  desir- 
able to  get  very  quick  shade.  Even  Carolina  poplar  can  be  used  be- 
tween slow  growing  trees  to  be  taken  out  when  the  more  desirable 
slow  growers  have  attained  some  size. 

Question. — How  about  Japanese  maple? 

Mr.  Moon. — Good.  Do  not  forget  the  Japanese  maples,  and 
do  not  plant  the  ones  with  bright  colored  foliage  in  shady  places. 


BETTER  FRUITS  AT  LESS  COST. 


Prof.  H.  A.  Surface,  Harrisburg. 


The  two  points  involved  in  this  topic  are :  First,  the  production 
of  fruits  of  higher  quality;  and  second,  the  reduction  of  the  cost 
of  production. 

Before  proceeding  far  upon  a  discussion  of  quality  we  should 
establish  a  definite  basis  by  defining  this  much-abused  word.  Per- 
haps we  should  go  farther  back  and  explain  what  quality  is  not. 
Therefore,  we  are  prepared  to  say  that  quality  does  not  mean  huge 
size.  Compare  a  Jonathan  apple  with  a  Wolf  River,  for  example. 
Neither  does  this  word  mean  the  production  of  giants  within  any  one 
variety.  Let  it  be  remembered  that  the  scoring  rules  of  The  Amer- 
ican Pomological  Society  properly  provide  for  the  scoring  down  of 
specimens  of  any  variety  if  they  are  over  size  or  above  a  fair  stand- 
ard. 

Quality  is  not  red  color.  Compare  Ben  Davis  and  Grimes. 
Neither  is  it  fine  appearance  alone.  Compare  a  western  boxed 
apple  of  any  variety  with  a  roughly-handled  eastern  grown  Northern 
Spy,  Baldwin,  Mcintosh,  Tompkins,  King,  Grimes,  Jonathan,  or 
Stayman  Winesap.     Neither  is  quality  produced  by  boxing  what 


f^  I 


34 

should  be  put  into  a  barrel.  Neither  is  it  to  be  found  in  naturally 
low  grade  or  mediocre  varieties. 

Quality  in  fruits  is  an  epitome  of  those  desirable  features  em- 
braced in  pleasing  flavor;  fair,  uniform  size  for  a  certain  variety; 
good,  uniform  color  for  the  variety;  freedom  from  injury  by  in- 
sects, or  by  fungous  diseases,  and  the  absence  of  artificial  injury, 
such  as  bruises. 

Now  comes  the  very  important  question.  "Will  one-tenth  of 
our  fruits  measure  up  to  this  standard?"  and  the  more  important 
reply,  that  the  average  of  the  crop  for  America  does  not.  Why  not  ? 
Because  there  are  more  persons  growing  fruit  trees  who  absolutely 
neglect  them,  producing  nothing  but  culls  and  seconds,  than  there 
are  who  attempt  to  care  for  them  and  produce  a  first  grade  product, 
We  have  shown  in  the  demonstration  orchards  of  the  Bureau  of 
Zoology  of  the  Pennsylvania  Department  of  Agriculture,  trees  bear- 
ing apples  ninety-eight  per  cent,  free  from  worms,  which,  but  two 
years  age  produced  fruit  ninety-five  per  cent,  wormy.  The  differ- 
ence is  due  chiefly  to  negligence  on  the  one  hand,  and  care  on  the 
other. 

With  all  orchardists  the  greatest  problems  involve  the  questions 
of  How  to  Improve  Quality,  and  How  to  Reduce  Cost.  To  such 
men  we  venture  to  speak  from  personal  experience  in  our  own  or- 
chards which  are,  we  believe,  the  largest  in  the  Keystone  State,  and 
which  produced,  this  year,  carloads  of  fancy  fruits  that  sold  at  rec- 
ord prices. 

I.    To  Produce  Fruits  of  Better  Quality. 

1.  Select  "fruit  soil."  This  must  be  deep,  loose,  and  originally 
fertile.  This  produces  good  growth  and  large  fruits.  The  "aban- 
doned farm"  proposition  for  successful  fruit  growing  is  generally  a 
mistake.  Starved  trees  usually  produce  poor  crops  of  small  size 
fruit. 

2.  Select  land  with  elevation  for  air  drainage.  Dead  or  stag- 
nating air  is  as  sure  to  foster  diseases  of  trees  and  fruits  as  of 
human  beings  or  live  stock.  Low  lands  cannot  produce  fruits  of 
highest  color,  free  from  fungous  injury.  Actual  elevation  above 
sea  level  is  not  nearly  as  important  as  relative  elevation,  above  im- 
mediate surroundings. 

3.  Plant  the  orchard  in  soil  with  good  water  drainage.  A  tree 
cannot  thrive  with  wet  feet  any  more  than  can  a  man.  Wet  soil 
means  poor  growth,  diseased  trees,  and  small,  pale,  insipid  fruit.  H 
your  orchard  has  been  planted  in  wet  soil,  nothing  will  pay  better 
in  the  production  of  fruit  of  quality  and  quantity,  than  to  drain  it 
well. 

4.  Plant  good  varieties,  and  top-work  the  older  trees  of  poor 
varieties  if  they  are  vigorous  enough.  In  an  orchard  there  will  be 
no  figs  from  thistles,  and  no  Rome  Beauty  nor  Stayman  Winesap 
from  Smith  Cider  or  Ben  Davis. 

5.  In  any  region  plant  only  those  varieties  that  do  best  there. 
It  would  be  a  mistake  to  reduce  the  quality  of  the  ensuing  product 
by  planting  the  Spy  in  the  Albemarle  region,  or  the  Rome  Beauty 


35 

in  the  Snow  region,  however  excellent  each  of  these  may  be  when 
grown  "at  home." 

6.  Plant  only  healthy  trees  from  reliable  nurserymen,  but  pay 
no  attention  to  the  "old  fogy"  notion  that  hardy  trees  are  to  be  ob- 
tained only  from  the  North  or  young-bearing  trees  only  from  the 
South. 

7.  Plant  at  such  distance  between  trees  as  to  permit  abundant 
growth  without  crowding,  and  also  provide  for  the  spreading  of  low 
broad  tops,  without  that  crowding  and  shading  which  must  result  in 
light-colored  fungous-specked  fruits. 

8.  Help  to  obtain  color  by  so  pruning  as  to  grow  low,  open 
spreading  tops.  Top  back  old  tall  trees  to  spreading  branches.  Get 
sunshine  and  air  to  each  fruit,  if  possible,  to  give  color  and  flavor. 

9.  Also  obtain  color  by  (a)  growing  in  suitable  soil,  (b)  at 
some  elevation;  (c)  with  potash  and  phosphoric  acid  fertilizers; 
(d)  reducing  the  nitrogen  so  as  to  avoid  too  rank  growth  where 
greater  color  is  wanted;  (e)  not  cultivating  too  late  in  the  season, 
and  (f)  not  pushing  too  much  leafy  growth  by  severe  dormant 
pruning;  but  (g)  remove  superfluous  small  growth  by  judicious 
midsummer  pruning. 

10.  Strive  for  uniformity  of  color  by  adopting  a  definite,  uni- 
form system  of  pruning  that  will  keep  the  tops  open  and  spreading ; 
avoid  dense  masses  of  foliage  or  such  arrangement  of  branches  as 
will  close  and  become  dense  by  weight  of  fruit ;  adopt  a  system  of 
uniform  feeding. 

11.  Where  growth  is  liable  to  be  too  rank,  and  thus  reduce 
color,  as  is  usual  on  low  or  damp  ground ;  or,  where  dormant  prun- 
ing has  been  too  severe,  manuring  too  heavy,  or  cultivation  too  long 
continued ;  better  color  for  any  one  season  may  be  obtained  by  sum- 
mer pruning. 

12.  Obtain  size  by  those  methods  that  give  strong  leaf  and  twig 
growth,  and  by  thinning ;  but,  in  so  doing  avoid  producing  that  ex- 
treme rankness  of  growth  which  detracts  from  color  of  fruit.  Do 
this  by  (a)  securing  a  fertile  soil;  (b)  by  retaining  moisture  by 
mulching  or  by  cultivation  and  cover  crops;  (c)  by  replacing  re- 
moved fertility  and  organic  matter  by  commercial  fertilizers,  ma- 
nure and  cover  crops,  especially  the  legumes;  (d)  by  stimulating 
growth  when  needed  by  dormant  pruning;  by  thinning  early  and 
vigorously,  and  (f)  by  keeping  the  leaves  healthy  through  spraying 
with  proper  insecticides  and  fungicides.  Healthy  leaves  mean  large, 
healthy,  late,  fruit. 

13.  Obtain  uniformity  of  size  by  a  uniform  system  of  pruning, 
and  especially  by  systematic  thinning,  feeding,  cultivating,  mulching, 
manuring,  etc. 

14.  Both  increased  size  and  color  can  be  obtained  by  making 
several  pickings,  taking  each  time  only  those  that  are  well  developed 
and  colored,  leaving  the  others  for  future  development  in  size  and 
color. 

15.  Avoid  blemishes  from  diseases  by  spraying  with  fungicides, 
according  to  the  teachings  of  our  plant  pathologists,  and  by  planting 
varieties  on  ground  suited  to  each  respectively.  For  example: 
Champion  peach,  on  low  ground  or  where  there  is  no  air  drainage. 


36 

is  almost  sure  to  have  ripe  rot,  and  Salway  in  such  a  location  is  very 
liable  to  have  scab  and  crack.  Also  spray  with  strong  lime-sulphur 
solution  once  each  dormant  season,  better  immediately  before  the 
leaves  appear;  and  with  Bordeaux  Mixture  or  self-boiled  lime- 
sulphur  just  before  the  blossoms  open;  and  spray  again  with  the 
same,  at  proper  intervals,  two  or  three  times  after  the  blossoms  fall. 

i6.  Avoid  injury  from  insects  by  knowing  those  that  are  most 
liable  to  appear,  and  watching  for  them  or  their  work.  For  their 
suppression,  follow  the  teachings  of  the  most  modern  entomologists. 
In  all  cases,  for  economy  of  production,  practice  the  methods  of 
prevention  rather  than  of  remedy. 

Spray  for  insects  once  when  dormant,  with  strong  lime-sulphur ; 
for  the  apple  aphis  make  this  application  immediately  after  leaf  buds 
burst ;  also  use  an  arsenite  with  the  fungicide  for  each  of  the  subse- 
quent sprayings. 

17.  Modern  horticulture  so  emphatically  demands  that  the  op- 
eration of  thinning  be  practiced  that  especial  attention  must  be  di- 
rected to  this  process  as  a  means  of  ( i )  increasing  the  size  of  fruit ; 
(2)  obtaining  uniformity  of  size;  (3)  eliminating  defective  fruits; 
(4)  equalizing  the  distribution  of  the  load,  and  in  consequence  open- 
ing the  top  uniformly  without  breaking  the  branches;  (5)  giving 
uniformity  of  color;  and  (6)  above  all  else,  preventing  exhaustive 
production  this  year,  thus  making  it  possible  to  set  fruit  buds  for 
next  year's  crop,  resulting  in  annual  rather  than  biennial  crops. 

18.  Fallen  or  bruised  fruits  are  prevented  by  growing  them  on 
very  low  headed  trees,  which  properly  brace  themselves  with  their 
branches ;  also  by  picking  before  they  are  dead  ripe.  Injury  from 
falling  is  avoided  by  a  good  mulch  under  the  trees. 

19.  The  bruising  of  fruit  by  harvesting  must  be  avoided  by 
careful  handling  from  start  to  finish.  Any  person  who  cannot  han- 
dle fancy  fruit  more  carefully  than  eggs,  should  grow  only  Ben 
Davis  apples  and  Kieffer  pears. 

The  grain  bag  over  the  shoulder  is  still  too  often  used  for 
picking.  Pick  in  baskets  or  picking  buckets.  Do  not  press,  bruise 
or  rub  fruits.  Handle  just  as  little  as  possible,  and  keep  the  "bloom" 
on  apples  and  plums  particularly,  as  this  is  one  of  the  elements  in 
the  quality  we  wish  to  produce. 

20.  Finally,  to  obtain  the  highest  degree  in  quality  let  the  fruit 
mature  on  the  trees.  Fruits  picked  green  do  not  develop  with  their 
best  flavor  or  color.  This  is  why,  in  every  region,  fancy  "home 
grown  fruits"  are  preferred  by  consumers  to  those  grown  elsewhere 
and  picked  unripe  to  stand  shipping. 

II.    To  Reduce  the  Cost  of  Production. 

The  second  feature  of  the  subject  is  more  difficult  to  treat  than 
the  first  part,  chiefly  because  there  is  not  enough  established  horti- 
cultural orthodoxy  or  theory  in  this  regard  to  prove  that  our  own 
experiences  are  in  conformity  with  those  of  others.  Therefore  we 
shall  speak  of  our  own  satisfactory  practical  methods  in  reducing 
the  cost  of  production,  letting  others  express  their  views  in  the  gen- 


37 

eral  discussion.  Let  us  kindly  bear  in  mind  the  fact  that  in  many 
regards  the  two  features  of  our  subject  are  only  relatively  com- 
patible. We  have  been  obliged  to  harmonize  them  as  far  as  pos- 
sible in  our  practical  orchard  operations,  and  in  this  treatment  shall 
give  the  same  numbers  to  related  topics,  as  far  as  possible. 

1.  Good  fruit  soil  is  generally  cheaper  than  rich  or  more  level 
farm  land  that  may  be  less  desirable  for  fruit  production.  Proper 
fruit  soil  produces  trees  of  good  size,  and  fruits  of  best  quality  and 
in  large  quantity ;  thus  reducing  the  relative  cost  of  production.  In 
this  connection  it  should  be  mentioned  that  proximity  to  market  or 
shipping  station,  to  reduce  the  cost  of  hauling,  is  an  essential  factor. 

2.  Where  there  is  good  air  drainage  or  local  elevation,  spring 
frosts  do  not  so  often  injure  blossoms  or  tender  buds  or  fruits,  and 
thus  there  are  more  frequent  and  larger  crops,  resulting  in  lower 
relative  cost  reduction. 

3.  Well  drained  soil  means  healthy,  vigorous  trees.  Wet  soil 
means  poor  trees,  and,  worst  of  all,  apple  tree  diseases,  such  as  root 
rot,  collar  blight,  and  others.  Instead  of  a  good  income  from  a  fine 
crop  on  healthy  trees,  money  must  go  to  replace  dead  ones,  or  there 
will  be  that  very  serious  loss  that  comes  from  leaving  vacant  places 
in  the  orchard.  Wet  orchards  should  be  well  drained;  but,  the 
economy  of  dynamiting  is  yet  to  be  proven  in  general,  for  we  know 
where  it  has  been  very  unsatisfactory. 

4.  Good  varieties  are  quoted  constantly  in  price  above  poor 
kinds.  Compare  to-day's  quotations  on  Stayman  Winesap,  Rome 
Beauty  or  Baldwin,  with  those  of  Ben  Davis,  Smith  Cider  or  Shock- 
ley. 

5.  Adapted  varieties  give  finer  fruits  and  larger  yields  than 
those  not  adapted  to  the  region,  and,  of  course,  as  these  sell  more 
easily  and  for  higher  prices,  they  help  to  reduce  the  relative  cost 
A  very  important  economic  consideration  is  that  it  pays  all  commer- 
cial growers  of  a  community  to  put  their  eflforts  into  growing  per- 
fectly only  those  varieties  (often  but  one  or  two)  that  are  decidedly 
best  there. 

6.  Healthy  young  trees  from  reliable  nurserymen  mean  ready, 
vigorous  growth  without  stunting  by  transplanting,  and  large, 
early  crops,  if  otherwise  properly  handled.  Trees  not  true  to  va- 
riety ordered  may  mean  years  of  loss. 

7.  Plant  at  sufficient  distance,  and  on  the  square  system.  The 
writer  now  plants  all  permanent  apple  trees. forty  feet  apart,  and 
all  others  at  twenty.  This  permits  profits  from  inter-cropping, 
cultivating  each  direction,  and  the  development  of  large  trees  with 
full  crops. 

8.  Low  open-headed  tops  cheapen  the  cost  of  production  by 
reducing  the  work  of  pruning,  spraying,  thinning  and  picking ;  and 
prevent  heavy  loss  by  wind  falls,  as  well  as  mulch  their  own  soil. 

9.  Reduce  the  necessity  for  expensive  commercial  fertilizers 
by  growing  legume  cover  crops.  The  writer  uses  chiefly  crimson 
clover  and  winter  vetch  and  rye.  We  sometimes  sow  crimson 
clover  with  buckwheat  and  harvest  the  latter.  One  orchard  gave 
eighty-four  bushels  of  buckwheat  this  year.  In  another  the  crim- 
son clover  was  sown  with  cow  horn  turnips,  and  we  now  have  a 


'I 


38 

good  stand  of  the  former,  with  over  $ic».oo  worth  of  excellent 
turnips,  without  detriment  to  the  young  trees. 

10.  Nitrogen,  the  expensive  element  in  commercial  fertilizers 
is  not  needed  where  the  legumes  are  grown  in  an  orchard.    We  need 
buy  only  muriate  of  potash  and  acid  phosphate,  and  need  but  little 
ot  these  where  orchards  are  comparatively  young  and  occasionally 

11.  Pruning  can  be  done  at  any  time  of  the  year,  if  not  too 
severe ;  and  necessary  severe  pruning  can  be  done  at  any  time  dur- 
ing the  dormant  season.  Thus  it  is  a  "filler"  job  that  can  be  done 
with  economy  when  more  important  work  is  not  pressing. 

12.  For  cover  crops  we  grow  our  own  seed  between  the  culti- 
vated tree  rows  in  the  young  orchards,  and  in  any  orchard  that  will 
not  produce  fruit  that  year. 

13.  A  uniform  stand  of  symmetrical  trees  helps  to  maintain  the 
income  by  insuring  fruit  where  otherwise  there  would  be  vacant 
spaces. 

14.  Plant  varieties  to  ripen  in  succession,  and  thus  keep  the 
pickers  engaged.  ^ 

15.  We  make  all  our  own  spray  materials,  saving  time  and 
expense  by  preparing  stock  solutions  during  bad  weather 

16.  We  spray  as  many  times  as  are  necessary,  but  no  more. 
This  IS  four  (or,  at  most,  five)  times  in  the  year  for  pomes,  and 
three  times  for  drupes. 

17..  Owing  to  our  low-headed  trees  the  thinning  is  done  easily 
and  quickly,  mostly  from  the  ground,  and  chiefly  by  women  and 
girls;   thus  greatly  reducing  the  cost. 

18.  There  is  much  less  financial  loss  from  fallen  fruits  from 
bruTsin        ^^^^  spreading  tops,  because  less  droppings  and  less 

19.  Low  trees  permit  economy  in  time  and  methods  of  pickine 
nr^nf  •  ^^.-^P^^ative  or  wholesale  buying  of  supplies  and  selling 
produce  helps  much  m  reducing  the  cost. 

21.  Our  friends  may  expect  us  to  recommend  the  elimination 
of  spraying  for  the  scale  by  the  introduction  of  scale  parasites  (of 
which  much  recently  has  been  printed)  ;  but  we  can  not  yet  be  sure 
that  in  all  orchards  they  will  do  their  work  as  thoroughly  as  they 
have  in  our  own  and  in  hundreds  of  others  we  have  carefully  in- 
t?nn  u*"  ^^""^yj.^^"»^-  jt  is  surely  worthy  of  careful  considera- 
tion.  We  have  discovered  and  published  regarding  certain  ento- 
mological conditions,  and  have  been  criticized  by  a  few  who  have 
been  too  narrow  to  understand  or  believe  them,  and  of  course  by 
certain  agents  of  scale-spraying  materials.  We  have  seen  enough  to 
give  firm  faith  in  the  adequate  reduction  of  the  San  Jose  scale  by 
minute  internal  hymenopterous  parasites.  If  any  unprejudiced  per- 
son will  come  to  Harrisburg,  Penna.,  and  go  with  me^o  see  a  sc^ore 
or  more  of  orchards  that  have  been  cleaned  of  San  Jose  scale  by X 
parasites,  and  then  not  agree  that  these  natural  agencies  have  been 
th/lr^  ^"^"PP^essing  the  scale  I  am  willing  to  p?y  the  expenses  of 
Hn  /•  ^K  ^u'"'^'  T  ^^^^'"'"endation  to  "Reduce  the  cost  of  pro- 
duction by  the  application  of  modern  methods." 


39 
^  Discussion. 

Question. — Do  you  not  have  more  trouble  with  fire-blight  when 
the  trees  make  too  much  growth  ? 

Prof.  Surface. — Yes;  it  is  so. 

Question. — Can  you  grow  crimson  clover  satisfactorily  with- 
out inoculation? 

Prof.  Surface. — Sometimes  you  can,  but  generally  you  can  do 
much  better  by  inoculating. 

Prof.  Heiges. — I  have  grown  all  the  common  legumes  success- 
fully without  inoculation,  but  I  use  lots  of  lime.  These  crops  will 
not  grow  in  an  acid  soil. 

Question. — Do  you  paint  the  stubs  after  pruning? 

Prof.  Surface. — Yes,  if  the  stubs  are  more  than  one  inch 
across. 


STATE  FRUIT  GROWERS  SEE  THE  SAN  JOSE  SCALE 

PARASITES. 


By  Prof.  H.  A.  Surface,  Harrisburg. 


Prof.  H.  A.  Surface,  State  Zoologist,  presented  a  scientific 
paper  on  the  parasites  that  he  has  found  so  efficient  in  destroying 
the  San  Jose  scale  in  the  orchards  in  several  counties  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  Pennsylvania.  He  showed  both  slides  and  speci- 
mens of  the  different  species  of  minute  wasp-like  or  hymenopterous 
parasites  that  have  been  reared  in  his  office  from  the  San  Jose  scale 
during  the  past  three  years. 

These  minute  specimens  include  just  one  dozen  different  spe- 
cies, two  of  which  are  probably  new  to  science,  and  ten  of  which 
have  been  identified  as  named  species,  some  of  which  are  common, 
and  others  very  rare.  As  there  are  no  common  names  for  the  dif- 
ferent species  or  kinds  of  these  parasites  they  must  be  known  by 
their  scientific  names,  which  are  proven  to  be  as  follows: 

Aphelinus  fuscipennis,  bred  from  oyster  shell  and  San  Jose 
scale. 

Prospaltella  perniciosi,  bred  from  San  Jose  scale  and  oyster 
shell  scale. 

Prospaltella  perniciosi,  male  and  female,  bred  from  oyster  shell 
and  San  Jose  scale. 

Encyrtine  (sp.  nov.),  with  eggs,  bred  from  San  Jose  scale. 

Encyrtine  (sp.-?),  bred  from  Rose  and  San  Jose  scale. 

Anagrus  spiritus,  bred  from  San  Jose  scale. 

Signiphora  nigra,  bred  from  San  Jose  scale. 


40 

Perissopteris  mexicanus,  bred  from  San  Jose  scale  and  oyster- 

shell  scale 

Aspidiophagus  citrinus,  bred  from  Rose  scale. 
Arrhenophagus  chionaspidis,  bred  from  Rose  scale. 
Ablerus  clisiocampae,  bred  from  San  Jose  scale. 
Unnamed  species,  with  eggs,  bred  from  San  Jose  and  oyster 

shell  scale 

Dr.  L.  O.  Howard,  U.  S.  Entomologist,  Washington,  D.  C,  has 
coroperated  with  Prof.  Surface  in  identifying  material. 

The  latter  person  has  discovered  and  proven  beyond  doubt  that 
these  parasites  have  been  thoroughly  efficient  in  destroying  the 
scale.  Since  he  has  called  attention  to  this  fact  other  persons  m 
the  formerly  scale-infested  districts  are  acknowledging  the  same, 
although  some  agents  for  spraying  materials  and  apparatus  deny  it. 

Since  the  announcement  of  discovery  of  these  facts  by  Pro- 
fessor Surface  at  the  summer  meeting  of  the  State  Horticultural 
Association,  at  Gettysburg,  his  office  has  been  besieged  by  hundreds 
of  applications  for  the  parasites  to  be  placed  in  orchards.  He  has 
sent  the  desired  material  in  all  cases,  with  instructions  to  use  the 
spray  pump  and  apply  the  boiled  lime-sulphur  solution  durmg  the 
dormant  season  on  scale-infested  trees,  to  hold  the  scale  in  check 
until  the  parasites  become  well  started. 

The  fact  that  such  parasites  are  enemies  of  the  scale  and  can  be 
successfully  disseminated  by  mail  has  already  been  proven,  as  m  a 
case  brought  out  at  a  public  demonstration  near  Mifflin,  when  a 
lady  who  owns  an  orchard  brought  cuttings  from  her  different  apple 
trees  to  Mr.  James  Bergy,  who  was  giving  a  demonstration  under 
the  directions  of  the  Bureau  of  Zoology.  She  asked  him  to  state  if 
any  of  the  twigs  contained  parasitized  scales.  After  careful  ex- 
amination he  found  only  two  whereon  the  scales  were  being  killed 
by  the  parasites.  She  then  replied  that  those  two  twigs  were  from 
the  tree  in  which  she  had  placed  parasitized  material  received  from 
Professor  Surface's  office  during  the  summer.  These  were  ap- 
parently the  only  ones  from  her  orchard  that  had  yet  been  reached 
by  the  parasites,  but  it  is  believed  that  they  will  continue  to  spread. 


HOW  I  WOULD  START  AN  APPLE  ORCHARD. 


Mr.  Howard  A.  Chase,  Mount  Pocono,  Pa. 


The  age  of  a  tree  to  be  planted  is  important.  I  prefer  a  tree 
two  years  from  the  bud  or  a  three  year  graft,  five-eighth  to  seven- 
eighth  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  provided,  I  can  secure  a  tree  that  has 
been  headed  comparatively  low,  from  thirty  or  thirty-two  inches 
and  the  limbs  are  well  distributed.  I  would  prefer  to  have  the 
lower  limbs  not  over  eighteen  inches  from  the  ground.  With  a  tree 
of  this  character  I  would  remove  all  but  three  or  four  limbs,  and 
unless  there  may  be  an  individual  limb  much  longer  than  any  of  the 
others  I  would  not  cut  or  head  the  limbs  back  when  planting.  The 
roots  I  would  trim,  cutting  from  the  underside  and  cutting  them 


41 

back  so  that  the  individual  roots  would  aid  in  bracing  the  tree  after 
it  is  planted. 

Some  planters  prefer  a  tree  one  year  from  bud,  or  two  years 
from  graft.  Were  I  putting  out  a  tree  of  this  age  I  think  I  would 
let  it  grow  one  year  without  pruning,  and  then  I  would  head  it  down 
to  within  thirty  or  thirty-two  inches  of  the  ground.  This  would 
force  a  good  growth  the  second  season,  and  from  three  to  five  limbs 
could  be  allowed  to  grow  to  form  the  future  head  of  the  tree. 

Preparation  of  the  Ground. 

The  ideal  preparation  is  to  have  ground  well  cultivated  and  in 
as  good  condition  as  one  would  prepare  it  for  an  ordinary  farm 
crop.  Where  this  is  done  it  is  not  essential  that  a  large  hole  should 
be  dug,  but  one  of  sufficient  size  to  admit  the  roots  without  crowd- 
ing them ;  then  as  the  tree  is  planted,  the  fine  dirt  should  be  packed 
in  carefully  about  the  roots ;  sometimes  the  shaking  of  the  tree  will 
accomplish  this,  in  other  instances  it  is  essential  to  use  a  small  stick ; 
then  as  the  hole  is  filled,  pack  the  dirt  down  firmly  so  that  no  air 
can  reach  the  roots.  Last  but  not  least,  cover  the  surface  with  either 
loose  dirt  or  some  course  material  as  a  mulch.  On  ground  of  this 
character  I  would  intercrop  with  sugar  corn  or  peas  or  some  kindred 
crop.  Do  not  plant  near  the  trees,  but  leave  sufficient  space  so  that 
they  can  be  thoroughly  cultivated  even  after  the  last  cultivation  for 
the  intercrop.  In  other  words,  keep  the  ground  about  the  trees 
mellow,  never  allowing  it  to  be  baked.  If  sugar  corn  is  planted, 
with  the  last  cultivation  of  the  corn  I  would  sow  Canadian  field  peas, 
these  to  form  a  cover  crop.  Then  with  the  last  cultivation  of  the 
trees  I  would  use  field  peas  or  buckwheat.  Under  ordinary  condi- 
tions the  last  cultivation  had  best  not  be  much  later  than  early  in 
August.  Before  planting  I  would  paint  the  trees  for  a  distance  of 
eight  or  ten  inches  above  the  roots  with  white  lead  and  linseed  oil 
as  a  guard  against  borers. 

There  is  many  a  piece  of  rough  ground  adapted  to  apple  grow- 
ing that  cannot  advantageously  be  cultivated.  With  ground  of  this 
character  I  would  dig  the  holes  in  the  fall,  making  them  at  least  two 
feet  in  diameter  and  twelve  inches  deep,  being  careful  to  throw  the 
top  soil  in  a  pile  by  itself.  Dynamite  can  be  used  to  advantage  in 
this  character  of  ground,  provided  it  is  so  used  as  to  break  up  the 
soil  instead  of  simply  blowing  out  a  hole.  Then  I  would  fill  these 
holes  with  coarse  stable  manure  mixed  with  some  form  of  potash  if 
practicable.  German  potash  can  be  used  in  this  connection  with  good 
results.  In  the  spring  fork  out  the  coarse  litter,  using  the  same  for 
mulch  after  the  tree  is  planted.  Then  the  ensuing  fall  bank  the  dirt 
up  eight  or  ten  inches  about  the  body  of  the  tree,  and  in  order  to 
do  this  enlarge  the  surface  of  the  original  hole.  As  soon  as  this  is 
done,  fill  the  ditch,  that  will  be  formed  in  making  the  mound,  with 
stable  manure ;  in  early  spring  the  dirt  should  be  leveled  down  and 
kept  loose  during  the  season.  A  good  tool  for  this  purpose  is  a  po- 
tato hook,  such  as  is  used  when  digging  potatoes  by  hand.  Each  fall 
mulch  and  manure  such  trees,  extending  the  space  about  the  tree 
gradually  from  year  to  year.    With  annual  mulching  and  manuring 


I 


i 


4a 

.rnnM  r^-sults  can  be  secured  without  plowing  or  otherwise  attempting 
rculttvate  t^ground.    Be  careftd  not  to  have  the  manure  come  m 

^""Tw^ild  tvS'littk  5run"g  until  the  tree  commences  to  bear 
If  a  imb  Is  pushing  out  m'ore  ra>ly  than  others  I  wouW  head  .t 
hack  in  mid-summer  so  as  to  check  its  growth.  If  a  limb  is  crossing 
anotherTt  can  be  removed,  but  delay  any  general  prumng  ""  ^e 
?ree  Boes  into  fruiting.  Heavy  annual  pruning  in  thinmng  out  the 
Sor  heading  thei^  back  while  the  tree  is  young  w.U  cause  it  to 
oroduce  wood  instead  of  developing  fruit  buds.  /"«"  ""f"  " 
wmes  to  the  ultimate  pruning,  no  two  varieties,  and  for  that  matter 
nn  two  trees  should  receive  the  same  treatment.  I. believe  in  low 
headed  Ind  open  headed  trees,  so  that  as  they  attain  full  bearing 
size  and  are  baded  with  fruit  the  ends  of  the  limbs  m  many  cases 

"'"wstS-%?eTgtwing  varieties  like  Baldwin,  Stark  and 
Stavman  I  would  plant  from  thirty-eight  to  forty  feet  apart  While 
vSr  liiro  denburgh.  Wealthy  and  Boiken,  I  would  put  twenty- 
dJht  to  thirty  feet  apart.  I  would  plant  in  squares  and  were  I  to 
usT  fillers  in 'ihe  thrity-eight  to  forty  feet  y-"^ti*/v\;:°"'^„P'?^* 
apples  only  in  the  center  of  the  square,  usmg  peach  trees  for  the 

"'"t1heo°ryh1s'^U  right  to  use  the  smaller  growing  and  early  b^r- 
ina  v^riet^es  1  ike  Oldenburgh  and  Boiken  as  fillers  for  the  entire 
l"^crbrtherel  danger  th'at  they  will  -t  be  removed  wh^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
beein  to  crowd  the  permanent  trees.  If  planting  fi  lers  in  the  center 
of  he  SQuare  aim  to  put  out  varieties  that  will  bloom  at  the  same 
le  as  Te  others.  I^hink  that  sufficient  attention  has  not  been 
driven  to  the  importance  of  cross  pollination,  but  I  am  not  pre 
lared  to  say  what  varieties  of  apples  should  be  planted  in  conjunc- 
tion with  others  to  give  the  best  results. 

In  planting  an  orchard  of  Bartlett  P*"^  ,»"«  I?^^.  °*  ^"^^^, 
eV,«,iiH  hP  nlanted  to  every  five  or  six  rows  of  Bartletts.     wnere 
Wst  do'ne'^'he  result Vn  the  Bartletts  is.very  marked   not  only 
as  to  the  f ruitf ulness  of  Bartletts,  but  the  size  of  the  fruit 

Keffer  is  another  pear  that  needs  assistance  in  pol  .nation,  but 
I  am  not  prepared  to  say  what  is  the  most  desirable  variety  to  plant 
in  conjunction  with  Keifer  for  this  purpose. 

In  planting  standard  pears  I  would  give  them  about  the  same 
treatment  as  apples,  excepting  I  would  fight  shy  of  stab  «  manure^ 
though  the  same  might  be  applied  as  a  top  dressing  in  he  faj :  Bart 
ett  and  Keifer  have  a  tendency  to  develop  fire  blight  if  fertilized  too 
hthW  Seckel,  on  the  other  hand,  is  a  coarse  feeder;  hme  ^tash 
and  buckwheat,  the  latter  to  be  sowed  as  a  cover  crop,  can  be  recom- 
mended in  pear  culture. 

Discussion. 
P  S.  Fenstermacher.— If  we  could  get  trees  from  the  nursery 
headed  iust  right  we  could  make  our  plans  and  do  accurate  prumng 
bufso  many  of  the  trees  we  buy  have  limbs  broken  and  tops  gen- 
erally out  of  shape  that  I  prefer  to  plant  one  year  whips  and  grow 
my  own  top  in  the  orchard. 


43 

Mr.  Chase— If  a  tree  is  handled  as  it  should  be  in  digging  and 
packing,  it  should  come  in  good  shape. 

Jas-  M.  Moon.— I  believe  I  must  take  exceptions  to  the  cutting 
back  of  side  branches.  If  the  tree  is  growing  in  the  shape  you  want 
It,  why  not  let  the  limbs  grow  and  make  it  a  good  top  as  soon  as 
possible  so  as  to  bear  a  crop  without  waiting  too  long. 

Mr.  Fenstermacher. — You  certainly  must  do  some  cutting  back 
to  keep  your  trees  from  growing  all  over  the  place. 

S.  S.  Shank.— Why  do  the  New  Jersey  trees  that  are  not  headed 
back,  simply  allowed  to  grow,  begin  bearing  so  young  and  bear  so 
heavily,  while  some  of  our  own  that  are  headed  back  and  pruned 
hard  are  spending  all  their  strength  in  growing  wood. 

Mr.  Chase.— That  is  probably  due  to  the  difference  in  soil  and 
then  in  this  matter  of  pruning,  we  must  always  consider  the  variety 
with  which  we  are  working. 

A.  D.  Strode. — Do  trees  with  many  fibre  roots  grow  better  than 
those  without? 

Mr.  Chase.— No,  I  do  not  think  they  do  for  the  fibre  roots  dry 
up  any  way,  but  whatever  you  plant  insist  on  the  nurservman  giving 
you  the  roots  that  belong  to  the  tree. 


SOME  ORCHARD  DISEASES  AND  THEIR  TREATMENT. 

By  Prof.  C.  R.  Orton,  Plant  Pathologist,  State  College,  Pa. 

The  diseases  of  fruit  and  fruit  trees  are  almost  too  numerous 
to  mention  and  so  the  title  assigned  for  this  address  implies  that  only 
a  part  of  them  will  be  discussed.  For  the  purpose  of  bringing  be- 
fore the  members  of  this  Association  some  of  the  practical  points 
regarding  orchard  diseases,  their  control  and  treatment,  which  may 
not  be  generally  understood,  I  have  thought  it  best  to  discuss  only  a 
few  of  the  more  destructive  diseases  at  this  time. 

It  is  certainly  true  that  there  are  now  more  plant  diseases  in 
Pennsylvania  than  there  were  several  years  ago.  To  some  this  is  a 
difficult  condition  to  account  for,  but  the  explanation  is  obvious  to 
one  who  has  made  an  extensive  study  of  plant  diseases  and  their 
geographical  distributions. 

There  are  two  important  factors  which  have  greatly  assisted  in 
the  spread  and  introduction  of  plant  diseases.  These  are  (i)  The 
removal  of  natural  barriers  between  localities  and  farms,  such  as 
forests,  uncultivated  land,  etc.,  and  (2)  The  ease  with  which  nursery 
stock,  seed  and  fruit  are  shipped  between  countries,  states  and  local- 
ities. The  great  importance  of  the  international  exchange  of  horti- 
cultural plants  and  the  spread  of  diseases  and  insect  pests  through 
this  medium  has,  during  the  past  decade  or  longer,  been  forcibly  im- 


44 

pressed  upon  our  national  government  and  re^u^^^^^^  'p^nt^Quaraf- 
^y  Congress  of  the  S.mmonsBiUwhK:h  became  the        ^^y 

l^lnl^e  foTof  cirX  4I  Officii  ^f^^^f  Secretary.  U.  S.  Depart- 

spection  of     all  tieia  grywu  nyj  .  .     .^    ^  orna- 

^afts.  scions,  buds,  fru.t  p.ts   and  other  seeds  °/  t™     ^^^^^  f„r 

to  cove?  interstate  trade  ""t'^^^'f  the  Sec"   a?,  of  Agriculture 

''r  :  Vd^rS^  uUur'KU  with^^^^^^^^ 
Sn     TW:  boa'rd^s  a'^sted  by  the  plant  patholog.sts  of  the  sev- 

erll  states  in  the  capacity  "^  "-"^^"'"f ';„  j^e  prevention  of  the 
.p JS^on  =!^  -H? 3 S  dirfs  &ri; 

rust,  wart  and  powdery  -f  »/  P^'^^^^'^^Vow^^  moth  and  certain 
as  such  msect  P!f  .  ^^ '"^.f  P^stricted  to  small  areas  and  possibly 
scale  msects  might  have  been  res"'"^"      .      ,    ..    j  ^j^^  mil  enium 

stamped  out  entirely.  I  do  ""t  ■"\^" '"jS^'that  we  are  making 
of  Phyt0P-t*'°'°gy J!„f  iTat  preven^on  and  that  the  sooner  you 

forShe:rirec[ion%'%S  -ay  bring  about  the  de- 


45 

sired  effect.  Co-operation  on  the  part  of  the  practical  fruit  grow- 
ers is  very  essential  for  bringing  about  control  measures  satisfac- 
torily. Treatment  is  a  special  problem  to  be  worked  out  by  careful 
investigations  of  the  particular  disease  at  hand.  It  may  depend 
largely  upon  the  crop,  nature  of  the  disease,  condition  of  the  soil, 
method  of  fertilization,  and  possibly  other  factors.  It  should  be 
added  here  that  whatever  I  have  said  thus  far  applies  to  insect  pests 
as  well  as  to  bacterial  and  fungous  diseases. 

I  have  elaborated  perhaps  too  fully  upon  some  of  the  phases  of 
plant  pathology  but  if  so  it  is  only  for  the  purpose  of  impressing 
upon  the  practical  horticulturist  the  value  and  necessity  of  such 
steps  as  I  have  outlined. 

Fire  Blight. 

Fire  Blight  is  one  of  the  most  serious  diseases  of  the  apple, 
pear,  and  quince,  which  we  have  in  Pennsylvania.  It  also  attacks 
the  plum  and  apricot  among  our  cultivated  fruits.  It  is  a  disease 
native  to  North  America,  probably  upon  such  pomaceous  hosts  as 
the  June-berry,  hawthorne,  and  wild  crab.  From  these  hosts  it 
spread  to  the  cultivated  hosts  when  they  were  introduced  into 
America.  It  is  usually  true  that  plants  removed  from  their  natural 
habitat  become  more  susceptible  to  disease.  This  was  certainly 
true  of  the  apple,  pear,  quince,  with  regard  to  fire  blight.  The 
disease  has  been  unknown  in  Europe,  the  native  home  of  these  hosts, 
until  quite  recently  when  it  has  been  found  in  Italy.  It  was  almost 
surely  carried  to  that  country  from  North  America.  What  effect 
this  North  American  parasite  may  have  upon  pomaceous  hosts  grow- 
'  ing  in  Europe  is  as  yet  unknown,  but  judging  from  analogy  the  most 
severe  attacks  may  be  expected  for  the  reason  that  the  European 
fruit  trees  have  had  no  chance  to  develop  immunity  to  this  disease 
by  years  of  association,  as  have  our  native  hosts  in  North  America, 
such  as  the  hawthorne,  wild  crabs  and  mountain  ash.  Such  an  ex- 
perience has  been  demonstrated  in  the  United  States  several  times, 
as  for  instance,  when  the  chestnut  blight  fungus  was  imported  from 
China  into  the  United  States,  and  the  gypsy  and  brown-tailed  moths 
were  imported.  All  of  these  pests  were  much  less  dangerous  in  their 
native  country. 

How  long  it  takes  a  plant  to  develop  this  immunity  is  another 
question  but  we  know  that  it  is  much  longer  for  some  plants  than 
for  others.  Fire  blight  has  been  prevalent  in  the  United  States  for 
about  a  hundred  and  thirty  years,  and  the  virulence  of  its  attack 
upon  its  cultivated  hosts  does  not  seem  to  be  diminishing  very  rap- 
idly. We  may  say,  however,  that  during  this  time  some  varieties  of 
apples  and  pears  have  been  developed  which  appear  to  possess  re- 
sistant qualities.  It  is  known  though  that  some  of  these  varieties 
which  appear  resistant  in  one  locality  are  more  susceptible  when 
grow  under  other  conditions.  What  appears  then  as  resistance  is 
seen  to  be  often  a  local  question  which  can  be  most  readily  solved  by 
the  practical  grower  for  his  own  conditions. 

The  early  nursery  men  and  fruit  growers  of  our  country  be- 
lieved fire  blight  to  be  due  to  scorching  by  the  sun.    Later,  freezing, 


a 


46 

electricity  and  fungi  were  blamed  for  its  appearance.     It  was  not 
untf  879  Siat  the  feal  cause  of  this  blight  was  made  known  hrou^h 
the  enochal  discovery  by  BurriU  that  it  was  due  to  bacteria.     Al 
thoueh  his  work  was  ridiculed  by  many  scientists  for  some  time 
eswdally  Europeans,  it  was  definitely  proved  later  by  .Arthur  and 
Xr    by  pure  culture  inoculations  that  a  specific  bacillus  known 
botanlcaHy'as  Bacillus  amylovorus,  ^.s  ^e  true  cause  o^fir^  blight. 
BurriU's  discovery  opened  up  the  whole  field  of  bacteria^  pny 
tonatholoev   a  branch  of  our  science  to  which  Dr.  E.  b.  sm'tn,  or 
!h.  I  !n^^' States  Department  of  Agriculture,  has  long  been  de- 
loteVand  wlkL  haTr^sulted  in  his  discovery  that  c^wn  gal    and 
hairy  root  of  fruit  trees  are  also  due  to  a  specific  bacterial  organism 

which  has  been  named  Bacterium  '»f  ^"''f;,-^-   .^^"u  'due  to  Ae 
most  serious  fruit  tree  diseases  have  been  found  to  be  due  to  tne 

simplest  forms  of  known  plants,  bacteria.  j„n^rc  in  rer- 

The  losses  from  fire  blight  run  into  millions  of  dollars  in  cer 
tain  tears  in  this  country.     Last  year  was  no  exception   and  it  is 
safe  to  say   I  thTnk  that  Pennsylvania  lost  many  thousands  of  dol- 
ars    rom'^ihis  one  disease  last'  season  alone.     Reports  show  tha 
it  was  very  prevalent  and  destructive  throughout  the  btate  ana  its 
efflct  w' n  L'i  f  or  several  years  to  come  unless  prompt  measures  are 

'^'^Thrre'^lrrfoT convenience  in  discussion,  five  kinds  of  fire 
blight  (I)  blossom  blight.  (2)  twig  blight  {3}  fr"'t  b]9ht,{j) 
liZorbody  blight,  Pro^rly  called  ca«*.rW.5A»,()  ^oU^  W-3H 
M  raiised  bv  the  same  organism.  According  to  their  action  on  me 
hos^^fir's^Vree  may  if  called  -tive  blight  a^^^ 
sive  or  resting  blight,  although  the  passive  form  may  assume  active 
progress  under  favorable  conditions. 

Blossom  Blight. 

Blossom  blight  is  the  first  in  the  season  to  appear  and  often  re- 
mains unnoticed  because  of  the  transitory  nature  of  the  blossom. 
This  form  of  the  blight  is  actively  disseminated  ro«  f  „k-  bl.gh  to 
healthy  blossoms  by  various  nectar  collecting  msects  such  as  Dees, 
wasps  and  flies.  These  insects  carry  the  bacteria  on  their  body  ar^d 
anoendaees  from  the  sticky  ooze,  which  is  made  up  of  bacteria 
Suded  f"m  limb  or  body  cankers  during  the  rapid  ascent  of  sap 

'"  r  ^P¥htre°risVSfghtn^f^.  su  iTnle^^^^^^^ 
Se  is  no  do^Mbut  whatlrlqu'ently  such  blighting  is  ascribed 
erroneousry  to  the  action  of  unfavorable  weather  conditions  or 

*''°'*'-  Twig  Blight. 

This  hlieht  usually  appears  after  the  leaves  are  out  and  the 
frnit  well  set  although  it  may  appear  at  intervals  through  the  sum- 
me  orufculent  sh^ts  It's  Characterized  by  a  browning  of  the 
^ves  and  blackening  of  the  young  bark  and  sap  wood  g'vng  th« 
treethe  aooearance  of  being  burned  at  the  tips  of  branches.  Fre- 
quently tKghti'ng  is  so  sfvere  as  to  give  the  trees  the  appearance 
of  being  entirely  burned  throughout  the  top.    See  Plate  5,  Hg.  i- 


Fig.  I.    Apple  Irce  seriously  ;iff<ctcd  with  tuig-blitiht. 

leaves  on  the   outt-rmost  tuigs. 
PLATE   V 


Note  the  wilted 


lb 


Fig.  2.     Apple  tree  showing  a  typical  case  of  collar-blight 
which  has  progressed  rapidly  up  the  trunk. 
PLATK    s. 


47 

It  is  not  unusual  for  trees,  especially  nursery  stock,  in  this  condition 
to  be  killed  outright.  This  form  of  blight  is  also  spread  by  insects 
but  by  a  /'fferent  class  than  those  spreading  blossom  blight.  In 
this  case  sucking  or  biting  insects  such  as  aphids,  the  tarnished  plant 
bug,  etc.,  are  very  instrumental  in  carrying  the  bacteria  from  twig 
to  twig.  Care  must  also  be  taken  when  pruning  during  spring  and 
early  summer  not  to  spread  the  blight  by  the  careless  use  of  tools. 

Fruit  Blight. 

This  form  of  blight  usually  accompanies  twig  blight.  The 
fruits  show  a  browned  or  darkened  area  on  the  skin  of  varying  ex- 
tent according  to  the  time  which  has  elapsed  after  infection.  As  a 
rule  the  fruits  are  covered  with  small  beads  of  the  bacterial  exudate 
which  make  them  very  sticky  to  the  touch.  Insects  are  here  also  the 
primary  cause  of  the  spread  of  this  form  of  fire  blight.  Care  must 
be  taken  in  removing  twig  blight  not  to  overlook  fruit  blight. 

When  blossom,  twig  or  fruit  blight  appear  the  only  method  of 
treatment  is  to  prune  off  all  such  parts  at  once,  taking  care  to  prune 
well  below  the  darkened  area  of  bark.  It  is  best  to  cut  at  least  six 
inches  below  the  lowest  visible  signs  of  the  blight  when  it  is  on  wood 
of  the  current  season's  growth.  It  has  been  proved  that  the  bacteria 
penetrate  much  more  rapidly  and  farther  than  external  appear- 
ances indicate.  On  older  wood  the  organism  works  more  slowly 
and  so  two  or  three  inches  taken  off  below  the  browned  area  on  such 
wood  is  probably  sufficient. 

The  equipment  necessary  for  this  work  consists  of  pruning 
shears,  a  bottle  of  corrosive  sublimate  and  a  sponge  for  applying 
the  disinfectant  to  the  shears.  It  is  not  thought  essential  to  collect 
the  smaller  twigs  after  their  removal,  for  experiments  indicate  that 
the  organism  cannot  live  on  dead  wood.  For  disinfecting  the  prun- 
ing shears  and  the  cut  surface  of  large  branches  left  exposed,  corro- 
sive sublimate  is  the  cheapest  and  most  satisfactory.  It  should  be 
used  at  the  strength  of  i :  icxx)  parts  of  water,  and  is  easily  prepared 
by  dropping  one  mercuric  chloride  tablet  in  a  pint  of  water.  These 
tablets  can  be  obtained  at  the  drug  store  as  a  rule,  and  if  in  doubt  as 
to  their  strength  ask  the  druggist  how  to  make  up  the  i :  looo  solu- 
tion. Care  should  be  taken  to  keep  these  tablets  in  a  safe  place  and 
labeled  poison;  also  any  of  the  solution  left  over  should  be  treated 
in  this  same  careful  manner  as  it  is  very  poisonous  if  taken  internal- 
ly. Formaldehyde  solution  of  one  per  cent,  strength  may  be  used, 
but  is  offensive  to  the  nostrils  and  hard  upon  the  hands. 

It  is  no  easy  matter  to  cut  out  a  serious  infection  of  blossom  or 
twig  blight  in  an  orchard  of  large  trees  where  ladders  must  be  used. 
In  order  to  eliminate  and  control  the  blight  to  a  minimum  careful 
inspection  must  be  resorted  to  at  least  every  week  from  blooming 
time  until  the  fruits  are  one-third  to  one-half  grown,  and  any  blight- 
ed twigs,  however  small,  removed  at  once.  Only  by  such  careful  in- 
spection and  removal,  and  the  co-operation  of  all  fruit  growers  in 
the  locality  can  blight  be  controlled. 

The  origin  of  blossom  and  twig  blight  in  an  orchard  brings  us 
to  the  next  point  to  be  discussed,  namely,  canker  blight. 


1 1 


' 


i'"H"..  J.     A]>|»lc  tree  >lii'\\iii,y   a  t_\|»ical   rase  <if  (.-ollar-Miyln 
wliioli  ha^  |iri>f-:i'(.-ss(.Ml  ra;n(ll\   np  tlu-  trunk. 
I'LATl-    ^. 


47 

It  is  not  unusual  for  trees,  especially  nursery  stock,  in  this  condition 
to  be  killed  outright.  This  form  of  blight  is  also  spread  by  insects 
but  by  a  v  "fferent  class  than  those  spreading  blossom  blight.  In 
this  case  sucking  or  biting  insects  such  as  aphids,  the  tarnished  plant 
bug,  etc.,  are  very  instrumental  in  carrying  the  bacteria  from  twig 
to  twig.  Care  must  also  be  taken  when  pruning  during  spring  and 
early  summer  not  to  spread  the  blight  by  the  careless  use  of  tools. 

Pruit  Blight. 

This  form  of  blight  usually  accompanies  twig  blight.  The 
fruits  show  a  browned  or  darkened  area  on  the  skin  of  varying  ex- 
tent according  to  the  time  which  has  elapsed  after  infection.  As  a 
rule  the  fruits  are  covered  with  small  beads  of  the  bacterial  exudate 
which  make  them  very  sticky  to  the  touch.  Insects  are  here  also  the 
primary  cause  of  the  spread  of  this  form  of  fire  blight.  Care  must 
be  taken  in  removing  twig  blight  not  to  overlook  fruit  blight. 

When  blossom,  twig  or  fruit  blight  appear  the  only  method  of 
treatment  is  to  prune  off  all  such  parts  at  once,  taking  care  to  prune 
well  below  the  darkened  area  of  bark.  It  is  best  to  cut  at  least  six 
inches  below  the  lowest  visible  signs  of  the  blight  when  it  is  on  wood 
of  the  current  season's  growth.  It  has  been  proved  that  the  bacteria 
penetrate  much  more  rapidly  and  farther  than  external  appear- 
ances indicate.  On  older  wood  the  organism  works  more  slowly 
and  so  two  or  three  inches  taken  off  below  the  browned  area  on  such 
wood  is  probably  sufficient. 

The  equipment  necessary  for  this  work  consists  of  pruning 
shears,  a  bottle  of  corrosive  sublimate  and  a  sponge  for  applying 
the  disinfectant  to  the  shears.  It  is  not  thought  essential  to  collect 
the  smaller  twigs  after  their  removal,  for  experiments  indicate  that 
the  organism  cannot  live  on  dead  wood.  For  disinfecting  the  prun- 
ing shears  and  the  cut  surface  of  large  branches  left  exposed,  corro- 
sive sublimate  is  the  cheapest  and  mo»it  satisfactory.  It  should  l)e 
used  at  the  strength  of  i  :  looo  parts  of  water,  and  is  easily  prepared 
by  dropping  one  mercuric  chloride  tablet  in  a  pint  of  water.  These 
tablets  can  be  obtained  at  the  drug  store  as  a  rule,  and  if  in  doubt  as 
to  their  strength  ask  the  druggist  how  to  make  up  the  i  :  lOOO  solu- 
tion. Care  should  be  taken  to  keep  these  tablets  in  a  safe  place  and 
labeled  poison;  also  any  of  the  solution  left  over  should  be  treated 
in  this  same  careful  manner  as  it  is  very  poisonous  if  taken  internal- 
ly. Formaldehyde  solution  of  one  per  cent,  strength  may  be  used, 
but  is  offensive  to  the  nostrils  and  hard  upon  the  hands. 

It  is  no  easy  matter  to  cut  out  a  serious  infection  of  blossom  or 
twig  blight  in  an  orchard  of  large  trees  where  ladders  must  be  used. 
In  order  to  eliminate  and  control  the  blight  to  a  minimum  careful 
inspection  must  be  resorted  to  at  least  every  week  from  bloonnng 
time  until  the  fruits  are  one-third  to  one-half  grown,  and  any  blight- 
ed twigs,  however  small,  removed  at  once.  Only  by  such  careful  in- 
spection and  removal,  and  the  co-operation  of  all  fruit  growers  in 
the  locality  can  blight  be  controlled. 

The  oriyin  of  blossom  and  twig  blight  in  an  orchard  brings  us 
to  the  next  point  to  be  discussed,  namely,  canker  blight. 


INTENTrONAL  SECOND  EXPOSURE 


48 

Canker  Blight. 

When  an  infected  twig  is  not  removed  from  a  limb,  eventually 
the  bacteria  work  into  the  larger  limb  and  there  form  a  caiiker 
usually  more  or  less  orbicular  in  outline,  or  it  may  even  work  down 
the  limb  into  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  forming  a  long  canker  on  its 
trail.     These  cankers  are  usually  very  typical,  forming  a  sunken 
area  the  margins  of  which  are  more  or  less  irregular  and  usually 
cracked  away  from  the  sound  bark.     See  Plate  6,  Figs,  i  and  4. 
These  cankers  may  persist  season  after  season  \yithout  much  ex- 
tension and  form  deep  cankers  with  well  developed  callus  growth  at 
their  margin.    It  is  in  these  cankers  that  we  have  what  is  called  the 
hold-over  or  resting  blight.    Each  spring  as  the  sap  becomes  active 
and  growth  starts,  the  bacteria  which  remain  alive  through  the  win- 
ter in  the  living  wood  at  the  margin  of  the  cankers,  start  growth  and 
usually  burst  out  through  the  broken  bark,  thus  forming  the  sticky 
ooze  to  which  insects  are  attracted.    From  these  cankers  the  insects 
visit  the  blossoms  and  twigs  and  spread  the  infection  rapidly.     It 
becomes  most  essential  then,  in  order  to  control  the  spread  of  fire 
blight  to  remove  these  blight  cankers.     This  can  be  accomplished 
be?t  by  a  thorough  inspection  in  the  early  spring  for  such  cankers  or 
sunken  areas  in  the  bark  and  such  places  cut  out  immediately  and 
the  wound  disinfected  with  corrosive  sublimate.    After  the  wound 
has  dried  paint  it  over  with  pure  white  lead  and  oil,  asphaltum  or 
grafting  wax,  to  protect  it  from  fungous  invasion  and  to  facilitate 
the  formation  of  callus  growth.    When  cutting  out  the  cankers  use 
a  chisel  or  any  sharp  tool  handy.    Sterilize  it  after  making  each  cut 
and  be  sure  to  cut  back  well  beyond  any  browned  bark  or  discolored 
sap  wood ;  two  inches  beyond  the  cankered  area  is  none  too  far  for 
large  cankers.    This  phase  of  control  is  extremely  important  and  if 
all  of  the  cankered  areas  could  be  removed  the  blight  would  be  effec- 
tively controlled,  providing  it  was  not  brought  into  an  orchard  from 
a  neighbor's  infected  trees.    A  point  to  be  added  here  is  the  danger 
of  allowing  old  scrubs  of  apple  trees  to  grow  in  fence  rows  about  the 
farm     They  may  be  the  chief  source  of  infection  to  your  valuable 
orchard     Blow  them  out  with  dynamite  so  as  to  remove  the  roots 
to  prevent  the   formation  of   suckers   which   may  propagate   the 

*^  The  predisposing  factors  to  twig  blight  are,  (i)  weather  condi- 
tions (2)  the  rapid  growth  of  new  shoots,  and  (3)  the  presence  of 
insects  as  carriers  or  agents  in  dissemination.  Weather  conditions 
are  important  as  it  is  known  that  blight  is  much  more  destructive 
iust  after  an  abundant  rainfall  followed  by  warm,  cloudy  weather. 
At  this  time  the  twigs  are  very  succulent  and  in  their  most  suscepti- 
ble conditions.  ....  ,  r  j-  u  - 
Trees  which,  on  account  of  fertilization  or  heavy  feeding  have 
produced  abnormal  growth  of  twigs  and  suckers,  are  especially  lia- 
ble to  be  blighted.  Numerous  experiments  have  shown  that  nitro- 
eenous  applications  to  orchard  soils  tend  to  produce  a  rapid  growth 
most  favorable  to  the  attack  of  the  blight  organism.  The  presence 
of  sucking  insects  and  bark  borers  have  more  to  do  with  the  spread 
of  blight  than  any  other  factor  probably.    It  is  likely  that  if  aphids, 


49 

the  tarnished  plant  bug  and  the  bark  borers  were  controlled,  twig 
blight  would  be  decreased  to  a  minimum.  There  is  considerable  evi- 
dence to  show  that  the  presence  or  absence  of  insects  is  of  more 
importance  than  varietal  resistance  to  fire  blight  in  blight  cpntrol, 
and  that  apparent  resistance  may  be  due  to  the  immunity  of  certain 
varieties  of  trees  from  insect  attack. 

Collar  Blight. 

Collar  blight  or  ^'collar  rot"  as  it  is  locally  known,  has  undoubt- 
edly been  prevalent  in  Pennsylvania  for  many  years,  although  the 
real  cause  has  only  recently  been  known.    The  first  published  ac- 

fn"tl!l  pJ^'/'^Af  "''v"^'J"  *r^?*^^^  ^^^  **^^*  ^y  ^''  J-  P-  Stewart 
in  the  Rural  New  Yorker  of  May  1907.  It  has  been  especially  se- 
vere in  Adams,  Franklin  and  other  counties  in  the  southern  border 
A  recent  survey  of  the  State  shows  that  it  occurs  in  over  twenty 
fn "m '^'i  A  'w-^'"?  considered  to  be  one  of  the  most  severe  diseases 
in  Maryland,  Virginia,  West  Virginia,  New  York,  and  Ohio,  and  is 

oMhe  coimtT  '''"         '^'^^'"^  '"  practically  all  apple  growing  regions 

The  disease  is  characterized  the  first  year  by  a  general  unhealthy 
condition  of  one  or  more  limbs  of  the  tree  during  the  growing  sea- 

f^;  n  u'^^A  ^P.P^^'"'  i;?^^  ^'■^^"  ^'^  y^"oW'  ^nd  the  fruit  is 

usually  much  undersized.    The  leaves  and  fruit  may  both  drop  in 

ate  summer  long  before  the  normal  time.  If  the  collars  of  such 
trees  are  examined  during  this  period  sunken  areas  in  the  bark  are 
found  varying  in  size  according  to  the  time  of  infection,  and  the  con- 
dition of  the  tree  at  that  time.  The  bark  in  this  area  becomes  soft 
and  easily  may  fall  away  when  disturbed.  It  is  dark  in  color,  usually 
rather  wet  and  often  has  a  sour  odor.  The  sap  wood  under  this 
bark  is  browned  or  blackened.  The  second  season  the  disease 
prc-gresses  rapidly  as  a  rule  and  may  girdle  the  collar,  or  it  may 
under  certain  conditions,  work  up  the  trunk  into  the  larger  branches! 
bee  Flate  5,  Fig.  2.  It  may  take  several  seasons  to  kill  the  tree 
in  some  instances,  but  the  results  are  certain  in  any  event. 

It  is  noteworthy  that  only  trees  between  the  ages  of  seven  and 
twenty  years  ar©  susceptible  to  this  form  of  blight.  We  see,  then 
that  It  attacks  trees  which  are  in  their  prime,  and  of  course  when 
ordinarily  most  healthy.  Trees  in  well  cultivated  and  cared  for  or- 
chards appear  to  suflfer  most  apparently  because  of  the  greater  suc- 
culence of  their  tissues.  Almost  any  variety  appears  likely  to  be  at- 
tacked but  Grimes  Golden  and  Ben  Davis  are  especially  susceptible. 
York  Imperial,  Smokehouse,  Maiden  Blush,  Smith's  Cider,  and 
other  varieties,  are  often  severely  attacked. 

From  the  work  of  M.  B.  Waite,  of  the  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture, supplemented  by  that  of  H.  R.  Fulton,  former  Plant  Pathol- 
ogist of  the  Pennsylvania  State  College,  and  J.  F.  Adams,  now  As- 
sistant Plant  Pathologist  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  College,  it  has 
been  definitely  proved  that  the  fire  blight  organism  is  the  cause  of 
true  collar  blight. 

In  New  York  practically  all  of  the  injury  to  apple  trees  at  the 
collar  has  been  said,  by  Grossenbacher,  to  be  due  to  frost  injury,  and 
this  view  is  at  least  partially  correct.     True  collar  blight  is  also 


I 


I 


t 


in 


50 
prevalent  in  New  York  and  has  been  confused  with  frost  injury, 

""^^Te  also  have  undoubted  cases  of  frost  injury  at  the  collar  in 
P*.nnsvlvania  but  this  kind  of  injury  does  not  progress  as  does  true 
folLr  bS  Winter  injury  by 'freezing  may  have  the  appearance 
Tf  collar  blight,  but  unless  the  fire  Wight  organ^mga^^^^^ 
afterwards,  the  injury  does  not  usually  extend  farther,  "the  tree 
is  otherwise  healthy  and  the  injury  by  frost  not  too  severe  sucn 
ree  will  often  recover  by  the  formation  of  <^^^«,^  ^^^^^^^^^^ 
contrary  a  tree  attacked  by  bacterial  collar  blight  probably  rarely 
recovers  without  surreal  assistance.  . 

There  s  also  a  form  of  root  and  collar  rot  rather  common  m 
our  Pennsylvania  orchards,  which  apparently  is  due  to  an  entn;el7 
dSefent  cLse  from  either  collar  blight  or  collar  freezm|  Jh^ 
form  of  root  decav  seems  to  be  caused  by  a  fungus  which  is  cioseiy 
el^ed'to  must^^ms.  Many  kinds  of  trees  areattacked  other  than 
fruit  trees  The  fungus  lives  on  decaymg  wood  m  the  soil,  wnere 
it^ttacks  the  roots  of^njured  or  unhealthy  trees.  Quite  commonly 
i  l^ems  to  teTiciated  with  collar  blight  and  no  doubt  comes  m 
as  at^clndary  pa^site  to  that  and  other  troubles.  The  remova  of 
all  infSed  r^ts  and  the  same  method  of  treatment  m  general  as 
for  collar  blieht  is  recommended.  r*.    „«.« 

iVis  verl  probable  that  poor  stock  and  «"?"««?..  gff^t^."! 
important  factors  in  the  susceptibility  of  trees  toJ^^'^/^t-'-f^^^^tSuch 
<!t(Sc  is  likely  to  produce  many  root  suckers,  which  are  almost  sure 
r^ds  of  intctioS  at  the  colUr  by  the  blight  bacillus  Imp^^^^^^^^^ 
grafts  often  leave  a  lesion  through  which  mf ection  readly  takes 
STce  Root  grafted  trees  appear  to  be  much  more  susceptible  than 
top-worked  of  budded  trees  The  reason  for  this  may  be  that  the 
e«fU  were  imperfect  or  it  may  be  that  the  stock  is  more  susceptible 
fo  bHgKaX  stem.  This  last  theory  may  account  for  the  fact 
that  there  is  little  correlation  between  the  occurrence  of  twig  and 
coHarSht  upon  the  same  trees,-a  condition  which  would  hardly 

^  ^'^fmethod  of  spread  of  collar  blight  is  not  known  with  cer- 
tainty.   A^pe  tree  bo?ers  are  constantly  associated  with  he  trouble 
and  it  is  p?bbable  that  they  roread  the  blight  at  this  point.    The  re- 
moval of  borers  from  an  infected  colUr  and  the  transf erral  of  the 
S?^t  o  gS  on  unsterilized  instruments  to  "•""**<=.tf<'J;f,'!   " 
the  further  search  for  borers,  may  account  i°\'%r^P"^'l'^^'f 
some  of  our  best  orchards.    The  importance  of  sterilizing  the  instru- 
«,»nf<!  iKipH  in  borer  removal  should  be  emphasized  here. 
""    Ourlnvesti^tlonave  shown  that  it  is  practical  to  treat  collar 
blight  by  the  cutting  out  method  providing  the  disease^  detected  ,n 
the  early  stages  before  the  lesions  have  progressed  too  far.    It  is 
otIcS  hopeless  to  attempt  to  save  a  tree  which  has  been  more 
?han  half  eirdled.    Trees  having  small  cankers  can  usually  be  saved 
fTare  isfaken  to  thoroughly  fut  out.  disinfect  and  cover  Ae  area 
with  a  Eood  paint  as    s  recommended  for  limb  or  body  cankers. 
Ca^eless^Wts  at  this  process  will  only  ^P-ad  it  the  more.    A 
muire-chisel  and  mallet  are  the  best  tools  for  this  purpose,     ine 
ff  and%wood  should  be  cut  back  at  least  two  inches  beyond 


1 


(9 


1     ii« 

%^m 

Fic.    I.   An    old    cankrr-1  (light    on    an 
apple  limb. 


"ir.s.  J-3.   nittcr-rot,  showing  concentric 
circles  of  spore-pustules. 


Fig.  4.  Young  canker-blight 
on  apple  twig. 


Fig.   5.  lUack-rot    mummy    showing   spore 
pustules. 
PLATE  6. 


SI 

the  diseased  area     The  cutting  may  be  best  done  during  the  fall  or 

TJll  ^T!u^'  ^"u  "^^"^  ^^"  ^'^"^^^  ^«  ^^^^^t^d  ^"nn|  the  grow' 
ing  Penod  there  shou  d  be  no  delay  in  carefully  treating  the  trees 

as  outlined  above.     There  is  little  danger  in  reletting  st^ock  where 
presem  '^'^''''^^  ""^'''  ^^^  ^""^'^^  ^^^  mt  is 

Bitter-Rot. 

rin^^^ljr''^/^  ^PP^'  ''  ^"'^"^  ^y  ^  ^""^^  ^"o^"  botanically  as 
G/om^r^//a  rufomaculans.  It  not  only  attacks  the  fruit  but  also  the 
hmbs  where  it  appears  in  well  defined  cankers  which  are  one  of  the 
sources  of  infection  year  after  year.  The  apple  is  by  no  njeans  the 
only  host  of  this  fungus,  for  it  has  been  shown  that  it  attacks  pears 
quinces,  peaches,  grapes,  and  many  other  plants,  and  it  is  altogether 

Ch  nf'l.'^''  %^-^''l'P''''H  ^"  "^^"^^  ^^^"^  «"^  host  to  another 
nn.„i?f  ?^A  ^'^  ^u ^'^7.  ^"^  ^'""^  ^"  "'^"y  h^^ts,  some  of  which  are 
uncultivated,  makes  the  disease  all  the  more  dangerous  to  our  culti- 
vated crops. 

On  the  apple  the  disease  has  been  most  widespread  in  more 

fninnffM-'^^'^'  °^'^'  ^['^'"^"^'  Kentucky,  southern  Indiana  and 
111  nois,  Missouri,  and  southward,  where  it  often  destroys  a  million 
dollars  or  more  worth  of  fruit  in  one  season,  and  is  considered  the 
most  serious  disease  of  the  apple  in  those  regions.  Within  the  last 
tew  years  it  has  been  working  northward,  and  is  seriously  threaten- 
ing our  southern  Pennsylvania  orchards.  Numerous  reports  have 
been  made  of  it  the  past  season  and  undoubted  specimens  "have 
come  to  our  laboratory  for  identification. 

The  disease  on  the  fruit  is  characterized  by  producing  a  brown- 
ish to  blackish  dry  decay  in  a  circular  outline.     On  this  decayed 
area,  pinkish  to  whitish  masses  of  spores  are  produced  in  concentric 
circles,  a  character  which  serves  to  distinguish  bitter  rot  from  any 
other  rot  of  apples  in  our  eastern  states.    See  Plate  6,  Figs.  2  and  { 
The  decayed  spots  are  often  bitter  to  the  taste  in  a  similar  way  as 
are  fruits  afifected  by  bttter  pit,  a  malady  which  should  not,  however 
be  confused  with  bitter-rot.    It  should  be  mentioned  that  the  decay 
caused  by  the  bitter-rot  fungus  is  often  a  wet  rot,  but  this  condition 
is  caused  by  bacteria  and  molds  entering  secondarily.     In  the  last 
stages  of  decay  the  fruits  become  black  mummies,  which  may  hang 
on  to  the  tree  through  winter.    These  mummies  serve  to  carry  the 
fungus  through  the  winter  and  cause  infection  the  next  season.  This     • 
tungus  IS  not  known  to  attack  the  foliage. 

The  canker  stage  of  the  fungus  in  the  limbs  is  apparently 
similar  to  the  black-rot  fungus  in  its  saprophytic  habit  of  following 
hre  blight  infections.  In  appearance  the  canker  looks  like  fire 
blight  canker  except  that  the  bark  is  usually  much  more  cracked. 
1  he  fungus  lives  over  from  season  to  season  in  these  cankers,  and 
consequently  they  are  a  source  of  serious  fruit  infection  year  after 
year. 

\yeather  conditions  are  very  important  factors  in  the  rapid 
spread  of  the  disease.    Warm,  moist,  cloudy  weather  is  very  favor- 
able for  the  germination  of  the  spores  and  infection  of  the  fruit 
Ihe  disease  is  never   serious  during  moderately  dry  and  bright 


\ 


■|i..    I.     \ii    -lid    rank:  r-i'lii^lil    "H    an 
apple   limit. 


U.S.  J-,^.   ilittiT-r«)t.  sliowinii  ci  iiiointric 
( ircUs  I'f  spi>rr-|)u>inU-^. 


1  \'~^^'^. 

Kjjj^i^ 

^^tft//SU^'-^t/f^^-' 

Fic.  .4.   ^'(lun,^  t.-aiiki.r-lili.L'lit 
(ill   applf   twiji- 


|-'i(,.    5.   I'llaik-rot    niuniiiix     ^liouin^    spoti- 
pu^tiiU-^. 
I'l.A'n-:    <'. 


51 

the  diseased  area.    The  cutting  may  be  best  done  during  the  fall  or 

itig  period  there  shou  d  be  no  delay  in  carefully  treating  the  trees 
as  outlined  above.     There  is  little  danger  in  resetting  st^ock  where 

present       '''  ''"""^''^  ""^"'^  '^^'  ^""^"^   ^^^^  '^'^' 

Bitter-Rot. 

r/.M^'^r'''^''^  ^PP^'  ''  ?"''^'^  ^'>'  ^  ^""^"^  ^^'"own  botanically  as 
Uomerclla  nifomaculaus.  It  not  only  attacks  the  fruit  but  aWo  the 
hnibs  where  it  appears  in  well  defined  cankers  which  are  one  of  the 
sources  of  infection  year  after  year.  The  apple  is  by  no  mean,  the 
only  host  of  this  fungus,  for  it  has  been  shown  that  it  attacks  „cars 
quinces,  peaches,  grapes,  and  many  other  plants,  and  it  is  altogcthci^ 
probable  that  it  often  spreads  in  nature  from  one  host  to  another 
kind  of  host.  Tins  ability  to  live  on  many  hosts,  some  of  which  arc 
uncu  tivated,  makes  the  disease  all  the  more  dangerous  to  our  culti- 
vated crops. 

On  the  apple  the  disease  has  been  most  widespread  in  more 
southern  orchards  of  the  Virginias,  Kentucky,  southern  Indiana  and 
111  nois,  .Missouri,  and  southward,  where  it  often  destroys  a  million 
dollars  or  more  worth  of  fruit  in  one  season,  and  is  considered  the 
most  serious  disease  of  the  apple  in  those  regions.  Within  the  last 
tew  years  it  has  been  working  northward,  and  is  seriously  threaten- 
ing our  southern  Pennsylvania  orchards.  Numerous  reports  have 
been  made  of  it  the  past  season  and  undoubted  specimens  have 
come  to  our  laboratory  for  identification. 

The  disease  on  the  fruit  is  characterized  by  producing  a  brown- 
ish to  blackish  dry  decay  in  a  circular  outline.     On  this  dccavcd 
area,  pinkish  to  whitish  masses  of  spores  are  prorluced  in  concentric 
circles,  a  character  which  serves  to  distinguish  bitter  rot  from  any 
other  rot  of  apples  in  our  eastern  states.    See  Plate  6,  Figs.  2  and  ^ 
1  he  decayed  spots  are  often  bitter  to  the  taste  in  a  similar  way  as 
are  fruits  aftected  by  bitter  pit,  a  malady  which  should  not,  however 
be  confused  with  bitter-rot.     It  should  be  mentioned  that  the  decay 
caused  by  the  bitter-rot  fungus  is  often  a  wet  rot,  but  this  condition 
IS  caused  by  bacteria  and  molds  entering  secondarily.     In  the  last 
stages  of  decay  the  fruits  become  black  mummies,  which  may  liane 
on  to  the  tree  through  winter.     These  mummies  serve  to  carry  the 
fungus  through  the  winter  and  cause  infection  the  next  season    This 
tungus  IS  not  known  to  attack  the  foliage. 

The  canker  stage  of  the  fungus  in  the  limbs  is  apparently 
similar  to  the  black-rot  fungus  in  its  saprophytic  habit  of  following 
hre  bhght  infections.  In  appearance  the  canker  looks  like  fire 
blight  canker  except  that  the  bark  is  usually  much  more  cracked 
Ihe  fungus  lives  over  from  season  to  season  in  these  cankers  and 
consequently  they  are  a  source  of  serious  fruit  infection  year  after 
year.  -^ 

\yeather  conditions  are  very   important   factors   in  the  rapid 
spread  of  the  disease.    Warm,  moist,  cloudy  weather  is  very  favor- 
able for  the  germination  of  the  spores  and  infection  of  the  fruit 
Ihe  disease   is   never   serious  during  moderately  dry  and  bright 


INTENTIONAL  2ND  EXPOSURE 


52 

weather.  The  fruit  may  be  attacked  at  any  period  from  the  time 
it  is  about  two-thirds  grown  until  it  is  ripe,  depending  almost  wholly 
upon  weather  conditions.  The  spores  are  rather  commonly  blown 
about  by  winds  after  copious  spore  production,  and  some  species  of 
insects  which  visit  decayed  fruit  undoubtedly  spread  the  infection. 

For  our  conditions  in  Pennsylvania  as  regards  the  present  dis- 
tribution and  establishment  of  this  disease  it  would  seem  that  by 
promptly  destroying  the  mummies  and  infected  fruits  as  they  appear 
(which,  by  the  way,  is  a  general  sanitary  precaution  to  be  employed 
each  year  systematically  for  the  control  of  fungi  and  insect  pests), 
together  with  the  inspection  and  removal  of  cankers  at  the  same 
time,  and  by  the  same  methods  as  employed  in  fire  blight,  bitter-rot 
might  be  controlled  from  further  serious  spread.  After  bitter-rot 
has  become  established  spraying  is  necessary  and  consists  in  the  ap- 
plication of  three  or  four  sprays  subsequent  to  the  scab  treatment, 
or  beginning  about  forty  days  after  the  petals  fall.  There  appears 
to  be  no  good  reason  why  lime  sulphur  should  not  be  as  effective 
as  Bordeaux  mixture  has  been  if  it  is  properly  applied.  How- 
ever, in  orchards  in  our  southern  states  where  both  commercial  lime 
sulphur  and  Bordeaux  have  been  tried  there  is  considerable  evi- 
dence in  favor  of  the  latter. 

Black  Rot. 

Black  rot,  or  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  "The  New  York  Apple 
Tree  Canker"  is  caused  by  a  fungus  which  is  known  specifically  as 
Spharopsis  malorutn.  Some  things  we  always  have  with  us  and 
black  rot  is  one  of  these.  It  appears  to  be  a  disease  indigenous  to 
North  America  and  has  been  known  for  many  years.  It  also  occurs 
widely  in  Europe. 

It  is  hardly  worth  while  to  describe  this  disease  which  is  known 
so  well  to  most  fruit  growers  by  the  production  of  a  frog-eye  spot 
on  the  leaves  and  later  the  black  rot  of  the  fruit. 

There  are,  however,  some  interesting  points  regarding  this  dis- 
ease which  should  be  borne  in  mind.  It  rarely  if  ever  produces 
cankers  on  its  own  initiative.  It  is  almost  invariably  present  on 
cankers  made  by  fire  blight  and  it  lives  over  winter  in  these  areas 
and  in  diseased  fruit  which  becomes  more  or  less  mummified.  See 
Plate  6,  Fig.  5. 

The  spots  on  the  leaves  and  the  infection  of  the  fruit  arise  from 
the  spores  produced  and  dispersed  from  these  cankered  areas,  or 
from  black  rot  mummies  which  have  overwintered  in  the  tree.  It 
seems  most  unlikely  that  the  fruit  is  infected  from  the  leaf  spots  un- 
less it  be  from  dead  leaves  of  the  previous  year  which  harbored  the 
fungus. 

The  same  fungus  very  probably  inhabits  several  hosts  in  addi- 
tion to  the  apple,  pear,  quince,  and  other  pomes.  A  perfect  stage 
has  recently  been  demonstrated  as  occurring  upon  apple,  quince, 
oak,  grape,  witch  hazel,  and  other  hosts,  and  it  is  possible  that  the 
fungus  may  be  as  cosmopolitan  in  its  habits  as  the  bitter-rot  fungus. 
If  so  we  can  readily  understand  how  it  has  become  so  widespread. 

Black  rot  should  never  be  even  troublesome  in  a  well  cared 


s. 


Fig.   1.  Ked-cedar  stage  of  apple  rust  showing  a  one-year-old  gall. 

(Courtesy   F.    1).    Kern.) 


Fic.  2.  Showing  the  second-year  galls  on  the  red  cedar  after  the  si)ore  horns 
have  emerged.  During  this  stage  after  showers  an  abundance  of  si)ores  are  pro- 
duced which  infect  the  fruit  and  foliage  of  apple.     (Courtesy  F.  1).  Kern.) 

PLATE   /. 


53 

for  orchard  which  has  been  thoroughly  inspected  for  the  various 
fire  Wight  injuries  and  these  removed.  When  it  does  aooearYn  ^n 
orchard  fire  blight  cankers  are  almost  sure  to  be  pre  enfand  Lre  a 
four  fold  danger  in  harboring,  (i)  the  blight  organism  (2)  bU^er 
rot,  (3)  black  rot,  and  (4)  the  blister  canker  ^^ 

Control  measures  necessitate  then,  the  removal  of  cankers  and 
m«mm...    As  a  safeguard  against  local  infections  in  orchards  where 

^  f  1'''L^^'  a"""  ''"^"''  '^^  applications  of  Bordeaux  mb^ture 
4-4-50,  about  August  I,  and  August  15,  should  be  effective     Lkne 

:s&:uxTar^^^^ '--  ^^^^^  ^^^^  --^^^  ^-  -  -  -^'-m^ 

Apple  Rust  and  the  Cedar  Apple. 

The  apple  rust,  Gymnosporangium  Juniperi-virginiancB   is  onlv 

near  bv  ^"Th^r^H^  T'l  ''t  ''^^^^'  ^"«^>^^«^  ^rginiana   gZ 
near-by.     The  red  cedar  has  been  used  much  as  a  windbreak  for 

apple  orchards  and  as  such  can  hardly  be  too  severely  condemned 

They  are  very  common  also  in  fence  rows  where  they  are  anTually 

sown  by  birds  which  eat  the  red  cedar  berries  and  drop  the  seeds     ^ 

11  J^erejs  produced  so  commonly  on  the  cedar  a  brown  ^all 

called  the  "cedar  apple,"  about  the  size  and  shape  of  a  smaTl  buck- 

t?;;      LTvLrfV'^''''  ^'^1^'^^  ^^"  ''  *h^  normaff  "ft  of  t^s 
tree.     See  Plate  7,  Fig.   i.     These  galls  live  normally  two  vears 

and  produce  during  the  second  spring'and  early  summer  some  pecu-' 

liar  horn-hke  outgrowths  bearing  spores  which  are  capable  ofln- 

fecting  the  leaves  and  often  the  fruit  of  the  wild  and  culth.ated 

Vntl^^f  Tt-  ^'%  ^^f "  7,  Fig.  2.  Later  in  the  sumrn^  the 
infected  apple  leaves  develop  the  typical  yellow  spots,  with  black 
dots  in  the  center,  on  their  upper  surface.  About  three  weeks  later 
t.Ti  ^P°^V'?^'  ^^  the  fungus  is  produced  on  the  under  sur- 
face^ of  the  apple  leaves  These  spores  are  disseminated  by  the 
wind  prmcipal  y,  and  if  they  are  carried  to  the  red  cedar  infect  on 
lol'I''  'Th^'"^  ^"  the  production  of  another  crop  of  ''cedar 
apples.  The  spores  produced  upon  the  red  cedar  cannot  reinfect 
that  jiost  nor  can  the  spores  borne  upon  the  apple  leaves  reinfect  the 

u  r.  y^^''^"  understand  now  how  the  fungus  alternates  between  its 
two  hosts  and  why  it  cannot  survive  more  than  two  years  on  the 
cedar  if  the  two  hosts  are  sufficiently  far  apart.  How  far  the  spores 
^r^more"^'"  "^  ''  """^  definitely  known  but  quite  possibly  a  mile 

fr...^''"r''^T.vu^'"u^'  necessitate  then,  one  of  two  methods  of 
treatment  Either  the  red  cedars  should  be  destroyed  for  a  consid- 
erable distance  about  the  orchard,  or  if  they  are  too  valuable  as 
ornaments  about  the  home  or  otherwise,  to  be  destroyed,  the  rust 
may  be  reduced  to  a  minimum  by  spraying  the  apple  foilage  and 
fruit  during  the  time  the  spores  on  the  red  cedar  are  germinating 
Ihis  requires  very  careful  observation  on  the  conditions  of  the 
spore  horns  on  the  "cedar  apples."  As  soon  as  these  spore  horns 
become  gelatinous  during  wet  weather  the  spray  should  be  applied 
to  the  apple  tree  and  this  continued  for  about  three  consecutive  ap- 


54 

plications  a  week  or  so  apart,  depending  upon  weather  conditions. 
This  spray  may  take  the  place  of  the  third  and  fourth  applications 
for  apple  scab  and  so  require  only  one  extra  application  for  the  con- 
trol of  this  disease. 

Orange  Rust  of  Quince. 

This  rust,  Gymnosporangium  germinale,  was  quite  severe  in 
some  of  the  quince  regions  of  Pennsylvania  this  past  year.  Its  life 
history  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  apple  rust  in  that  the  fungus 
lives  on  the  red  cedar  a  part  of  its  life  history.  It  may  also  live  on 
the  cultivated  junipers.  It  does  not  produce  large  galls  on  the  red 
cedar  and  junipers,  but  instead  produces  very  slight  spindle-shaped 
enlargements  usually  of  the  smaller  twigs.  See  Plate  8,  Fig.  2. 
These  enlargements  are  scarcely  noticeable  from  mid-summer  until 
the  next  spring,  when  with  the  warm  weather  and  abundant  rains 
the  infected  spots  swell  to  several  times  the  normal  size  of  the  twig 
and  produce  a  great  number  of  spores  which  are  scattered  by  the 
wind.  See  Plate  8,  Fig.  3.  If  they  find  their  way  to  the  fruits  of 
quince,  hawthorne  or  June  berry  they  produce  infection  under  fa- 
vorable conditions,  which  results  a  month  or  more  later  in  the 
orange  rust  of  those  fruits.  The  rust  does  not  attack  the  foliage  to 
any  extent. 

The  advanced  stage  of  the  rust  on  the  quince  fruit  is  character- 
ized by  the  formation  of  several  cylindrical  columns  of  spores,  which 
are  nearly  orange  in  color  and  appear  about  midsummer.  See  Plate 
8,  Fig.  I.  These  columns  are  sometimes  more  than  one-quarter 
inch  in  length  and  usually  about  the  diameter  of  the  lead  in  a  pencil. 
The  spores  are  blown  back  onto  the  red  cedars  and  produce  infection 
again  on  that  host. 

The  removal  of  red  cedars  and  junipers  from  close  proximity  to 
the  quinc:,s  is  essential  for  the  complete  control  of  this  disease. 
There  is  insufficient  data  present  to  recommend  definite  spraying 
methods,  but  it  is  probable  that  a  similar  method  of  spraying  as 
recommended  for  apple  rust  would  be  effective. 

Brown  Rot  of  Peaches,  Plums  and  Cherries. 

This  disease,  caused  by  the  fungus  Sclerotinia  cinerea,  de- 
stroys millions  of  dollars  worth  of  stone  fruits  annually  in  the 
United  States.  Owing  to  the  rapidly  increasing  development  of  the 
peach  industry  in  Pennsylvania,  it  is  very  important  that  the  growers 
of  this  fruit  should  be  familiar  with  the  best  practices  in  the  control 
and  treatment  of  this  serious  disease. 

The  common  name  of  the  disease  alone  is  almost  sufficient  de- 
scription for  its  diagnosis,  but  the  production  of  grayish  or  olivace- 
ous pustules  on  the  diseased  fruits  is  a  further  diagnostic  character. 
See  plate  9,  Fig.  2.  The  appearance  is  nearly  the  same  upon 
cherries  and  peaches,  but  upon  the  blue  plums  the  brown  discolora- 
tion of  the  skin  is  not  so  apparent. 

There  are  four  stages  or  forms  of  the  disease  which  are  im- 
portant to  recognize.    First,  the  cankers  usually  on  the  twigs  and 


Uu,nce  „,.,  ^^^i;n.^^^^^^U;..^..^^^,.^  „„„,.,„„,,,  ,,_ 


Fig.  2.  guince  rust  on  the  red  cedar 
showing  slight  enlargements  where 
spores  are  produced. 

PLATE  8 


Kio.  3-  The 


same  twig 
rain. 


aft 


er  a  soaking 


54 

plications  a  week  or  so  apart,  depending  upon  weather  conditions. 
This  spray  may  take  the  place  of  the  third  and  fourth  applications 
for  apple  scab  and  so  require  only  one  extra  application  for  the  con- 
trol of  this  disease. 

Orange  Rust  of  Quince. 

This  rust,  Gymnosporangium  germinale,  was  quite  severe  in 
some  of  the  quince  regions  of  Pennsylvania  this  past  year.  Its  life 
history  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  apple  rust  in  that  the  fungus 
lives  on  the  red  cedar  a  part  of  its  life  history.  It  may  also  live  on 
the  cultivated  junipers.  Ii  does  not  produce  large  galls  on  the  red 
cedar  and  junipers,  but  instead  produces  very  slight  spindle-shaped 
enlargements  usually  of  the  smaller  twigs.  See  Plate  8,  Fig.  2. 
These  enlargements  are  scarcely  noticeable  from  mid-summer  until 
the  next  spring,  when  with  the  warm  weather  and  abundant  rains 
the  infected  spots  swell  to  several  times  the  normal  size  of  the  twig 
and  produce  a  great  number  of  spores  which  are  scattered  by  the 
wind.  See  Plate  8,  Fig.  3.  If  they  find  their  way  to  the  fruits  of 
quince,  hawthorne  or  June  berry  they  produce  infection  under  fa- 
vorable conditions,  which  results  a  month  or  more  later  in  the 
orange  rust  of  those  fruits.  The  rust  does  not  attack  the  foliage  to 
any  extent. 

The  advanced  stage  of  the  rust  on  the  quince  fruit  is  character- 
ized by  the  formation  of  several  cylindrical  columns  of  spores,  which 
are  nearly  orange  in  color  and  appear  about  midsummer.  See  Plate 
8,  Fig.  I.  These  columns  are  sometimes  more  than  one-quarter 
inch  in  length  and  usually  about  the  diameter  of  the  lead  in  a  pencil. 
The  spores  are  blown  back  onto  the  red  cedars  and  produce  infection 
again  on  that  host. 

The  removal  of  red  cedars  and  junipers  from  close  proximity  to 
the  quinc:.s  is  essential  for  the  complete  control  of  this  disease. 
There  is  insufficient  data  present  to  recommend  definite  spraying 
methods,  but  it  is  probable  that  a  similar  method  of  spraying  as 
recommended  for  apple  rust  would  be  effective. 

Brown  Rot  of  Peaches,  Plums  and  Cherries. 

This  disease,  caused  by  the  fungus  Sclerotinia  cinerea,  de- 
stroys millions  of  dollars  worth  of  stone  fruits  annually  in  the 
United  States.  Owing  to  the  rapidly  increasing  development  of  the 
peach  industry  in  Pennsylvania,  it  is  very  important  that  the  growers 
of  this  fruit  should  be  familiar  with  the  best  practices  in  the  control 
and  treatment  of  this  serious  disease. 

The  common  name  of  the  disease  alone  is  almost  sufficient  de- 
scription for  its  diagnosis,  but  the  production  of  grayish  or  olivace- 
ous pustules  on  the  diseased  fruits  is  a  further  diagnostic  character. 
See  plate  9,  Fig.  2.  The  appearance  is  nearly  the  same  upon 
cherries  and  peaches,  but  upon  the  blue  plums  the  brown  discolora- 
tion of  the  skin  is  not  so  apparent. 

There  are  four  stages  or  forms  of  the  disease  which  are  im- 
portant to  recognize.     First,  the  cankers  usually  on  the  twigs  and 


i 


'1 


i 


11 


L'lHiui    ni-t.   si 


'"WHf-i    o.iiimiis    \\||i^•|,    r..iit;iiii    tlu-   .,r-n.,       ■    -  i 


'•""••   -".   LMiiihH-   riiM    on    lin    ri.l    .cl.-ir 
-Ii'Tt-   -.in    iir..(]tui(l. 


'■■    ^■ 


w  111  ri- 

ri.ATi-;  y 


In-    -.tnu-    tui-    atltr    ;i    s,,;ikiii- 
rain. 


INTENTIONAL  2ND  EXPOSURE 


h 


r  I  ** 


Fig.    I.  Krown-rot  on  peach,   showing  infected   fruit  and   twigs  on   left   and 

healthy  fruit  and  twigs  on  right. 


^1  t 


Fig.  2.  Brown-rot  on  plums, 
showing  spore  pustules. 


Fig.  3.  Resting  stage  of  hrown-rot    fungus  on 
an  old  i)each-pit.     These  cups  usually  appear  just 
ahove  surface  of  soil.     (Photo  by  courtesy  of  F. 
D.  Kern. ) 
PLATE   9. 


55 

smaller  branches;  second,  the  blossom  blight;  third,  the  decay  of 
the  fruit ;  and  fourth,  the  "resting"  or  "perfect"  stage  that  appears 
on  the  old  mummies  which  have  been  shallowly  buried  in  the  soil 
over  winter  or  longer. 

The  fungus  often  produces  on  the  smaller  limbs  and  twigs, 
and  occasionally  on  larger  parts  of  the  tree,  cankers  in  which  the 
fungus  lives  from  season  to  season  and  produces  its  spores  each 
season  which  infect  the  adjacent  fruit.  These  cankers  often  pro- 
duce gum  flow  on  the  larger  limbs.  Small  twigs  are  sometimes  killed 
back  several  inches  as  in  fire  blight.    See  Plate  9,  Fig.  i. 

The  blossom  infection  is  known  to  occasion  serious  loss  many 
years,  which  is  undoubtedly  laid  to  the  effect  of  frost  or  cold 
weather  at  the  time  of  blooming  or  setting  fruit.  This  kind  of  in- 
fection arises  from  the  production  and  dispersal  of  spores  from  the 
"resting"  stage  on  the  old  mummies  in  the  soil. 

When  the  fruit  is  attacked  on  the  tree  it  usually  remains  there 
and  becomes  a  brown-rot  mummy  which  often  hangs  onto  the  tree 
until  the  next  season  or  until  knocked  off.  The  fungus  is  capable 
of  living  over  winter  in  these  mummies  and  they  are  a  grave  source 
of  infection  the  next  season. 

If  the  mummied  or  diseased  fruit  is  left  on  the  ground  and  it  is 
covered  shallowly  with  soil  for  at  least  one  winter  and  perhaps 
longer,  there  may  be  produced  from  each  one  of  these  mummies  a 
number  of  small  brown,  cup-like  organs  raised  to  the  surface  of  the 
soil  on  stalks  of  varying  length.  See  Plate  9,  Fig.  3.  The  inside 
of  these  cups  is  lined  with  a  great  mass  of  spores  which  are  dis- 
charged with  some  force  under  favorable  weather  conditions.  These 
cups  and  spores  are  so  timed  in  their  production  that  they  mature 
just  when  the  trees  are  in  bloom  and  most  if  not  all  of  the  blossom 
blight  is  caused  by  the  infection  of  the  ovary  by  these  spores.  It  is 
difficult  to  find  these  spore  organs  for  they  are  small  (usually  about 
one-eighth  by  one- fourth  inch  in  diameter),  and  so  near  the  color  of 
the  soil  that  they  are  easily  overlooked. 

Understandmg  these  conditions  the  method  of  treatment  for 
brown  rot  control  is  obvious.  First,  destroy  all  diseased  fruit  and 
mummies  each  fall.  Deep  burying  is  perhaps  the  easiest  method  of 
disposal.  Second,  remove  and  destroy  all  twig  cankers  during  prun- 
ing season.  Third,  spray  with  concentrated  lime-sulphur,  1-40, 
just  before  the  buds  open,  then  with  lime-sulphur  8-8-50  three  or 
four  weeks  after  the  petals  fall,  and  continuing  for  two  subsequent 
applications  at  two  week  intervals. 

There  are  several  other  important  diseases  of  the  orchard  which 
might  be  included  here  for  the  benefit  of  our  fruit  growers.  Such 
diseases  as  bitter  pit  or  fruit  pit,  the  Baldwin  fruit  spot,  the  Jona- 
than fruit  spot,  blotch,  sooty  blotch,  and  fly  speck,  are  all  more 
or  less  important  on  the  apple  fruit.  The  blister  canker,  which  only 
affects  the  apple  tree,  is  also  important  in  the  older  orchards.  Peach 
yellows  and  little  peach  are  very  important,  and  infected  trees  should 
be  carefully  removed  as  soon  as  the  owner  is  sure  that  either  of 
these  diseases  is  present  in  his  orchard.  Gummosis  of  cherry  trees 
is  causing  much  trouble  in  some  localities,  and  is  being  investigated 
at  present.    The  leaf  and  fruit  spot  of  quince  and  pears  and  the 


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an  old  ]ii  aili-itij.  Tlusc  cups  usually  ajijuar  jn^t 
aliovc-  «-nrf;ui  if  "-nil.  (I'liMc  li\  C(>urlis\  of  !•'. 
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55 

smaller  branches;  second,  the  blossom  blight;  third,  the  decay  of 
the  fruit ;  and  fourth,  the  "resting"  or  "perfect"  stage  that  appears 
on  the  old  mummies  which  have  been  shallowly  buried  in  the  soil 
over  winter  or  longer. 

The  fungus  often  produces  on  the  smaller  limbs  and  twigs, 
and  occasionally  on  larger  parts  of  the  tree,  cankers  in  which  the 
fungus  lives  from  season  to  season  and  produces  its  spores  each 
season  which  infect  the  adjacent  fruit.  These  cankers  often  pro- 
duce gum  flow  on  the  larger  limbs.  Small  twigs  are  sometimes  killed 
back  several  inches  as  in  fire  blight.     See  Plate  9,  Fig.  i. 

The  blossom  infection  is  known  to  occasion  serious  loss  many 
years,  which  is  undoubtedly  laid  to  the  effect  of  frost  or  cold 
weather  at  the  time  of  blooming  or  setting  fruit.  This  kind  of  in- 
fection arises  from  the  production  and  dispersal  of  spores  from  the 
"resting"  stage  on  the  old  mummies  in  the  soil. 

When  the  fruit  is  attacked  on  the  tree  it  usually  remains  there 
and  becomes  a  brown-rot  mummy  which  often  hangs  onto  the  tree 
until  the  next  season  or  until  knocked  off.  The  fungus  is  capable 
of  living  over  winter  in  these  mummies  and  they  are  a  grave  source 
of  infection  the  next  season. 

If  the  mummied  or  diseased  fruit  is  left  on  the  ground  and  it  is 
covered  shallowly  with  soil  for  at  least  one  winter  and  perhaps 
longer,  there  may  be  produced  from  each  one  of  these  mummies  a 
number  of  small  brown,  cup-like  organs  raised  to  the  surface  of  the 
soil  on  stalks  of  varying  length.  See  Plate  9,  Fig.  3.  The  inside 
of  these  cups  is  lined  with  a  great  mass  of  spores  which  are  dis- 
charged with  some  force  under  favorable  weather  conditions.  These 
cups  and  spores  are  so  timed  in  their  production  that  they  mature 
just  when  the  trees  are  in  bloom  and  most  if  not  all  of  the  blossom 
blight  is  caused  by  the  infection  of  the  ovary  by  these  spores.  It  is 
difficult  to  find  these  spore  organs  for  they  are  small  (usually  about 
one-eighth  by  one-fourth  inch  in  diameter),  and  so  near  the  color  of 
the  soil  that  they  are  easily  overlooked. 

Understanding  these  conditions  the  method  of  treatment  for 
brown  rot  control  is  obvious.  First,  destroy  all  diseased  fruit  and 
mummies  each  fall.  Deep  burying  is  perhaps  the  easiest  method  of 
disposal.  Second,  remove  and  destroy  all  twig  cankers  during  prun- 
ing season.  Third,  spray  with  concentrated  lime-sulphur,  1-40, 
just  before  the  buds  open,  then  with  lime-sulphur  8-8-50  three  or 
four  weeks  after  the  petals  fall,  and  continuing  for  two  subsequent 
applications  at  two  week  intervals. 

There  are  several  other  important  diseases  of  the  orchard  which 
might  be  included  here  for  the  benefit  of  our  fruit  growers.  Such 
diseases  as  bitter  pit  or  fruit  pit,  the  Baldwin  fruit  spot,  the  Jona- 
than fruit  spot,  blotch,  sooty  blotch,  and  fly  speck,  are  all  more 
or  less  important  on  the  apple  fruit.  The  blister  canker,  which  only 
affects  the  apple  tree,  is  also  important  in  the  older  orchards.  Peach 
yellows  and  little  peach  are  very  important,  and  infected  trees  should 
be  carefully  removed  as  soon  as  the  owner  is  sure  that  either  of 
these  diseases  is  present  in  his  orchard.  Gummosis  of  cherry  trees 
is  causing  much  trouble  in  some  localities,  and  is  being  investigated 
at  present.     The  leaf  and  fruit  spot  of  quince  and  pears  and  the 


INTENTIONAL  2ND  EXPOSURE 


56 

pl^  u^  l^^^^u  ^""^ .  P^^"*'.  ^'*^  *^^"'^"€^  "^"c^  <^amage  each  year 
Peach  scab  is  being  investigated  at  the  Wisconsin  Experiment  Sta- 
tion with  some  interesting  results.    In  short  there  are  a  gSat  num- 
ber of  diseases  present  in  our  Pennsylvania  orchards  which  are 
causing  the  loss  of  probably  half  our  fruit  each  year.    There  is  no 
easy  road  to  conquer  these  diseases.     The  only  method  is  to%e^ 
down  to  facts  regarding  the  nature  and  life  history  of  their  causes 
In  many  cases  years  are  required  to  get  this  information  together. ' 
oKii;/    -^     •  °      •  r^  ^^^  ?^*"^  pathologist  to  assist  to  the  best  of  his 
who  wUh^-7'?^  information  concerning  plant  diseases  to  all  those 
who  wish  It,  to  assist  m  co-operative  work  when  feasible,  and  to 
carry  on  independent  investigations  regarding  the  diseases  or  spe- 
fonnatfo^  problems  about  which  we  have  no  reliable  in- 

The  Department  of  Botany  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  College 
undar  which  the  work  in  plant  pathology  is  carried  on  is  at  3; 
service  in  any  way  you  see  fit  to  command  us  in  our  lin^  of  work 

PLANTING  AND  CARE  OF  A  YOUNG  PEACH  ORCHARD. 

By  C.  a.  Griest,  Guernsey,  Pa, 

This  subject,  I  take  it,  refers  more  particularly  to  a  commer- 

ZJ'^'^Tl':  f  "^  I'  V""*'.  ^^^  ^''^  ^^^"^  to  be  considered  is  the 
location  suitable  for  the  business.    In  the  selection  of  this  location 
quality  and  type  of  sc«l  are  worthy  of  consideration  ^°^^"°"' 

The  soil  commonly  known  as  "chestnut  soil"  or  in  other  words 
a  soil  on  which  chestnut  trees  grow  and  flourish,  would  be  mv  ideal 
for  a  peach  orchard.  When  the  desirable  soil  conditions  h^ve  been 
n^^i  the  elevation  should  be  considered,  and  by  no  means  plant  a 
?^  fa^.i'''^- "  low  level  ground.  Let  us  select  a  location  at  least 
700  feet  elevation,  although  the  number  of  feet  above  sea  level  is 
not  so  important  as  to  have  the  other  conditions  favorable,  that  is 
to  have  good  air  and  water  drainage,  so  that  neither  can  collect  in 
frosUn-ur  '^'^'"^''  eliminating  to  a  large  extent  the  danger  of 

One  more  important  feature  in  the  location  of  a  peach  orchard 
IS  the  accessibility  to  a  good  market,  either  near  a  market  or  near  a 
railroad  or  trolley  which  will  deliver  the  fruit  to  the  market  in  a 
r^sonably  short  time   thus  avoiding  long  hauls  and  loss  in  transit 
Haying  decided  on  the  site  we  come  to  the  selection  of  trees  and 

T'TL  K  ^'  T  y'^^  ^^^  *^"^^^^  tree  is  most  satisfactory  and 
should  be  above  the  average  in  size,  a  good,  healthy,  vigorous,  thrifty 

J.V:  u^A^u^"^^'  strong  root  system  already  developed.  Much 
care  should  be  given  to  the  selection  of  trees  that  are  free  from 

h^IrJ^rSl  ^'T.u''  '"^.^  ^'  ''?''^  '''  ^'■^^^  &^"'  ^°^  after  a  tree  has 
Deen  planted  the  roots  are  lost  to  view  and  diseases  are  hard  to 

«^f  K  ^^f  ?°i  ^"^"JP*  ^"^  ^f"^^  the  varieties  that  should  or  should 
not  be  planted,  as  I  consider  that  an  individual  matter  for  the 
owner  of  the  orchard.     Much  depends  upon  the  demands  of  the 


Pi^ 


-I 


57 

market  which  he  expects  to  supply  and  more  upon  the  varieties 
that  are  best  adopted  to  his  soil  and  climatic  conditions,  and  also 
upon  whether  he  desires  a  long  ripening  season  or  a  short  one. 
Personally  I  should  prefer  a  number  of  varieties  that  would  form 
a  succession  in  ripening,  thus  distributing  the  labor  of  harvesting 
over  a  long  period.  Mr.  Chase  has  very  completely  covered  the 
subject  of  planting  a  tree  and  I  should  not  mention  the  subject  at  all 
except  for  emphasis.  The  size  and  depth  of  the  holes  depends  large- 
ly on  the  condition  of  the  soil,  but  should  be  large  enough  to  hold  the 
roots  after  they  have  been  properly  pruned  as  he  described.  The 
tree  should  be  set  in  the  hole  and  fine,  loose  ground  put  in  to  cover 
the  roots,  having  the  tree  thoroughly  shaken  as  it  is  put  in,  then 
tramp  tightly  as  the  rest  of  the  hole  is  filled  up,  having  the  earth 
tight  around  the  roots.  Twenty  to  twenty-five  feet  apart  is  a  good 
distance  to  plant. 

This  can  be  determined  in  a  measure  by  the  method  of  pruning 
to  be  employed.  The  low,  wide-spreading  tree  is  the  most  desirable 
in  having  the  fruit  within  easy  reach  from  the  ground,  making 
thinning  and  picking  much  more  easy  and  more  quickly  accom- 
plished. After  the  process  of  planting  is  finished  I  would  imme- 
diately prune  the  trees,  cutting  off  all  branches  and  the  top,  leaving  a 
whip  of  about  one  and  one-half  to  two  feet  in  height.  In  about  a 
month  or  six  weeks  after  the  buds  have  started  I  would  go  over  the 
orchard  again  and  with  the  fingers  rub  off  all  the  little  sprouts  ex- 
cept three  or  four  desired  to  form  the  top  of  the  tree.  The  follow- 
ing spring  or  one  year  after  planting,  we  cut  those  branches  off 
about  one  foot  from  the  trunk  and  allow  two  or  three  sprouts  to 
grow  on  each  of  these.  This  method  of  pruning  will  cause  heavy 
woody  growth  the  second  summer  and  again  the  following  spring  we 
cut  away  at  least  half  the  previous  summer's  growth ;  pruning  at  all 
times  with  a  desire  to  spread  the  tree.  This  brings  us  to  the  bear- 
ing age  with  a  low,  sturdy,  short-limbed,  spreading  foundation,  upon 
which  we  grow  the  wood  that  bears  the  fruit,  and  thus  avoid  broken 
trees  and  the  necessity  of  ladders  to  pick  the  fruit. 

Cultivation  and  fertilization  are  so  closely  connected  in  the  or- 
chard that  it  would  seem  hard  to  separate  them  here.  The  first 
two  yea%«  after  planting  an  orchard  cultivated  crops  can  be  raised 
between  the  trees  without  serious  damage  to  them.  I  believe  that 
the  fertilizer  and  cultivation  applied  to  such  crops  as  potatoes, 
melons,  corn,  cabbage,  and  tomatoes,  is  about  the  same  as  would 
need  be  given  the  trees,  and  the  returns  from  these  crops  should  at 
least  pay  the  expense  and  perhaps  give  a  profit  in  addition.  During 
the  second  summer  or  fall  a  cover  crop  should  be  sown,  preferably 
a  legume.  Crimson  clover  has  given  us  very  good  results  and  I 
believe  can  be  grown  on  almost  any  soil  if  lime  is  used  where  neces- 
sary. We  practice  thorough  cultivation  starting  as  early  in  the 
spring  as  possible  and  continuing  to  mid-season.  The  cultivation 
releases  plant  food  making  it  available  and  conserves  the  moisture. 
It  is  important  on  most  Pennsylvania  soils  to  keep  adding  humus 
and  organic  matter  which  a  cover  crop  largely  does  beside  supplying 
nitrogen  and  other  plant  foods. 

In  caring  for  a  peach  orchard  probably  the  greatest  enemy  is 


58 
the  peach  borer,  he  is  always  present  and  nearly  always  busy  The 
best  and  surest  remedy  is  to  dig  him  out  and  kill  him.  We  have 
had  reports  from  men  who  have  controlled  the  borer  by  applying 
solution  of  hme  sulphur  and  arsenate  of  lead  to  the  bod/ ofThe Tree 
We  have  not  been  successful  with  this  process,  but  are  not  ready  to 
condemn  it  until  we  have  given  it  a  more  complete  test.  ^ 

1  he  spraying  of  a  young  peach  orchard  is  a  very  important  f  ea- 

thrhnH^  '^°"^^  T  ^'.  "^^^^?'^^-    ^^'  fi^^^  applicadonTust  be 'o^^^ 
tl         S"^"  "^^^^  ^^'"^^  '"^P*'"'-  ^^^"t^o"  diJ"ted  to  scale  stren^h 

fh!'^r.  '^'  T^^M"^  '^"u*'°^^  '^^  ^^^^  ^"^^  ^hich  develops  later  in 
the  season.  The  thoroughness  with  which  the  applicatioS  is  made 
determines  to  a  large  degree  the  result  obtained  from  the  sprayfng 
We  have  not  found  that  a  second  spraying  has  been  necessary  unti 

.h.ini''  ^'.*Tu"'i°  *^^  !^^""«^  ^^^  °f  t^^  Pe^ch  orchard,  and  we 
shall  leave  further  discussion  to  the  next  speaker. 

Discussion. 

Question.— Since  it  costs  so  little,  less  than  one  cent  per  tree 

r.!"  on  l^n^  ^1^  ^"^  '^T  ^^^  ^'^""^^  P^^^^  ^'^^'  i"  the  sumnier  time,' 
just  on  general  principles. 

l.n.,.^'';,^."*^*'""^  ^^  "°.*  ^^l*^^'^  ^"  spraying  at  any  time  unless  you 
know  what  you  are  spraying  for,  and  unless  the  grower  knows  these 
things  he  had  better  find  out  before  he  sprays  at  all.  Haphazard 
spraying  is  risky  business.  f      «»iu 


PEACHES  FOR  THE  HOME  MARKET. 

H.  F.  Hkrshey,  Harrishurg,  Pa. 

The  peach  ranks  next  to  the  apple  in  value  of  the  crop  pro- 
duced. It  can  be  grown  profitably  in  nearly  all  parts  of  Pennsyl- 
vania with  the  possible  exception  of  the  extreme  northern  part  It 
IS  most  extensively  and  most  profitably  grown  in  the  south  and 
south-eastern  part  of  Pennsylvania. 

Anyone  contemplating  the  growing  of  peaches  for  the  local  or 
home  market  has  a  number  of  questions  to  consider  carefully 
Probably  the  most  important  is  the  question  of  varieties.  Do  not 
grow  or  rather  make  your  main  planting  of  white  peaches  when 
your  market  demands  a  yellow  peach.  Give  the  market  the  kind 
of  a  peach  that  it  wants  and  make  it  the  best  quality  peach  of  its 
season.  Most  markets  demand  a  yellow  peach  for  canning  and  a 
white  peach  for  dessert  purposes  for  the  white  peach  is  generally 
better  flavored.  The  question  of  varieties  must  be  considered  from 
another  angle  and  that  is  the  adaptability  to  soil  and  climate. 

The  best  method  of  finding  the  varieties  that  are  suitable  to 
your  locality  and  soil  is  to  go  to  some  grower  in  the  vicinity  and 
hnd  out  by  questioning  him  the  varieties  which  have  paid  him  the 


( 


59 

best.  Or  another  plan  is  to  study  the  yields  of  occasional  trees 
found  throughout  the  neighborhood.  Another  method  is  to  test  out 
in  a  small  way  by  planting  five  or  ten  trees  of  varieties  which  are 
not  standard.  This  is  probably  the  best  way  to  become  acquainted 
with  varieties  and  to  test  them  but  it  takes  time.  It,  however, 
should  be  a  part  of  an  orchardist's  plan. 

The  size  of  the  planting  must  also  be  considered.  It  will  de- 
pend altogether  on  the  size  of  the  market  to  be  supplied  and  the 
number  of  growers  already  engaged  in  supplying  it.  Then,  too,  the 
acreage  at  first  should  not  be  too  large  so  that  one  without  any  ex- 
perience will  not  make  costly  mistakes  on  a  large  scale.  The  better 
plan  is  to  go  slowly.  One  point  to  be  kept  in  mind  is  that  the  con- 
sumption of  peaches  may  be  doubled  and  even  trebled  if  peaches  are 
sold  to  the  consumer  at  a  dollar  per  basket  instead  of  one  dollar 
and  a  half  or  two  dollars  and  at  the  same  time  a  handsome  profit 
be  realized. 

Mr.  Griest  has  brought  out  very  clearly  the  details  of  planting 
a  peach  orchard  and  I  shall  not  go  into  that  part  of  it  with  the  ex- 
ception of  emphasizing  a  few  points.  Great  care  should  be  taken 
in  the  selection  of  the  site  for  the  orchard.  There  should  always 
be  sufficient  elevation  to  give  good  air  drainage.  This  may  seem  a 
simple  matter  and  yet  it  is  of  vital  importance  as  orchards  located 
on  level  grounds  or  flats  are  more  often  caught  by  late  spring  frosts 
than  those  on  the  higher  elevations.  Plantings  to  be  made  along  a 
large  river  or  lake  are  exceptions  to  this  rule  for  at  such  a  place  the 
air  is  tempered  by  the  water  and  late  spring  frosts  are  not  very 
prevalent. 

Great  care  should  be  exercised  in  the  selection  of  the  nursery 
stock  as  this  is  the  foundation  of  your  orchard.  Good  healthy  one 
year  old  trees  from  the  bud  should  be  bought.  I  believe  that  it  is 
the  best  practise  to  buy  your  trees  in  the  fall,  then  "heel  them  in" 
carefully  by  covering  all  of  the  roots  and  mounding  the  ground 
slightly  so  that  the  water  does  not  stand  around  the  trees.  By 
following  this  method  the  trees  are  on  hand  just  as  early  in  the 
spring  as  needed  and  there  is  no  delay  in  setting  them  out.  The 
roots  are  not  dry  having  been  in  the  ground  all  winter  and  so  the 
trees  have  a  better  chance  to  grow. 

My  method  of  tillage  is  to  grow  truck  crops,  potatoes,  etc., 
between  the  trees  fertilizing  enough  so  that  the  trees  are  not  robbed 
of  their  food  supply.  After  that  time  the  trees  are  given  clean 
tillage  in  the  forepart  of  the  summer  and  a  cover  crop  is  sown 
later  in  the  summer.  I  have  used  crimson  clover,  common  red 
clover  and  this  last  season  have  used  some  vetch.  My  preference 
is  to  use  a  leguminous  cover  crop  but  when  intercropping  and  it 
is  too  late  to  sow  any  of  the  leguminous  cover  crops,  rye  is  very 
satisfactory  as  it  can  be  sown  late  and  gives  a  great  deal  of  veg- 
etable matter  to  plow  under. 

The  orchardist  who  is  growing  peaches  for  the  home  market 
should  have  fruit  from  the  very  earliest  to  the  latest  so  that  he 
can  supply  his  customers  throughout  the  season.  With  that  in  mind 
I  am  giving  a  list  of  peaches  in  their  order  of  ripening,  but  do  not 
claim  that  the  list  is  infallible  or  that  they  are  the  best  under  all 


and  fru.t  often  reaches  large  size.    The  tree  is  very  hardy  ani  S 

favoi'Llrhife'^r^i^.L^S 

ment  Station.    It  is  yellow,  frees.one^nd  l^Te^rtid'^of'^L^Tua;- 

that  i'e  i::!::\;;^;^'^^^i^\;-^y  ^^"-  ^-^ 

have     It  IS  very  hardy  and  productive. 

MoM«/a4»   i?o.y^.--White,    free.     One   of   the   highest   ouahtv 

bearef  "^  o/  C^orp-a.-White,  free.    Very  good  in  quality  and  early 
plan^^CnTlflTrVi^^^^^^^^^ 

r«7th^e"^4"^^ti^f-r^^^^^^^^ 

B^n  Ss'app^"'^"-"'''"'''  ^P---  -  --•'  m^  edJKa'n^ 

hi„h.^f''  <^,':f'"/<"'''--Yf"ow,  free.  This  is  known  as  one  of  the 
highest  quality  peaches  that  we  have.  It  was  formerly  erownauhe 
widely  but  less  extensively  now  as  it  is  rather  a  shy  be^rf  r         ^ 

Fox  Seedlmg.-White.   free.     The  best   white   peach   of   its 
season.    Fruit  is  only  medium  in  size  and  quality       ^ 

firm  anTof-gI:!,'7ua,!;r     ^°'^  "^^^  °"  -^^  ->-     F'esh  is 

do  be^irer^hl^irsot'^.han^lLlwr;'^  ^"'^  ^°°^  ''^"-     ^"' 
/ro»  Jl/oim/am.— White,  free  to  semi-cling.     Is  only  medium 

iheffi  s'e"c'ti:^7  '"'^  ''"'  '°'  ^"'^  —  -  quitetluTbri;; 

will  n'^tTwir^Me  iServier^o^f  '"''''''  "^'^'"  ""PP-'  »"» 
.-c  *„^'  '^  as  necssary  to  spray  the  peach  to  secure  good  fruit  as  it 
IS  to  spray  the  apple.    The  trees  should  receive  the  dormant  sorav 

fnMn''"H  t"^"  *'"?  """^  ^"'P*'"'  °'  =»  «>'"ble  oil.  This  shoudbi 
followed  by  a  spraying  to  control  the  curculio  which  causes  worniy 
peaches.  Spray  as  soon  as  the  shucks  have  fallen  from  the  S 
Pnn,  .'I  ""/■  '"°  P°""ds  of  arsenate  of  lead  mixed  wTh  fifty  ga" 

idded  toTakJ„n^7°  r"*^'  °^- '""''  """^  ='='''^<J  *°"'d  also  be 

the  Deach  fnnZ  7f  r  """'"""^  '"/'  *°  P^'^^"'  t^e  burning  of 
the  peach  foliage.     If  brown  rot  and  scab  are  present  in  the  or- 


i 


6i 

rhard  these  two  fungus  diseases  must  be  controlled  by  the  self- 
M  lime  spuTphur  s^ay.  The  f^'-r  varieties  need  to  be  spayed 
only  twice  and  the  later  ones  three  times.  /*'«  ^'^''  ^*" '°?'ks 
sorav  should  follow  the  curculio  spray  at  an  interval  of  three  weeks 
¥he  finaUpraying  should  be  made  three  or  four  weeks  before  the 
peaches  rii^nLd  if  there  is  a  third  necessary,  it  should  be  mid- 

"■^^  uTone  Ihinrto  grow  good  fruit  and  another  to  market  it  to 
the  bes  advantagf.  Oftentimes  the  best  growers  make  noticeable 
faHures  in  markfting  and  profits  are  greatly  reduced.  Oftentimes 
goods  wdl  marketel  may  mean  the  diflerence  between  profit  and 

'°''"  Marketing  will  usually  be  simplified  if  the  fruit  is  well  graded 
and  Sufinneft,  a  tractive  packages.  In  grading  and  packing  frmt 
one  should  remimber  that  good  grading  and  Packmg  ^oes  no*  <:on- 
«kt  in  oickine  out  the  best  and  placing  it  on  top  and  placing  tne 
^orer  fmi  fn  the  lower  part  of  the  package.  The  top  should  be 
^presentative  of  the  package  and  at  the  same  time  ^l^ouM^e 
"f^^oH"  <;o  as  to  show  the  fruit  to  the  best  advantage.  Attractive 
nss  helps  greltly  in  making  sales  and  yet  the  R«'-chaser 's  a  *^>:^ 
disgusted  if  when  he  examines  the  package,  he  finds  the  fruit  very 

packages  which  are  not  soiled  are  always  an  adjunct  in  securing 

^"'"wo^nclusion   the  grower  who  produces  fruit  of  first  quality, 
grad  s  itTJnrd  pa^k!  it  honestlyjn  neat  at^^^^^^^^^^ 
I  rule  does  not  have  much  trouble  in  marketing  it.    Attractiveness 
along  with  quality  is  a  good  salesman. 

Discussion. 

Question.— What  peach  has  the  longest  season? 

Mr.  Hcrshey.-Last  year  we  picked  Elberta  over  two  weeks. 

Question.— Do  you  grade  by  hand  or  by  machine? 

Mr.  Hershey.-By  hand.    I  do  not  believe  a  machine  is  made 
that  will  grade  carefully  enough. 

Question.-If  you  thinned  carefully  would  you  have  to  grade? 

Mr.  Hershcy.-Yes,  I  believe  it  would  still  pay  to  make  more 
than  one  grade. 

Prof   Surface -The  greatest  loss  of  time  I  have  found  is  that 

size  we  should. 


ence"**!  ?rf  n^.'^-~y?'  """J'  decidedly  the  result  of  my  experi- 
sto'SgeLterrXf"  *"'"  "^^^  '^^"  ='"-''  --  -"'-in 

H.  L.  Shank,  Lancaster. 

The  tr^pi!"^  ^fi""^  '^"  ^  P^^"*^^  t^"  ac»-es  with  apple  and  peach 

and  two  years  old,  mostly  one  year  ^^^  "P^'"  "'^""^  °"* 

through  all  n^™  ^  '  ^  ^'*'  '"'*  "''J'  '*'°"W  have  pulled 

^sura-  o^  having  the^  i„  thftrThe^nX'  l^^t^^t 

Howard  A.  Chasb. 

Neither  wo"u1d''/c"are  to  havfthTm  "l^"'  r^''  '''''  '"  '"e  fall, 
the  intention  of  hX^°ther  i  t^e  win'lr'"  Z  ord'""' 
fall  shipment  the  nurseryman  is  nhUcr^H  ITJ^  \.^^  ordmary 
than  they  should  be  du™fore  fe  w^d  iff  f.'"'^  ''^J  T^'^^ 
nurserymen   in   the  middle^JLtlc  u     '  ^.""^^  npened.     Most 

hou^ses'    These  ^ll^^el^^^^^^^  f/-^ 

they  are  well  ripened,  properly  care  for  fh. J  i         I  ^^^"  .^^^^^ 
and  to  ship  as  early  in  tKrin^  as  m.v  J^    •  ^^^""^^  ^^^  ^'"^er, 


\ 


63 

dirt  up  about  the  tree  at  least  one  foot,  leveling  the  same  down  in 
early  spring.    I  would  not  prune  such  trees  until  spring. 

James  M.  Moon. 

Much  has  been  said  relative  to  planting  in  the  spring,  as  that 
was  She  natural  time  for  trees  and  plants  to  start  growmg^  But  my 
exoerience  covers  a  quarter  of  a  century  and  I  must  say  that  in 

iS  L  to  m'umn  i  ..  «•  .on.m«.c.  budding  out  ».*  *«  «« 

fh^InSianbY  those  planted  in  the  spring.  Consequently,  we  are 
u  t  fitdtnun'ninglome  very  .slight  -"y  puttm^  the^^^^^^^^ 
thp  f all— orovided  the  ground  is  ready  for  them.  1  nere  is  mure 
ttae  to  do'^  hlwork  in  fhe  fall.  The  nurseryman  has  '"O/e  t'-P^" 
dS  and  fill  the  orders  properly  in  the  autumn  and  also  has  a  fuller 
stock  of  trees  to  select  from  than  in  the  following  spring. 

I  have  more  than  once  seen  winter  injury  to  cherries  set  out  in 
the  fan.  and  ?  believe,  the  only,  proper  time  to  plant  these  for  com- 

^'^  rorStM:aS.-e  mV  should  be  put  out  in  the 

--axfafweirrst^^^^^^^^^^^ 

^eTXori^eqtK^^^ccTe^^^^^^^ 

charLtf rsou^^Lrn  PennsyW-ia  would  P--'  ^-^-^PP  - 

foTh^it^t''g=s  i!,Ve"  rth^r^^ 


64 

PHASES  OF  MANAGEMENT  IN  THE  COMMERCIAL 

APPLE  PLANTATION. 


J.  A.  RuNK,  Huntingdon,  Pa. 


y 


o,,-.T  t  ^<^°"°'"'<=?'  management  of  a  fruit  plantation  involves  a 
pn.ct.cal  working  knowledge  of  much  more  than  simply  grow  ng 
trees.  There  are  problems  in  starting  the  plantation  which  if 
worked  out  satisfactorily,  lend  much  to  the  later  succesTof  the 

ffitforthl  tl  *°H  ^"^V^*"""!?'  ^'  "'  pre 'entedin  Lfect  ng 
the  s.te  of  the  orchard,  with  regard  to  sol  and  air  drainaee   soil 

i!^r.ij^     i  K  r"'*l^""'*^'"^"'^'=  ^^'""^  should  alwaVs  be  carefullv 
considered  before  the  orchard  is  planted.    In  these  times  of  ennr 
mous  interest  and  resultant  large  plantings  to  apple  tre"smanvrr; 

Softh*";:^  T:^  ''"P°".='"J  P''^'"  «'^'^''  inSSence  he  man^ag^! 
ment  of  the  p  antat.on  in  the  future.  Frequently  I  tell  the  prosofc- 
tive  commercal  grower  that  half  of  the  problems  in  manSent 
should  be  solved  before  the  orchard  is  planted.  management 

Purchase  of  Trees. 

The  first  subject  which  I  shall  take  up  in  detail  will  be  the  n.ir 

™°^  •"'"  ^°'  "'^  '"«^  plantation.    Purchase  ^ds^^ong  well 
grown,  vigorous,  one-year-old  trees,  which  are  from  three  and  X 
half  to  five  feet  in  height,  either  budded  or  wh^le  rSt-erafted" 

^^tT^'^IY:^^"!  ^"^^  ^'^='"  l>«<'''«d  trees  because  XyTave  a 
arger  and  better  developed  root  system  and  will,  therefore  whh 
stand  the  hardsh.ps  of  transplanting  better  and  wi  1  pushThe  tree 
nto  a  more  v.gorous  growth.  The  whole-root  graft  is  superior  to 
the  p.ece-root-grafted  tree  because  they  have  a  better  rSt'^syster^ 
JX;  2^^t^y  one-year-olds,  are  now  mostly  graded  by  heiZ 
rather  than  by  ca  .per,  because  what  constitutes  a  first-class  S 
cahper  .n  one  var.ety  cannot  be  attained  to  in  another  var^tt  J^7 

at"haTo'r'  YorlT"  '^'T^^'P  '''^  f  '"^"^y'  while  the  s^ameLg^d  Jo^^ 
^  much  Jn  ™,^k"""  ^*^  '''"'^";-  ^"  ^^'S^'  'h^y  do  "ot  vary 
a^aTget  tlie  c^h^lc'e^^f^rn^rler^^lr^^^^^^^  t'rt^s  &  £ 
most  Insfanc'r  IrZ'  °"!  ^^^  ''''  '^  "«^^'  --r^lrL^^^^^ 

|at^  rs  inT.^r.tS  rs^  :te^;^'^ir/wi;rhirj 
^a^t^iird-^^s^;^' rs,''-  fz,X"  «^1 

trer?;;  the'r^*  ''"Tl"'  ''^'°"  for 'pTcSas'ing'^ne'y'ea^'ld 
head  the  rLT""v"u  P'""*?*'""  is  the  fact  that  the  owner  °an 
head  the  trees  to  suit  his  needs  and  to  satisfy  his  preference      If 

themT'can  hea'd'^e  trf^T'"  ^Z!"''  ^^"^"'='  as'hHhouirknow 
th^nn-^ordTr  ^ot^ ^  ^^ "In^d^  S^^f^^  rhicTr/e" 
t%Vo7Tre°e"'  "='""  P'^"*^"°"''  "^  ""^'  IrowT^ret;:'  hTaded 


, 

> 


65 
Later  Pruning. 

Later  care  and  pruning  of  the  trees  must  be  such  that  a  plenti- 
ful supply  of  air  and  sunlight  can  reach  every  branch  of  the  tree. 
In  place  of  "mowing"  oflF  the  tops  of  our  trees  we  must  study  their 
habits  of  growth  and  thin  out  the  tops  by  cutting  to  side  branches 
and  then  cutting  back  as  is  required  to  keep  the  tree  within  bounds. 
The  production  and  conservation  of  fruit  spurs  is  a  subject  which 
is  terribly  neglected.  Only  a  few  commercial  growers  seem  to  real- 
ize that  apples  can  be  produced  only  from  highly  specialized  fruit 
buds  which  can  only  develop  on  the  fruit  spurs,  therefore,  all  prun- 
ing must  be  adapted  to  the  development  and  protection  of  these 
spurs.  Very  frequently  careless  or  indiflferent  pickers  destroy  many 
fruit  spurs  which  should  not  be  lost.  The  careful  cutting  out  of 
canker  and  rot  blights  and  fire  blight,  when  it  occurs,  is  a  very  im- 
portant phase  of  orchard  management.  Good  management  consists 
in  prolonging  the  bearing  life  of  the  orchard  as  much  as  possible  and 
there  is  nothing  which  weakens  the  vitality  of  the  trees  and  shortens 
their  life  more  rapidly  than  the  cankers  and  blight.  Careful  and 
consistent  spraying  is  a  powerful  adjunct  to  the  pruning  knife  in 
preventing  such  ravages  in  our  young  orchards. 

The  Conservation  of  Moisture. 

It  is  my  personal  observation  that  the  available  supply  of  mois- 
ture limits  the  production  of  apples  in  the  commercial  apple  orchard 
more  frequently  than  any  other  phase  of  summer  management.  It 
is  not  my  intention  to  discuss  the  relative  merits  of  the  sod  mulch 
and  clean  cultivation  methods  of  managing  the  bearing  orchard,  but 
I  do  note  that  a  good  mulch  frequently  gives  a  much  greater  and 
more  regular  supply  of  moisture  to  the  trees  while  they  are  matunng 
crops  of  fruit  than  the  indifferent  cultivation  methods  which  many 
commercial  growers  practice.  It  is  mighty  important  that  a  good 
earth  mulch  of  at  least  three  inches  deep,  be  maintained  in  the 
orchard  until  the  fruit  is  fully  matured  if  we  are  to  get  the  greatest 
returns  in  bushels  of  good  fruit.  I  will  admit  that  a  cover  crop  must 
be  grown  but  I  am  not  ready  to  admit  that  the  cover  crop  growth  or 
the  lack  of  cultivation  must  be  permitted  to  rob  the  tree  roots  of  a 
bountiful  supply  of  moisture.  Frequently  we  see  bearing  orchards 
laying  bare  and  solid  during  the  months  of  August,  September  and 
October.  Under  such  conditions  and  with  such  weather,  as  we  fre- 
quently incur  during  these  months,  the  evaporation  of  moisture  may 
be  tremendous.  Such  loss  seriously  affects  the  quantity  of  fruit 
which  the  orchard  can  produce. 

Cultivation  Tools  and  Methods. 

It  is  scarcelv  the  province  of  this  paper  to  discuss  cultivation  in 
all  its  details,  the  time  could  not  be  granted.  However  there  ar« 
several  important  details  which  I  desire  to  place  before  you  for 
careful  thought  and  consideration. 

In  the  first  place  I  want  to  raise  the  question  as  to  whether 


66 

our  Pennsylvania  fruit  growers  are  using  enough  up-to-date  orchard 
cultivating  machinery.  My  observation  has  been  that  the  great  ma- 
jority of  our  orchard  cultivation  is  being  done  with  only  the  turn- 
ing plow  and  the  spike  and  spring-tooth  harrow.  The  general 
farmer  may  get  along  with  these  few  tools,  but  our  most  progressive 
farmers  do  not  attempt  to  do  so — neither  should  our  fruit  growers. 
In  the  preparation  of  the  orchard  for  planting  the  turning  plow  has 
its  place,  but  for  the  later  plowings  there  are  several  good  makes 
of  light  gang  plows  carrying  two  or  three  light  steel  plows  which 
may  be  operated  by  the  average  two  horse  or  two  mule  team,  and 
with  which  three  to  four  acres  may  be  turned  each  day.  They  have 
the  additional  advantage  of  permitting  close  plowing  to  young  trees, 
because  of  their  "extension"  construction.  Then,  too,  the  ground 
may  be  plowed  thoroughly  without  leaving  the  large  unworkable 
finishing  furrows  between  the  rows  and  without  ridging  the  soil  so 
much  in  the  tree  rows. 

Disc  harrows  with  extension  frames  should  be  a  part  of  every 
orchard's  cultivating  equipment.  These  may  be  had  with  both  sin- 
gle or  double  gangs  of  discs.  The  double  acting  tools  have  a  de- 
cided advantage  for  orchard  cultivation  because  they  leave  the  land 
practically  level,  whereas  the  single  acting  tools  leave  the  land  quite 
irregular.  The  extension  frame  permits  the  driver  to  keep  his 
team  away  from  the  trees  far  enough  to  prevent  injury  while  he  is 
cultivating  right  up  to  the  trunk  of  the  tree.  For  my  own  use  I 
find  the  "Cutaway"  type  of  disc  very  satisfactory  for  orchard  culti- 
vation. 

The  Acme  harrow,  equipped  with  an  extension  frame,  has  given 
very  good  satisfaction  in  my  own  orchard.  Its  cutting  blades  fine 
up  and  pulverize  the  soil,  leaving  an  ideal  earth  mulch  in  its  wake. 
It  may  be  equipped  with  spring  teeth,  thereby  making  a  very  satis- 
factory extension  frame  spring-tooth  harrow. 

No  orchard  is  completely  equipped  with  cultivating  tools  which 
does  not  contain  one  good  orchard  cultivator,  either  of  the  type  of 
the  Farkner  cultivator,  or  of  the  Planet  Jr.  tool.  Either  of  these 
tools  are  light  in  draft  and  cover  the  ground  rapidly,  forming  a 
good  earth  mulch.  They  conserve  both  man  and  horse  labor  in 
cultivation  work. 

What  constitutes  good  cultivation  methods  in  a  commercial  or- 
chard? The  primary  object  of  cultivation  in  the  orchard  is  the  con- 
servation of  moisture  (see  following  discussion),  therefore,  the 
plowing  or  stirring  of  the  soil  should  take  place  quite  early  in  the 
spring  and  such  cultivation  should  follow  with  the  aid  of  the  tools 
discussed  above,  as  will  maintain  an  "earth  mulch"  three  or  four 
inches  deep  throughout  the  growing  season.  The  character  of  the 
soil  and  the  manner  of  the  rainfall  will  largely  determine  the  number 
of  cultivations  which  will  be  necessary  each  season. 

Spraying. 

We  need  to  do  more  intelligent  spraying  in  Pennsylvania.  We 
must  study  to  know  what  we  are  spraying  for  and  then  we  will 
know  what  spray-material  to  use  and  when  to  do  the  spraying. 


(I 


67 

Whether  we  have  scale  insects  or  not,  there  should  be  one  dormant 
spraying  made  with  concentrate  lime  and  sulphur  solution,  either 
commercial  or  home-boiled.  This  helps  to  keep  the  bark  of  the 
tree  healthy  and  vigorous.  When  "Black  Leaf  40"  or  some  similar 
tobacco  product  which  is  injurious  to  aphis,  is  used  with  lime  and 
sulphur  and  the  spraying  is  done  in  the  spring  just  before  the  buds 
begin  to  open,  the  winter  forms  of  the  aphis  may  be  destroyed  and 
the  insects  thus  largely  controlled. 

Careful  and  persistent  spraying  with  arsenate  of  lead  is  the 
only  means  for  controlling  the  codling  moth.  In  many  of  our  fruit 
sections  there  are  yet  sufficient  old  and  neglected  orchards  to  make 
the  codling  moth  an  ever  present  enemy.  The  new  angle  nozzles,  the 
spray  rod  and  the  spray  tower  are  splendid  auxiliaries  for  fighting 
the  codling  moth.  For  the  second  brood  spraying,  the  arsenate  of 
lead  should  be  mixed  with  summer  strength  or  self -boiled  lime  and 
sulphur. 

The  curculio  is  doing  a  great  deal  of  damage  in  many  of  our 
isolated  orchards.  A  second  spraying  with  arsenate  of  lead  should 
follow  the  first  codling  moth  spraying  by  about  two  weeks  so  as  to 
keep  the  small  fruits  covered  with  the  arsenical  spraying  to  combat 
the  feeding  of  the  curculio. 

I  have  found  by  personal  experience  that  it  is  an  exceedingly 
difficult  proposition  to  rid  old  trees  of  San  Jose  scale  with  lime  and 
sulphur,  especially  when  they  are  badly  infested.  In  such  cases  I 
have  resorted  to  the  use  of  the  scalecide  with  success.  The  miscible 
oil  spray  spreads  over  the  entire  tree  when  same  has  been  well 
sprayed.  With  the  lime  and  sulphur  spray,  the  entire  surface  area 
must  be  covered. 

In  connection  with  spraying,  I  should  like  to  emphasize  the 
fact  that  Bordeaux  mixture  should  be  used  on  all  old  trees  to  con- 
trol the  cankers  and  the  bitter-rot.  I  saw  a  good  crop  of  Grimes* 
Golden  apples  from  eight  year  old  trees  go  down  with  bitter-rot 
two  years  ago.  It  could  have  been  saved  with  Bordeaux.  There 
are  too  many  old  neglected  orchards  in  most  sections  of  our  State 
for  us  to  abandon  the  use  of  copper  sprays.  Personally  I  think  that 
at  least  two  sprayings  with  Bordeaux  should  be  g^ven,  one  in  the 
early  spring  and  one  during  the  late  summer  season. 

Thinning  of  Apples. 

There  is  no  question  but  that  the  eastern  commercial  grower 
should  aim  to  grow  a  maximum  amount  of  well  colored  fruit  of  the 
first  grade.  To  do  this  systematic  thinning  is  very  necessary.  It  is 
true  that  even  picking  of  the  mal-formed  and  infected  fruit  will  help 
greatly,  but  we  must  practice  an  actual  thinning  out  of  the  fruit  to 
secure  the  results  we  need.  Thinning  to  eight  inches  is  not  too 
much  for  the  most  of  our  varieties,  in  fact  such  thinning  usually 
pays  for  itself  well.  If  we  keep  our  trees  headed  low  and  the  tops 
well  opened  by  pruning,  the  thinning  work  may  be  greatly  facili- 
tated. Thinning  should  be  done  in  our  territory  in  June  as  far  as 
possible  to  secure  the  greatest  results. 


68 
Storage  Problems. 

The  last  subject  which  I  shall  discuss  will  be  storage  problems. 
In  the  future,  gluts  in  the  apple  market  are  sure  to  occur.  With 
the  present  rate  of  planting  it  cannot  be  otherwise.  The  commer- 
cial grower  who  is  to  make  a  success  of  his  work  and  reap  the 
profits  which  are  due  him  must  be  prepared  to  control  a  large 
percentage  of  his  product  when  such  gluts  occur.  Then,  too,  the 
commercial  grower  must  be  independent  of  the  unscrupulous  dealer 
who  tries  to  force  down  prices  during  the  fall  selling  season  in  order 
that  he  may  secure  great  profits. 

There  are  two  means  of  avoiding  the  above  conditions.  One  is 
to  provide  temporary  storage  for  your  apples  and  place  them  in 
cold  storage  as  soon  as  possible,  the  other  is  to  build  storage  plants 
on  the  fruit  plantation  and  store  large  quantities  of  fruit  there. 
Local  and  home  storage  plants  are  working  successfully  in  other  sec- 
tions and  they  may  be  worked  successfully  in  Pennsylvania.  The 
Gravity  Brine  System  of  storage  seems  to  me  to  be  admirably 
suited  to  this  class  of  storage.  It  is  economical  to  build,  also  to 
operate.  Suitable  cave  or  cellar  storage  may  be  worked  out  for 
several  thousand  bushels  of  apples  on  almost  every  plantation.  I 
know  of  several  such  storage  cellars  which  are  netting  good  money 
for  their  owners  every  year  because  they  are  enabling  them  to  dis- 
pose of  practically  all  of  their  fruit  on  their  home  markets  at  a 
good  net  profit. 


MARKETING  FRUIT— A  FAMILY  PACKAGE. 


Howard  A.  Chase,  Mount  Pocono,  Pa. 


Where  there  are  large  orchards  and  a  live  local  association  such 
as  our  friends  in  Adams  County  enjoy,  the  question  of  marketing 
fruit  is  comparatively  simple,  but  those  of  us  who  have  not  the 
benefit  of  associations  of  this  character,  and  are  in  sections  where 
the  orchards  are  few  and  far  between,  are  obliged  to  look  up  our 
own  markets.    The  question  of  distribution  is  then  all  important. 

I  recall  that  in  the  fall  of  191 2,  Scranton  was  literally  flooded 
with  apples.  They  were  shipped  there  in  barrels  and  baskets,  in 
boxes  and  in  bulk.  During  this  same  time  there  were  places  in 
this  and  adjoining  states  where  there  was  a  scarcity  of  apples  and 
prices  were  high. 

I  realize  the  practical  difficulties  of  local  marketing  associa- 
tions in  the  majority  of  the  counties  in  this  State,  but  it  seems  to 
me  that  possibly  an  information  bureau  might  be  established  in  the 
Division  of  Zoology  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  so  that  our 
fruit  growers  could  be  informed  as  to  where  to  ship  their  fruit  to 
advantage,  I  am  quite  certain  that  the  railroad  companies  would 
cheerfully  co-operate  in  work  of  this  kind. 

As  to  a  family  package,  I  realize  that  for  general  commercial 
purposes,  especially  for  the  export  trade,  the  standard  three  bushel 
barrel  is  likely  to  continue  to  be  in  demand,  but  for  fancy  trade  the 
bushel  box  has  come  to  stay.     Now  cannot  we  find  still  another 


69 

package,  a  package  the  use  of  which  may  result  in  the  greater  con- 
sumption of  apples  in  the  average  family?  Why  not  try  a  two 
bushel  barrel,  this  especially  for  what  might  be  termed  second  size 
of  fruit,  but  fruit  of  first-class  quality.  Then  attach  to  each  such 
package  a  card,  telling  how  the  fruit  can  be  preserved  from  decay  in 
an  ordinary  warm  cellar,  by  simply  taking  out  the  head  and  keeping 
the  barrel  covered  with  damp  burlap. 

I  believe  that  with  a  package  of  this  kind  the  provision  man 
would  be  able  to  induce  a  large  percentage  of  his  customers  to  buy 
an  unbroken  package.  Possibly  in  some  markets  the  bushel  hamper 
basket  might  prove  to  be  a  popular  family  package,  provided,  the 
same  is  lined  with  paper. 

Let  us  try  to  find  something  that  will  break  up  this  half  peck 
and  quarter  peck  purchasing  habit  that  so  many  people,  even  well- 
to-do  people,  have  gotten  into. 


A  SATISFACTORY  HOME  APPLE  STORAGE. 


By  H.  C.  Brinton,  Hanover,  Pa. 


I  sell  most  of  my  fruit  in  a  nearby  town  and  had  no  means 
of  storing  my  winter  apples.  For  a  couple  years  I  stored  it  in  the 
York  plant,  about  twenty-five  miles  from  here.  This  I  found  in- 
convenient and  expensive,  because  it  meant  delay  in  getting  fruit 
out  and  a  double  freight  charge  on  account  of  having  to  haul  it  back 
to  my  home  town.  All  of  this  brought  to  mind  the -need  of  a  home 
storage  plant  or  cellar. 

For  perhaps  a  year  I  hunted  round  carefully  for  information, 
in  order  to  find  out  what  such  a  cellar  can  be  expected  to  do  and 

what  it  will  not  do. 

I  found  little  information  was  to  be  had.  If  I  remember  cor- 
rectly, I  found  about  four  descriptions  of  fruit  storage  houses  in  the 
fruit  papers,  from  each  of  which  I  gathered  some  little  details  of 
value.  As  we  all  work  under  diflferent  conditions,  I  did  not  find  any 
storage  house  that  just  suited  my  conditions.  In  Farmers'  Bulletin 
No.  97,  Exp.  Sta.  Work  No.  10,  I  found  a  description  of  two  or 
three  methods  for  cooling  cheese  rooms  by  means  of  underground 
air  ducts.    I  will  speak  of  these  later,  and  how  I  partially  adopted 

one  method. 

We  soon  learned,  two  of  the  essential  features  of  a  storage 
plant  or  cellar  for  apples,  are  good  ventilation  and  a  certain  amount 
of  humidity,  aside  from  maintaining  a  low  temperature. 

Perhaps  I  may  seem  a  little  long  winded  in  my  prelimmary  de- 
scriptions, but  to  me  these  are  indeed  the  most  important,  because 
when  we  once  know  what  we  want,  and  what  we  want  to  do,  the 
actual  construction  is  a  simple  matter.  ^ 

With  my  conditions  I  selected  a  steep  hillside  facing  south. 
Unfortunately,  that  I  could  not  help.  However,  by  digging  into  the 
hill  I  could  get  a  thorough  insulation  on  three  sides  of  my  cellar  and 
by  using  a  hollow  concrete  block  for  the  front  wall  also  get  better 
insulation  than  from  a  solid  wall. 


70 

The  whole  cellar  is  of  concrete  throughout.  The  side  walls  are 
ten  inches  thick,  and  about  eleven  feet  high,  with  an  arched  roof 
of  reinforced  concrete,  five  inches  thick.  The  roof  has  about  a  two 
and  a  half  foot  arch.  While  a  double  wood  wall  packed,  or  lined 
with  paper,  would  perhaps  give  the  best  insulation,  it  would  not  be 
as  durable  and  I  feared  too  dry.  In  the  cement  walls  we  used  a 
three-quarter  inch  stone  without  any  sand,  this  makes  a  very  porous 
coat  that  excludes  the  air  but  moisture  will  come  through.  How- 
ever the  walls  do  not  sweat  as  with  a  stone  wall,  perhaps  due  to  the 
ventilation  and  circuit  of  air. 

In  order  to  get  our  temperature  (and  we  try  to  maintain  same 
at  about  thirty-four  degrees),  we  partially  depend  on  the  air  ducts 
as  described  in  Government  Bui.  No.  97.  These  are  simply  lines  of 
terra  cotta  pipe  running  down  through  the  ground  and  into  the 
cellar.  Unfortunately  we  struck  rock  and  did  not  make  these  lines 
as  long  as  we  desired  because  our  apples  were  almost  ready  and  the 
work  had  to  be  pushed.  The  government  advised  laying  the  pipes 
for  a  distance  of  100  feet  underground  in  order  to  thoroughly  chill 
the  air.  Ours  are  so  arranged  we  can  do  this  at  a  later  time  if  need 
be;  now  they  run  down  parallel  to  and  about  three  feet  from,  the 
side  walls  for  perhaps  six  feet,  then  into  the  cellar.  There  are  six 
sets  of  these  pipes,  two  sets  along  each  of  the  three  side  walls  con- 
sisting of  two  pipes,  a  four-inch  and  a  six-inch,  in  each  set.  By 
using  two  small  pipes  instead  of  one,  say  ten-inch  pipe,  the  air  has 
a  better  chance  to  chill. 

To  complete  the  circulation  we  purchased  a  ventilator  (the 
makers  call  it  a  cowl),  from  the  Pullman  Aut.  Vent.  Mfg.  Co.,  at 
York.  This  I  find  does  excellent  work,  by  testing  we  find  it  draws 
the  air  from  all  parts  of  the  room  quickly,  keepmg  up  a  constant  cir- 
culation. The  government  suggests  using  a  stack  for  this  purpose. 
A  stack  long  enough  is  rather  expensive,  while  the  cowls  are  quite 
reasonable. 

As  we  have  only  had  the  cellar  in  operation  this  season,  I  can- 
not give  any  data  as  to  temperatures.  However,  can  say  since  cool 
weather  set  in,  in  the  fall  or  early  winter,  we  have  been  able  to 
maintain  a  temperature  of  about  thirty-four  degrees,  and  reason- 
ably uniform.  It  seldom  gets  above  thirty-eight,  but  during  a  cold 
snap  I  left  ventilators  open  and  it  dropped  to  twenty-six.  As  we 
wished  to  use  some  fruit  at  once  we  put  a  small  stove  in  and  soon 
had  a  normal  temperature.  In  a  day  or  so  we  could  see  no  bad  ef- 
fects from  the  low  temperature,  being  careful  in  the  meantime  not 
to  handle  fruit. 

We  rather  expect  to  have  a  little  trouble  in  the  fall  at  picking 
time,  to  get  proper  temperature.  In  order  to  meet  this  we  have  ar- 
ranged to  place  an  ice  rack  in  the  centre  of  the  cellar,  overhead,  that 
will  hold  five  or  six  tons  of  ice,  and  hope  by  means  of  one  icing  to 
start  our  temperatures  and  then  maintain  them  by  opening  ventila- 
tors on  frosty  nights  and  closing  them  during  the  day. 

The  ice  rack  is  so  arranged  that  the  cool  air  and  drip  will  come 
off  at  the  sides,  the  water  is  carried  away  by  means  of  spouting  and 
underground  drain.  The  cement  floor  was  given  a  slight  pitch  in 
order  to  carry  any  water  to  the  drains. 


71 

Originally  we  intended  putting  a  paper  roof  about  two  feet 
above  the  cement  roof.  Making  it  tight  on  three  sides,  with  venti- 
lators in  the  fourth  or  front  side ;  then  by  placing  a  cowl  on  the 
roof  at  the  opposite  end,  we  hoped  to  keep  our  cement  roof  cool; 
but  on  the  suggestion  of  a  friend  we  will  first  try  covenng  roof  with 
dirt  and  perhaps  plant  grape  vines  on  same  for  shade. 

The  cellar  is  twenty-four  feet,  six  inches  by  thirty-seven  feet 
long  inside,  divided  into  two  rooms  as  before  mentioned,  with  an 
approximate  capacity  of  2,200  bushels.  The  front  room  is  about 
one-third  as  large  as  rear  room.  This  we  use  to  chill  fruit  in,  as 
the  fruit  comes  from  the  orchard,  and  hope  by  so  doing  to  help  keep 
down  the  temperature  of  the  rear  or  main  storage  room. 

After  all  the  fruit  is  in  we  expect  to  use  this  front  room  also 
for  ripening  fruit,  by  keeping  it  warmer  than  rear  room.  In  selling 
to  the  local  market  there  is  a  weekly  call  for  apples,  even  for  some 
of  the  late  keepers,  these  we  hope  to  mellow  up  in  this  warmer 

In  front  of  the  cellar  proper  we  have  a  ten  foot  landing  plat- 
form with  a  cement  floor  on  same  level  as  our  cellar  floor.  This  is 
about  two  and  one-half  feet  above  the  driveway.  Teams  can  drive 
along  side  and  by  means  of  a  movable  gangplank  fruit  can  be 
trucked  right  from  the  wagon  bed. 

We  have  a  paper  roof  over  this  platform  and  driveway  that 
shades  front  of  cellar  and  protects  teams  and  men  when  loading 
market  wagons  in  rough  weather. 

The  cellar  cost  about  $900.  I  used  most  of  my  own  stone  ott 
of  the  fields,  hiring  a  crusher  to  break  them.  This  I  found  to  be 
quite  a  saving  where  you  have  the  proper  kind  of  stone. 

On  account  of  the  variety  of  conditions  we  meet  no  doubt  a 
similar  cellar  could  be  built  elsewhere  for  less  money.    We  struck  a 
soft  rock  that  made  my  excavating  charges  higher  than  we  expected 
We  did  most  of  the  work  with  our  own  help,  but  employed  a  cement 
worker  with  three  helpers  for  the  cement  work. 

In  this  we  believe  his  experience  overcomes  what  we  would 
have  saved  by  using  cheaper  help.  .    ,  .       ^         ^,  .1  ^ 

After  the  past  winter's  experience,  judging  from  the  way  the 
apples  kept,  and  from  those  we  now  have  (for  our  own  use),  we 
can  say  the  cellar  is  very  satisfactory  and  a  big  convenience. 

Should  any  members  or  friends  desire  further  information 
about  the  cellar  we  will  be  glad  to  have  them  call  at  any  time  and 
inspect  same.  The  farm  is  just  four  miles  north  of  Hanover,  right 
along  the  Abbottstown  pike,  so  we  have  a  good  road  the  year  round. 

AGRICULTURAL  EDUCATION. 


By  Dean  R.  L.  Watts,  State  College. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :  I  have  been  re- 
quested to  speak  on  the  subject  of  Agricultural  Education,  with  spe- 
cial reference  to  the  work  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  College.  As  a 
State  institution,  supported  mainly  by  State  appropriations,  all 
classes  of  soil  tillers  are  naturally  interested  in  its  activities. 


72 

The  work  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  College  is  divided  into  five 
schools,  namely:     School  of  Agriculture,  School  of  Engineering, 
School  of  Liberal  Arts,  School  of  Mines,  School  of  Natural  Science, 
and  Department  of  Home  Economics.     In  the  School  of  Agricul- 
ture, there  are  780  students  taking  four  years'  courses ;   158  students 
in  the  two  years  course ;   11  special  students,  and  176  students  pursu- 
ing the  winter  courses,  which  make  a  total  of  1,125.  The  accompany- 
ing chart  shows  the  increase  in  the  enrollment  of  students  during  the 
past  decade.    Facilities  for  instruction  are  provided  by  farm  prop- 
erties aggregating   1,244  acres    (Plate    i,   Figs,    i  and   2);    large 
numbers  of  dairy  cattle,  beef,  cattle,  hogs,  horses,  sheep,  and  poul- 
try ;  numerous  experiments  embracing  every  branch  of  agriculture ; 
agricultural  and  horticultural  buildings  containing  class  rooms,  of- 
fices, and  laboratories ;  a  dairy  building  complete  in  its  equipment  of 
offices,  laboratories,  butter  and  cheese  making  rooms,  and  other 
facilities  for  the  manufacture  of  dairy  products;    a  forestry  build- 
ing and  woodlot;    orchards  and  vegetable  gardens;    a  general  col- 
lege library,  and  a  special  library,  the  latter  being  located  in  the 
agricultural  building;   two  ranges  of  greenhouses,  and  a  campus  of 
about  100  acres. 

The  Extension  Department  of  the  School  of  Agriculture  has 
been  supporting  the  County  Agent  movement,  and  nine  counties  of 
the  State  are  now  organized.  This  department  has  also  been  ac- 
tive in  holding  Farmers'  Weeks,  and  special  meetings,  in  organizing 
corn  clubs,  in  conducting  special  excursions  to  the  college,  and  in 
other  forms  of  agricultural  extension,  with  a  view  to  assisting  those 
who  can  not  come  to  the  college  for  instruction. 

The  Department  of  Agricultural  Education  is  also  doing  good 
work  along  extension  lines.  Its  efforts  are  directed  mainly  along 
two  rather  distinct  lines,  namely,  the  Correspondence  Courses  in 
Agriculture,  and  Agriculture  in  the  Public  Schools.  Since  the  Cor- 
respondence Courses  were  established,  fifteen  years  ago,  almost 
15,000  citizens  of  the  State  have  received  instruction  by  that  method. 
The  number  actually  receiving  instruction  during  the  year  191 3  is 
estimated  at  4,000,  and  about  1,700  of  this  number  are  new  students 
who  were  enrolled  during  the  year.  Each  Correspondence  Course 
comprises  from  five  to  ten  lessons  on  some  particular  subject  re- 
lating to  the  farm  or  to  the  farm  home.  During  the  past  year,  in- 
struction has  been  given  in  thirty-five  different  courses. 

The  Summer  Session  of  six  weeks  was  established  for  the 
primary  purpose  of  giving  instruction  to  the  teachers  of  the  State. 
One  of  the  important  courses  of  this  session  is  Agriculture,  and 
large  numbers  of  teachers  are  annually  receiving  instruction  at  the 
college  in  this  subject,  which  is  becoming  more  and  more  important 
in  the  public  schools. 

The  members  of  the  Horticultural  Association  are  most  inter- 
ested, of  course,  in  the  experimental  work  of  the  college,  and  the 
following  brief  notes  will  convey  some  idea  as  to  the  line  of  work 
followed  and  the  results  obtained. 

(Since  a  large  number  of  lantern  views  were  used  in  connec- 
tion with  my  lecture  at  the  meeting  of  the  Horticultural  Association, 
the  remarks  were  necessarily  disconnected,  and,  therefore,  not  adapt- 


.FiG    I     On  one  side  of  the  fence.     A  f.eld  of  wheat  ^rown  on  grounds  of  The 

Pennsylvania  State  College   farms. 


Kio    2      On  the  other  side  of  the  same  fence.     A  lield  of  wheat  grown  hy  tenant 
■  farming  on  field  adjoining  held  shown  m  hig.  i. 

PLATE    I. 


72 

The  work  of  the  Pennsylvania  State  College  is  divided  into  five 
schools,  namely :  School  of  Agriculture,  School  of  Engineering, 
School  of  Liberal  Arts,  School  of  Alines,  School  of  Natural  Science, 
and  Department  of  Home  Economics.  In  the  School  of  Agricul- 
ture, there  are  780  students  taking  four  years'  courses ;  158  students 
in  the  two  years  course  ;  1 1  special  students,  and  176  students  pursu- 
ing the  winter  courses,  which  make  a  total  of  1,125.  The  accompany- 
ing chart  shows  the  increase  in  the  enrollment  of  students  during  the 
past  decade.  Facilities  for  instruction  are  provided  by  farm  prop- 
erties aggregating  1,244  acres  (Plate  i,  Figs,  i  and  2);  large 
numbers  of  dairy  cattle,  beef,  cattle,  hogs,  horses,  sheep,  and  poul- 
try :  numerous  experiments  embracing  every  branch  of  agriculture ; 
agricultural  and  horticultural  buildings  containing  class  rooms,  of- 
fices, and  laboratories :  a  dairy  l^uilding  complete  in  its  equipment  of 
offices,  laboratories,  butter  and  cheese  making  rooms,  and  other 
facilities  for  the  manufacture  of  dairy  products;  a  forestry  build- 
ing and  woodlot ;  orchards  and  vegetable  gardens ;  a  general  col- 
lege library,  and  a  special  library,  the  latter  being  located  in  the 
agricultural  building;  two  ranges  of  greenhouses,  and  a  campus  of 
about  100  acres. 

The  Extension  Department  of  the  School  of  Agriculture  has 
been  supporting  the  County  Agent  movement,  and  nine  counties  of 
the  State  are  now  organized.  This  department  has  also  been  ac- 
tive in  holding  Farmers'  Weeks,  and  special  meetings,  in  organizing 
corn  clubs,  in  conducting  special  excursions  to  the  college,  and  in 
other  forms  of  agricultural  extension,  with  a  view  to  assisting  those 
who  can  not  come  to  the  college  for  instruction. 

The  Department  of  Agricultural  Education  is  al>o  doing  good 
work  along  extension  lines.  Its  efforts  are  directed  mainly  along 
two  rather  distinct  lines,  namely,  the  Correspondence  Courses  in 
Agriculture,  and  Agriculture  in  the  Public  Schools.  Since  the  Cor- 
respondence Courses  were  established,  fifteen  years  ago,  almost 
15.000  citizens  of  the  State  have  received  instruction  by  that  method. 
The  number  actually  receiving  instruction  during  the  year  191 3  is 
estimated  at  4.000.  and  about  1.700  of  this  numi)er  are  new  students 
who  w-ere  enrolled  during  the  year.  Each  Correspondence  Course 
comprises  from  five  to  ten  lessons  on  some  particular  subject  re- 
lating to  the  farm  or  to  the  farm  home.  During  the  past  year,  in- 
struction has  been  given  in  thirty-five  different  courses. 

The  Summer  Session  of  six  weeks  was  established  for  the 
primary  purpose  of  giving  instruction  to  the  teachers  of  the  State. 
One  of  the  important  courses  of  this  session  is  Agriculture,  and 
large  numbers  of  teachers  are  annually  receiving  instruction  at  the 
college  in  this  subject,  which  is  becoming  more  and  more  important 
in  the  public  schools. 

The  members  of  the  Horticultural  Association  are  most  inter- 
ested, of  course,  in  the  experimental  work  of  the  college,  and  the 
following  brief  notes  will  convey  some  idea  as  to  the  line  of  work 
followed  and  the  results  obtained. 

(Since  a  large  number  of  lantern  views  were  used  in  connec- 
tion with  my  lecture  at  the  meeting  of  the  Horticultural  Association, 
the  remarks  were  necessarily  disconnected,  and,  therefore,  not  adapt- 


f  ■ 


,1;,,     I      (ln   orn-   -^uK-  ..t    the   tuuT.     A    hd.l   of   wlu-at   .^n.wn  -m   un.nn.N   ..I     1  lu- 

l'(iiti-\l\:mi;i   State   (."(.lU-iie    tarnis. 


.      (,n   ,1,.   ..tlur   H<le  ..f   the    ^ame    lenee.      A    liel.l   .;t    wiieat   ^n,wn    h> 
larniin;.;  "n   In  Id  a<Ij< -iniii.u   \\vV\  A\u\\\\  in   l-'^-   >• 

I'LATI".    I. 


tinaiit 


1  INTENTIONAL  2ND  EXPOSURE 


nJ?;/'    "^  ''i?.  ""^  '"""f  ""^  ^''^"  l''^ts  in  the  general  fertilizer  exi.eriment.     There 
arej44  one-eighth  acre  rlats  used  ni  this  experiment,     it  has  I.een  continued  f..r  33 


vears. 


'^L  iitJhJ     P  1  r'^  expernnent  .n  rotation  of  corn.  oats,  wheat  and  clover 

.tni  ^Tl     '-  ^  r        '•"  ^"^^r  '"^^T"''"''   '"^   ^'^"'^  "^  "^''""'•^  ^"verv  other  year  and  two 
tons  of  hurned  hme  every  fourth  year.     Plat  in  middle  received  two  tons  of  l.urne 
lime  every  fourth  year.     Plat  on  right  received  nothing. 

PLATK  2. 


73 

able  to  publication  without  using  the  accompanying  illustrations. 
Therefore  the  various  departments  of  the  School  of  Agriculture 
have  kindly  prepared  at  my  request  the  foUowmg  statements  which 
relate  to  the  work  of  the  Experiment  Station)  : 

The  Agronomy  Department. 

The  Agronomy  Department  is  conducting  many  field  experi- 
ments along  lines  of  soil  treatment,  crop  rotation,  variety  studies 
and  the  improvement  of  various  farm  crops  by  breeding.  The  most 
interesting  experiment  is  our  ''General  Fertilizer  Experiment, 
which  is  famous  among  investigators  as  the  longest  continued  fer- 
tilizer experiment  in  America.  This  has  been  carried  on  for  thirty- 
two  vears.  In  this  experiment  there  are  used  144  one-eighth  acre 
plats'  Here  are  compared  the  effects  of  single  fertilizing  ingre- 
dients, of  combinations  of  two  ingredients,  and  of  complete  ferti- 
lizers; also  the  effects  of  lime  and  manure  used  separately  and  to- 
gether. See  Plate  2,  Figs,  i  and  2.  Some  of  the  most  striking  re- 
sults obtained  are  as  follows :  .  ,  ,         •  •  j 

Of  the  single  ingredients,  phosphoric  acid  has  given  a  consider- 
able increase  in  yield  over  the  nothing  plats,  while  nitrogen  and 
potash  have  given  no  increase. 

Phosphoric  acid  and  potash  combined  in  a  commercial  f ertihzer, 
without  any  nitrogen  in  this  rotation  containing  clover,  have  given 
as  good  yields  for  the  last  few  years  as  they  gave  thirty  years  ago. 

Complete  commercial  fertilizers  have  given  as  good  yields  as 

barnvard  manure.  .      .  -  ,,         >, 

Lime  alone  has  not  maintained  the  productive  power  of  the  soil, 

but  lime  with  manure  has  given  high  yields. .      ^       .       ,    ,  _     .^^ 
Of  the  different  carriers  of  nitrogen,  nitrate  of  soda  has  given 

^^^  ^ThVExperiment  Station  has  demonstrated  the  value  of  top- 
dressing  of  commercial  fertilizers  on  timothy  sod  Three  hundred 
and  fift^y  pounds  of  a  J-?-?  fertilizer  applied  in  the  spring,  just  as 
the  growth  was  starting,  has  given  an  average  yearly  increase  in 
field-cured  hay  of  nearly  1,600  pounds  per  acre,  besides  improving 
the  land  for  the  next  corn  crop.     (See  Plate  3,  Fig.  i.) 

Alfalfa  has  been  grown  on  the  college  farms  for  a  number  ot 
vears  There  is  now  being  grown  about  thirty  acres,  a  part  ot 
whTch  is  under  experiment.  Nearly  every  year  three  cuttings  have 
been  made,  and  its  value  as  a  forage  crop  in  Pennsylvania  has  been 
proved  One  small  field  was  cut  from  1904  to  19 12,  and  it  gave  an 
average  annual  yield  of  about  four  tons  of  field-cured  hay  per  acre. 

Tkno"hy  breeding  work  is  carried  on  with  the  idea  of  develop- 
ing superior  varieties  of  this  valuable  plant.  Timothy  is  quite  var  a- 
b"f  and  it  seems  possible  to  develop  varieties  of  it  that  are  as  dis- 
^nitin  appearance  and  adaptability  as  are  many  varieties  of  wheat 
or  oats  This  breeding  work  requires  the  study  of  individual  plants, 
and  for  this  purpose  there  are  being  grown  in  the  nursery  between 
8(X)o  and  9,L)  plants.  (See  Plate  3,  Fig,  2  )  One  strain  now 
S  tested  under  field  conditions  has  outyielded  commercial  t  m- 
oTy  by  555  pounds  of  field-cured  hay  an  acre  per  year  for  the  last 
two  years. 


Fi'-..   t.     A   virw  ..f  M  ,iu-  <.i    ilK-  |.l;.t^  in  ilu-  yc-iural   tVrtili/cr  .xiHriMU  nt.     T!h  re 
..'I-  N-}  ..iu-r..uiitli  ;.nv  |  Im.  um.1  in  tin'.  . Ai.rrinu-nt.     it   lias  I.icn  cntinn.,!   t-.r  .u 


\  cars. 


";•.-    ,V"'^^  ,V  -''^  '"  ■;''-"'   ixiK-rnncnt  n,  r..,.„i,,n  of  o-rn.  .,:,ts.  u  lu,„  ;,n,l  d..vrr 
••"1    t,mo,l,y.        Mat    on   let    rcrnvcl    mx    ,..,.  ,  ,f  mannr.  .vcrv   o,lur  v.ar  an.l  tuo 
<.n^  ..,  l.unu-,1  Imu    cvcm    tonrtli  year.      I'lat  in  nn.l.lk-  rcvciv.;i  two  ton.  ol   l.nrn  -.1 
linif  cviry    t,.nrth   >tar.      I'lat    .  ^n   ri...:ht    r.aut-.l   notliinu. 

I 'I.  ATI-:    J. 


73 
able  to  publication  without  using  the   accompanying   illustrations. 
Therefore,  the  various  departments  of  the  School  of  Agriculture 
have  kindly  prepared  at  my  request  the  following  statements  which 
relate  to  the  work  of  the  Experiment  Station)  : 

The  Agronomy  Department. 

The  Agronomy  Department  is  conducting  many  lield  experi- 
ments along  lines  of  soil  treatment,  crop  rotation,  variety  >tudies. 
and  the  improvement  of  various  farm  crops  by  breeding.  1  he  most 
interesting  experiment  is  our  "General  Fertilizer  hxpennient, 
which  is  famous  among  investigators  as  the  longest  continued  fer- 
tilizer experiment  in  America.  This  has  been  carried  on  for  thirty- 
two  vears  In  this  experiment  there  are  used  144  one-eighth  acre 
Dlats'  Here  are  compared  the  effects  of  single  fertilizing  ingre- 
dients, of  combinations  of  two  ingredients,  and  of  complete  ferti- 
lizers;  also  the  effects  of  lime  and  manure  used  separately  and  to- 
gether. See  Plate  2,  Figs,  i  and  2.  Some  of  the  most  striking  re- 
sults obtained  are  as  follows :  .        .  ,  ,         •  •  1 .,- 

Of  the  single  ingredients,  phosphoric  acid  has  given  a  consider- 
able increase  in  yield  over  the  nothing  plats,  while  nitrogen  and 

potash  have  given  no  increase.  •  ,  r    n;  «,- 

Phosphoric  acid  and  potash  combined  in  a  commercial  fertilizer, 
without  any  nitrogen  in  this  rotation  containing  clover,  have  given 
as  good  yields  for  the  last  few  years  as  they  gave  thirty  years  ago. 
Complete  commercial  fertilizers  have  given  as  good  yields  a. 

barnyard  manure.  .  .,         ., 

Lime  alone  has  not  maintained  the  productive  power  of  the  soil. 

but  lime  with  manure  has  given  high  yields.  .       ,     ,       „•  .,„ 

Of  the  dift'erent  carriers  of  nitrogen,  nitrate  of  soda  has  gi\en 

the  best  vields 

The  Experiment  Station  has  demon^tratecl  the  yahie  ot  top- 
dressing  of  commercial  fertihzers  on  timothy  sod      Ihree  hundred 

and  fifty  poumls  of  a  7-7-/  f"tili«>-  ''I'l'"*^''  '"  "'^  f '."*>'•  '"''  t 
the  growth  was  starting,  has  given  an  average  yearly  mcrease  n 
field  ciire<l  hay  of  nearly  1,600  pounds  per  acre.  hesKles  m.provn.g 
the  land  for  the  next  corn  crop.     (  See  Plate  3,  Fig.  I. ) 

Alfalfa  has  heen  grown  on  the  college  farms  for  a  nnmhe  of 
vears  There  is  now  being  grown  about  thirty  acres,  a  part  ot 
which  is  under  experiment.  Nearly  every  year  three  cuUnigs  have 
been  made,  and  it.s  value  as  a  forage  crop  i.i  Petinsylvati.a  has  been 
proved  One  small  field  was  cut  fru>n  um  to  19'-'.  ami  U  gave  an 
!  veraee  annual  yield  of  about  four  tons  of  heUl-cured  hay  per  .-icre. 
Thiiothy  breeding  work  is  carried  on  with  the  ulea  of  .levelop- 
ing  sn^br  varieties  of  this  valuable  plant.  Tiinchy  .s  quUe  var.a- 
f  ad  it  seems  i-ossible  to  -levelop  varieties  of  n  that  arc  as  d.s- 
th^ct  a^^^pearance  a.ul  adaptability  as  are  many yar.efes  of  wheat 
or  oa  This  l,reeding  worlc  requires  the  study  of  md.vulua  plants, 
and  for  tli  purpose  there  are  being  grown  in  the  nursery  between 
80)0  and  q.Soo  plams.  (See  Plate  3.  Fig.  2  1  One  strani  now 
be^  te  ted  under  field  conditions  has  ou.y.elde.l  ™.^n,erc,a  It.n  - 
othy  by  .:;55  pounds  of  field-cured  hay  an  acre  per  year  tor  the  last 
two  years. 


INTENTIONAL  2ND  EXPOSURE 


74 

Plant  breeding  is  also  carried  on  with  oats,  wheat,  corn,  and  po- 
tatoes. 

Many  problems  relating  to  soil  fertility  are  best  studied  with 
pot  cultures,  and  field  experiments  can  also  be  checked  by  such 
methods.  The  pots  may  be  kept  in  the  greenhouse  in  winter  and 
out  of  doors  m  the  summer.  At  present,  there  are  being  carried  on 
m  this  way  investigations  on  the  relative  effect  of  pure  and  mag- 
nesian  limestone  when  applied  to  the  soil  in  varied  degrees  of  fine- 
ness, and  in  comparison  with  the  equivalent  amounts  of  burned  lime; 
also  the  influence  of  varied  amounts  of  limestone  upon  the  growth 
of  sorrel  and  clover. 

Animal  Husbandry. 

The  experiment  in  Animal  Husbandry  are  such  as  seem  of 
most  importance  to  the  live  stock  industry  in  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. One  of  the  experiments  now  being  made  is  that  of  "Main- 
taining Beef  Breeding  Cows  in  Pennsylvania."  The  object  of  this 
experiment  is  to  determine  the  cost  of  keeping  beef  breeding  cows 
on  a  ration  made  up  largely  of  roughage  such  as  is  grown  in  abun- 
dance on  Pennsylvania  farms.  Two  lots  of  animals,  composed  of 
ten  pure-bred  Shorthorn  and  ten  Aberdeen-Angus  cows,  are  used  in 
this  test.  This  experiment  was  begun  in  the  fall  of  191 1,  and  the 
results  thus  far  obtained  seem  to  indicate  that  beef  breeding  cows 
can  be  successfully  maintained  if  they  receive  all  the  corn  silage  they 
will  consume  during  the  winter  with  an  additional  pound  of  cotton- 
seed meal  per  head,  daily,  and  good  blue  grass  pasture  during  the 
summer.  All  of  these  cows  have  kept  in  excellent  condition,  and 
have  shown  no  ill  effects  from  the  rations  fed.  The  calves  that  have 
been  born  are  strong,  healthy,  vigorous  individuals,  and  were  fully 
developed  at  the  time  of  birth.  The  total  cost  of  feed,  labor,  and 
other  expenses  involved  in  the  maintenance  of  the  cows,  has  ranged 
from  $25.00  to  $30.00  a  head,  per  year. 

Steer  feeding  experiments  have  been  conducted  for  a  number 
of  years.  The  experiments  indicate  that  steer  feeding  can  be  suc- 
cessfully carried  on  in  Pennsylvania  if  the  proper  method  of  feed- 
ing is  followed.  During  the  past  five  years,  178  head  of  cattle  have 
been  fed  in  an  experimental  way ;  they  have  given  a  profit  of  $5  00 
per  steer,  although  market  prices  for  all  feeds  consumed  were  paid 
and  they  have  returned  ninety-eight  cents  a  bushel  for  all  corn  con- 
sumed. Five  lots  of  cattle  are  on  experiment  this  year  The 
object  of  this  experiment  is  to  secure  further  information  concern- 
ing the  proper  method  of  steer  feeding.  One  lot  of  steers  is  fed 
what  IS  commonly  known  as  the  Pennsylvania  ration.  This  ration 
is  composed  of  three  parts  corn,  one  part  wheat  bran  as  the  grain 
feed,  and  all  the  corn  stover  and  mixed  hay  the  cattle  will  consume 
During  the  first  two  months  of  the  experiment,  it  cost  $11.82  to  pro- 
duce 100  pounds  of  gain  in  this  lot.  Another  lot  is  fed  a  ration 
which  has  previously  been  found  to  be  economical,  and  which  has 
given  good  results.  The  cows  in  this  lot  are  receiving  all  the  corn 
silage  they  will  consume,  together  with  two  and  one-half  pounds  of 
cottonseed  meal  per  1,000  pounds  live  weight  daily.     This  is  fed 


Fig.  I.  Showing  the  effects  of  a  7-7-7  fertihzer  apphed  to  timotliy  just  vvhen 
growth  starts  in  Spring.  On  the  left  unfertilized.  On  the  nght.  150  p.ninds  of  ni- 
trate of  soda,  150  pounds  acid  phosphate  and  50  pounds  muriate  of  potash. 


F,C    2     Timothv   breeding  plat-conducted   by    Department   of   Agronomy   of    The 

Pennsylvania  State  C(»llege. 
PLATE   .3. 


75 

during  the  first  fifty-six  days,  at  the  end  of  which  time  ear  corn  is 
added  to  the  ration.  During  the  first  fifty-six  days,  the  cost  of 
making  lOO  pounds  of  grain  in  this  lot  was  $6.52,  as  compared  with 
$11.82  in  the  other  lot.  Another  object  of  the  experiment  is  to  de- 
termine the  value  of  alfalfa  hay,  instead  of  cottonseed  meal,  as  a 
source  of  protein.  The  present  indications  are  that  the  alfalfa  hay 
will  make  a  desirable  substitute. 

In  accordance  with  the  increased  interest  in  hog  production  in 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  the  department  is  conducting  an  experi- 
ment to  determine  the  best  methods  of  pork  production.  Tests  are 
being  made  to  determine  the  value  of  pasture  for  growing  pigs  as 
compared  to  growing  them  in  dry  lot.  Last  year  it  was  found  that 
the  cost  of  producing  100  pounds  of  gain  in  growing  pigs,  kept  in 
good  pasture,  was  $5.70  per  100  pounds,  as  compared  to  $7.00  per 
100  pounds  for  pigs  kept  in  the  dry  lot ;  furthermore,  the  pasture  lot 
seemed  to  be  thriftier  and  it  made  heavier  daily  gains. 

Another  experiment  has  been  conducted  to  determine  the  ad- 
visability of  the  practice  of  hogging  down  corn.  One  group  of 
ten  hogs  was  kept  in  the  corn  field  from  the  middle  of  September 
until  the  time  of  marketing,  while  another  group  was  fed  in  the 
dry  lot.  It  was  found  that  the  hogs  kept  in  the  corn  field  gamed 
1,222  pounds  in  ten  weeks,  whole  the  hogs  that  were  fed  in  the  dry 
lot  gained  1,014  pounds  during  the  same  period.  Tankage  was  sup- 
plied to  each  lot  in  addition  to  the  corn  consumed.  The  hogs  that 
were  kept  in  the  corn  field  made  12.3  pounds  of  gain  per  bushel  of 
corn,  with  less  labor  involved,  while  the  hogs  fed  in  the  dry  lot 
made  11.6  pounds  of  gain  per  bushel  of  corn  consumed.  These 
feeding  tests  will  be  duplicated  next  year  so  as  to  obtain  further  m- 
formation  along  this  important  line. 

Another  experiment  in  progress  at  this  time  is  to  determme  the 
cost  of  producing  fall  pigs  as  compared  to  spring  pigs. 

Investigations  are  conducted  with  the  college  flock  of  sheep. 
The  principal  experiment  in  progress  at  this  time  is  to  determine 
the  cost  of  maintaining  breeding  ewes  and  to  secure  information 
concerning  the  best  ration  for  lamb  and  wool  production. 

Department  of  Botany. 

The  experimental  work  of  the  Department  of  Botany  has  been 
conducted  chiefly  along  the  line  of  plant  pathology.  The  reason  for 
this  is  the  great  economic  importance  of  this  line  of  investigation 
The  chief  activities  have  been  directed  to  the  problems  represented 
by  the  following  projects.  Results  within  the  year  upon  the  first 
two  projects  are  especially  gratifying,  and  it  is  believed  that  prac- 
tical information  can  soon  be  furnished  to  the  people  of  the  btate 

on  these  subjects. 

Collar  Blight.— This  is  locally  known  as  "collar-rot  and  was 
first  reported  in  this  State  in  1907,  since  which  time  it  has  been 
under  investigation.  It  is  now  widespread  in  this  State,  as  well  as 
in  neighboring  states,  and  is  one  of  the  worst  diseases  with  which 
our  orchardists  have  to  contend.  It  is  characterized  by  a  progres- 
sive death  of  the  bark  above  and  below  the  ground  line,  often  ex- 


tending  to  the  root-system.  Young  trees,  from  eight  to  fifteen  years 
old,  are  especially  susceptible.  No  varieties  appear  to  be  entirely 
resistant.  Inoculations  indicate  that  the  fire  blight  organism  (Bacil- 
lus amylovorus)  is  constantly  associated  with  it.  This  disease  is, 
therefore,  but  one  of  the  several  effects  produced  by  the  blight  organ- 
ism, the  others  being  twig  blight,  blossom  blight,  and  limb  cankers. 
The  apple  tree  borer  has  been  found  to  be  associated  with  the  dis- 
ease and  is  probably  one  of  the  most  active  agents  in  the  spread  of 
the  causal  organism.  Control  measures  by  the  cutting  out  method 
are  practical  during  the  early  stages  of  attack. 

Winter  Blight  of  Tomatoes. — This  is  a  disease  of  tomatoes 
grown  under  glass ;  it  has  been  under  observation  in  the  vicinity  of 
Kennett  Square,  Pennsylvania,  since  the  winter  of  1910.  The  trou- 
ble is  very  similar  to  what  is  known  as  mosaic,  and  the  most  con- 
spicuous symptoms  are  the  curling,  spotting,  and  dying  of  the 
leaves.  Our  recent  results  indicate  that  the  trouble  is  chiefly  one  of 
malnutrition,  and  that  by  a  modification  of  the  present  treatment 
of  the  soil  and  greenhouse  management,  it  can  be  largely  overcome. 
The  association  of  a  casual  organism  is  still  somewhat  uncertain, 
but  it  seems  likely  in  any  event  that  control  measures  may  be  di- 
vided. 

Smoke  and  Soot  Investigations. — As  a  result  of  a  co-operative 
arrangement  with  the  University  of  Pittsburgh,  some  valuable  ob- 
servations have  been  made  concerning  the  effect  of  smoke  and  soot 
upon  vegetation. .  Many  inquiries  are  received  seeking  information 
upon  this  subject.  We  now  have  a  nucleus  from  which  to  work,  in- 
cluding lists  of  native  and  introduced  plants  which  thrive  well  in 
spite  of  smoke  and  gases,  and  those  which  do  not. 

Plant  Disease  Survey. — A  most  valuable  work  is  being  car- 
ried on  from  year  to  year  regarding  the  occurrence  and  distribution 
'  of  plant  diseases.  Especial  attention  is  given  to  new  and  unusual 
pests.  This  not  only  will  form  an  important  guide  for  the  selection 
of  problems  in  the  future  but  might  form  the  basis  of  a  valuable 
publication  for  distribution  to  the  people  of  the  State. 

Department  of  Dairy  Husbandry. 

For  four  years,  the  Dairy  Husbandry  Department  has  been  ex- 
perimenting on  the  need  of  housing  cows  in  winter.  For  the  pur- 
pose, two  groups  of  cows  of  equal  number,  and  as  nearly  similar  in 
all  particulars  as  possible,  have  been  selected.  One  group  has  been 
kept  in  a  shed  open  on  one  side  only,  and  the  other  group  has  been 
housed  in  a  barn  typical  of  central  Pennsylvania.  The  feeds  have 
been  of  the  same  kind,  and  have  been  fed  in  proportion  to  the 
amount  of  milk  given  by  the  cows.  This  experiment  will  be  tried 
agam  in  the  new  barn,  now  in  process  of  construction,  and  an  open 
shed,  before  the  final  conclusions  are  drawn.  It  may  be  tentatively 
said  that,  contrary  to  expectations,  the  food  of  a  dairy  cow  seems  to 
provide  her  with  sufficient  warmth,  and  to  enable  her  to  produce  a 
medium  amount  of  milk. 

An  experiment  was  recently  started  with  a  view  to  the  study  of 
dairy  herd  management  subjects.    Figures  on  every  item  of  cost  in 


77 

dairy  herd  management  are  being  compiled.  As  a  result  of  a  col- 
lection of  data  covering  a  series  of  years,  it  will  be  possible  to  sub- 
mit average  figures  for  the  various  factors  of  cost  in  herd  man- 
agement, such  as  bedding,  labor,  raising  of  calves,  food,  and  amount 
of  depreciation. 

Mechanical  cow  milkers  have  been  under  experiment  for  a 
number  of  years.  Some  of  the  problems  considered  are  the  number 
of  bacteria  in  hand-  and  machine-drawn  milk,  the  effect  of  ma- 
chines on  cows,  the  efficiency  of  the  machines,  and  the  actual  saving 
of  labor. 

In  the  hope  of  demonstrating  the  practicability  or  desirability 
of  feeding  silage  alone  as  roughage  to  dairy  cows,  an  experiment  is 
in  progress  in  which  one  group  of  animals  receives  silage  only,  while 
another  receives  hay  and  silage.  Two  lots  are  being  fed  grain  ra- 
tions consisting  of  the  two  feeds  corn  and  cob  meal  and  cottonseed 
meal  during  one  period,  these  feeds  being  alternated  to  a  ration  of 
four  grains  in  order  to  study  the  effect  of  variety. 

Experimental  Agricultural  Chemistry. 

The  Department  of  Experimental  Agricultural  Chemistry  is 
charged  with  the  analytical  work  connected  with  the  fertilizer  con- 
trol, and  with  a  portion  of  that  relating  to  the  work  of  the  Dairy 
and  Food  Commissioner ;  this  work  is  performed  under  contractual 
relations  between  the  Experiment  Station  and  the  State  Department 
of  Agriculture.  A  very  large  fraction  of  the  working  time  of  the 
Department  of  Experimental  Agricultural  Chemistry  has  been  de- 
voted to  such  work,  but  it  has,  nevertheless,  performed  in  addition 
a  very  considerable  volume  of  experiments  upon  a  variety  of  sub- 
jects, involving  the  relations  of  chemistry  to  agriculture.  It  has.  for 
example,  made  an  extensive  study  of  the  limestone  resources  of  the 
State,  particularly  with  relation  to  the  composition  of  the  limestone 
developed  in  various  localities. 

Attention  will  be  here  confined  to  two  lines  of  work  conducted 
by  this  department : 

1.  A  study  of  the  influence  of  fineness  of  grinding  of  limestone 
upon  its  value  as  a  soil  amendment  in  substitution  for  lime. 

2.  Tobacco  experiments,  which  are  made  under  special  appro- 
priations, in  co-operation  with  the  organized  tobacco  growers'  so- 
cieties in  the  various  principal  tobacco  producing  counties  of  the 
Commonwealth:  the  direction  of  these  experiments  is,  by  law, 
vested  in  the  Experiment  Station,  and  placed  in  chargre  of  the  De- 
partment of  Experimental  Agricultural  Chemistry.  During  recent 
years  the  station  has  had  the  valuable  co-operation  of  the  United 
States  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry  in  this  work. 

Experiments  on  the  influence  of  fineness  of  limestone  upon  its 
value  in  neutralizing  sour  soils :  Since  the  use  of  crushed  limestone 
has  come  again  prominentlv  to  the  attention  of  the  agricultural  pub- 
lic, there  has  been  a  great'  diversity  of  judgment  as  to  the  fineness 
to  which  the  stone  should  be  reduced,  to  enable  it  to  produce  the 
best  and  most  economical  effect.  Thus  some  writers  in  other  sta- 
tions have  commended  only  such  material  as  would  pass  an  eighty- 


78 

mesh  sieve,  that  is,  particles  of  not  more  than  one-eightieth  inch  in 
diameter,  while  the  National  Association  of  Lime  Manufacturers  at 
first  proposed  as  a  standard  a  material  of  fineness  of  one-tenth  inch 
in  diameter,  and  Doctor  Hopkins,  of  the  Illinois  Station,  has  very 
strongly  advised  the  use,  in  large  amounts,  of  rather  coarse  crushed 
limestone.    This  advice  appears  to  be  based  upon  the  idea  that  the 
fine  material  of  the  limestone  would  be  immediately  available,  and 
the  coarser  material  would  later  come  into  use  with  sufficient  ra- 
pidity to  make  the  investment  in  such  coarse  limestone  particles  an 
economical  one.    This  department  has  made  siftings  of  rather  coarse 
crushed  stone,  and  finds  that  not  more  than  one-third  is,  as  a  rule, 
fine  enough  to  pass  a  sixty-mesh  sieve,  and  sometimes  very  much 
less  than  this  fraction  is  of  such  fineness.     Since  the  freight  and 
hauling  costs  constitute  such  an  important  element  of  the  cost,  it 
seemed  wise  to  make  a  careful  study  of  the  efficiency  of  the  lime- 
stone as  related  to  its  degree  of  fineness.    Accordingly,  in  191 2- 13, 
the  department  made  an  experiment  of  this  kind,  the  experiment 
being  planned  along  lines  proposed  by  Doctor  William  Frear,  and 
conducted  by  Walter  Thomas,  B.S.,  Assistant  Chemist.     The  stone 
employed  was  the  Trenton  limestone  obtained  from  the  Bellefonte 
quarries.     This  was  very  carefully  sifted  to  diflferent  degrees  of 
fineness,  each  grade  being  washed,  so  that  the  adherent  dust  was 
removed.     The  soil  used  for  the  experiments  was  a  portion  taken 
from  Plat  32  of  the  General  Fertilizer  Series,  which  had  become  in- 
tensely acid,  as  a  result  of  the  continued  use  of  ammonium  sulphate 
fertilizer  for  thirty  years.    The  experiment  was  made  in  pots,  under 
carefully  conducted  conditions.     The  results  are  briefly  stated  as 
follows,  in  terms  of  the  yields  of  the  dry  clover : 

Weight  of 

Dry  Clover 

(Grams). 

Receiving  no  limestone,   

Receiving  limestone,  1-20  to  1-40  in., .58 

Receiving  limestone,  1-40  to  1-60  in., 2.87 

Receiving  limestone,  1-60  to  1-80  in., 3.79 

Receiving  limestone,  1-80  to  i-ioo  in 4.60 

Limestone  less  than  i-ioo  in., 4.86 

This  experiment  is,  of  course,  not  conclusive  for  the  more  por- 
ous limestones,  but  for  compact  stone,  such  as  was  here  employed, 
it  seems  safe  to  conclude  that  a  material  coarser  than  one-fortieth 
inch  has  comparatively  little  value,  and  that  the  cost  of  reducing  to 
one-sixtieth  inch  in  fineness  is  quite  sufficiently  compensated  by 
crop  increase,  and  that  with  the  further  increase  in  fineness  there  is 
distinct  gain  in  eflFect ;  but  it  is  not  so  clear  that  the  increases  are 
sufficient  to  warrant  the  additional  cost  of  pulverization.  Unfortu- 
nately, distinct  data  as  to  these  additional  costs  are  not  in  hand,  so 
that  no  close  conclusions  upon  that  point  can  be  made.  These  data, 
added  to  the  observations  made,  particularly  in  France,  where  the 
relations  of  the  fineness  of  limestone  in  the  soil  to  the  production  of 
chlorosis  in  the  grape,  have  been  extensively  studied,  indicate  that 
we  can  expect  no  large  return  from  coarse  limestone  particles  within 


79 

any  very  brief  time,  particularly  if  the  limestone  particles  are  com- 
pact. They  also  indicate  that,  at  ruling  prices,  it  would  be  more 
safely  economical  to  purchase  for  purposes  of  soil  neutralization, 
only  such  stone  as  shall  have  been  ground  to  a  fineness  of  one- 
sixtieth  inch. 

Tobacco  Experiments. — Experiments  under  the  auspices  above 
indicated,  have  been  in  progress  for  about  twenty  years,  chiefly  in 
Lancaster  County ;  although  for  several  years,  the  existence  of  a 
tobacco  growers'  organization  in  Bradford  County  made  some  co- 
operative work  in  that  county  possible.  During  these  earlier  years, 
two  questions  proposed  by  the  Lancaster  County  tobacco  growers' 
association,  were  made  the  principal  subjects  of  study,  namely,  the 
adaptation  of  commercial  fertilizers  to  tobacco  growing,  and  the 
possibilities  and  cost  of  production  of  shade-grown  Sumatra  type 
wrapper  tobacco.  These  very  carefully  checked  experiments  led  to 
valuable  results,  but  owing  to  space  limitations,  these  results  will 
not  be  here  detailed.  Under  present  conditions  of  tobacco  culture  in 
Lancaster  County,  these  facts  appear : 

1.  That  the  seed  leaf  or  broadleaf  variety  is  well  established 
and  largely  preferred  because  of  its  yields, 

2.  Its  use  is  almost  entirely  for  making  cigar  fillers,  since  the 
coarseness  of  the  leaf  and  leaf  veins  is  too  great  to  make  the  average 
product  valuable  for  either  binder  or  wrapper  purposes. 

3.  That  there  is  an  established  market  for  this  product,  be- 
cause of  the  excellence  of  the  burn  and  the  mildness  of  the  flavor 
and  aroma  characteristic  of  the  tobacco  grown  in  Lancaster  County. 

4.  That  under  present  conditions  of  tobacco  selling,  there  is 
prospect  of  greater  gain  to  the  grower  from  increase  in  crop  quan- 
tity than  from  modification  in  crop  quality, 

5.  A  study  of  the  costs  of  production  was  made  on  a  number  of 
farms,  and  it  indicated  quite  clearly  that  the  farmers  who  were 
making  the  greatest  profit  per  acre  were  those  who,  while  giving 
good  attention  to  other  points,  were  laying  particular  stress  upon 
the  care  and  the  selection  of  the  seed  used.  The  station,  therefore, 
undertook  a  line  of  experiments,  having  in  view  the  improvement  of 
crop  yield  by  seed  selection.  The  purpose  was,  by  careful  observa- 
tion in  the  field,  to  discover  such  strains  as  exhibited  superiority  in 
vigor  and  growth ;  resistance  to  disease ;  uprightness  of  habit ; 
satisfactoriness  of  leaf  form  and  excellence  of  curing  quality.  Ob- 
servations were  made  upon  seventeen  carefully  selected  farms.  As 
a  result,  upward  of  twenty  strains  were  selected  for  comparison 
under  like  conditions  of  growth.  The  selection  was  necessarily 
made  before  topping,  so  that  the  possibility  of  cross-fertilization 
should  be  excluded.  For  several  years  past,  the  seed  from  these 
selected  plants,  and  from  their  carefully  selected  oflfspring,  kept 
pure  as  above  indicated,  have  been  grown  under  like  conditions  of 
fertilizer  treatment,  cultivation,  topping  and  curing.  The  result  has 
been  the  discovery  of  two  or  three  strains  which  have,  on  the 
lands  upon  which  the  tests  have  been  made,  given  yields  of  from 
300  to  800  pounds  per  acre  more  than  some  others  of  the  selected 
strains ;  and  have  retained  their  excellence  of  leaf  form,  resistance 
to  disease  and  drought,  erectness  of  habit,  uniformity  of  leaf  upon 


8o 

the  stalk,  and  curing  quality.  Two  of  these  may  be  mentioned: 
the  strains  known  as  the  Slaughter  and  Hostetter  strains  of  the 
broadleaf  variety.  Numerous  other  strains  have  been  dropped  from 
the  test,  because  they  have  shown  one  or  more  defects,  such  as 
diminution  of  vigor,  leading  to  diminished  yield;  susceptibility  to 
rust  and  calico;  low  resistance  to  drought;  development  of  unde- 
sirable leaf  form;  too  close  setting  of  the  leaves  upon  the  stalk, 
so  that  exposure  to  the  sun  was  too  greatly  reduced;  too  small 
number  of  leaves  per  stalk;  and,  particularly  in  one  case,  great 
liability  to  pole  burn  during  curing  was  observed.  The  station  has 
distributed  many  parcels  of  cured  seed  of  these  varieties  sufficient 
for  introduction  to  the  farms  of  Lancaster  and  adjacent  counties. 

Certain  differences  of  crop  yield  were  shown  by  the  same  va- 
riety when  grown  upon  two  different  soils  under  exactly  the  same 
conditions  of  growth,  and  experiments  are  now  in  progress  to  ascer- 
tain whether  or  not  these  varieties  are  widely  adaptable  to  the  vari- 
ous soil  types  upon  which  tobacco  is  now  grown  in  Lancaster  Coun- 
ty. If  they  so  prove,  it  would  appear  that,  by  the  adoption  and 
maintenance  in  good  type  of  these  strains,  the  acre  yield  of  tobacco 
could  be  improved  by  one-seventh  or  one-eighth  of  the  present  aver- 
age, certainly  a  very  material  gain  without  additional  cost  to  the 
producer,  except  the  extra  precautions  to  keep  his  seed  pure,  and  to 
use  only  heavier  and  more  vigorous  seeds  in  his  seed-bed. 

Correlated  with  these  experiments  are  other  experiments  now 
in  progress  in  Clinton  County,  to  ascertain  the  adaptation  of  river 
bottom  lands  to  filler,  wrapper,  and  binder  tobaccos :  and  also  upon 
the  shaley  lands  of  York  County,  to  find  the  cause  of  and  to  remedy 
the  deficient  burn  in  that  section.  Numerous  other  investigations 
have  been  made  upon  the  influence  of  time  of  topping  upon  the  leaf 
spacing  upon  the  tobacco  stalk;  influence  of  suckering  upon  the 
cost  and  yield ;  relative  cost  of  priming  and  stalk  harvesting,  etc. 

Department  of  Experimental  Pomology. 

This  department  is  engaged  exclusively  in  investigations  of  the 
principal  problems  connected  with  the  production  of  tree  fruits.  In 
particular,  it  is  endeavoring  to  find  out  for  Pennsylvania  just  what 
methods  of  fertilization,  soil  management,  spraying,  etc.,  will  gen- 
erally give  best  results  in  both  quantity  and  quality  of  product ;  and 
also  what  varieties,  cover-crops,  and  methods  of  propagation  are 
generally  best.  The  experiments  of  the  department  are  located 
m  the  leading  fruit  sections  of  the  State,  and  in  a  thirty-three  acre 
orchard  planted  at  the  college  in  1908.  Altogether,  ten  soil  types 
and  more  than  3,600  trees  are  definitely  under  experiment,  and  they 
have  produced  over  40,000  bushels  of  fruit  since  the  work  was 
started.  These  experiments  have  attracted  wide  attention,  and 
have  been  visited  by  a  number  of  the  leading  horticulturists  of  both 
Europe  and  America,  as  well  as  by  many  orchardists  of  the  State. 

As  to  practical  results,  we  may  mention  the  development  of  a 
satisfactory,  general  formula  for  the  fertilization  of  an  apple  or- 
chard, and  a  plan  for  local  adjustment  of  the  formula  to  the  exact 
conditions  involved.     This  general  formula  calls  for  about  thirty 


81 

pounds  of  actual  nitrogen,  fifty  pounds  of  actual  phosphoric  acid 
(P2O5),  and  from  25  to  50  pounds  of  nitrogen  (KjO),  the  quantity 
of  the  latter  depending  on  the  apparent  need  for  it.  The  nitrogen  is 
probably  best  carried  in  a  combination  of  100  pounds  of  nitrate  of 
soda  and  150  pounds  of  dried  blood.  The  carriers  for  the  other 
materials  are  apparently  less  important ;  any  standard  carriers  may 
be  used.  The  above  amounts  are  advised  for  an  acre  of  bearing 
trees ;  for  younger  trees  they  may  be  reduced  approximately  in  pro- 
portion to  the  reduction  in  area  of  soil  covered.  The  best  time  of 
application  is  probably  after  the  fruit  is  set,  but  not  later  than  the 
first  of  July.  In  all  cases  a  few  typical  trees  should  be  left  without 
fertilization  in  order  to  determine  whether  the  application  is  of  serv- 
ice. This  general  fertilizer  is  now  proving  remarkably  beneficial  in 
the  orchards  of  a  number  of  growers,  especially  in  the  western  part 
of  the  State,  and  similar  applications  in  our  experiments  have  re- 
sulted in  gains  ranging  from  50  to  370  bushels  ,per  acre,  annually, 
during  the  past  five  or  six  years. 

This  department  has  developed  the  method  of  preparing  and  di- 
luting the  concentrated  lime-sulphur  spray,  which  is  now  considered 
the  standard  over  nearly  the  entire  country.  It  has  also  devised  a 
new  type  of  lime-sulphur  strainer  and  other  equipment  designed  to 
reduce  the  labor  and  difficulties  formerly  connected  with  spraying 
operations. 

The  experiments  of  the  department  are  also  developing  the  fact 
that  in  the  early  stages  of  the  average  apple  orchard  the  conserva- 
tion of  moisture  is  generally  more  important  than  plant  food.  They 
are  also  showing  that  this  conservation  is  best  accomplished  by 
means  of  definite  vegetative  mulches.  Where  such  mulches  are  not 
available,  however,  the  next  best  method  is  tillage.  Cover-crops  in 
orchards  have  not  yet  proved  as  valuable  as  might  be  expected  from 
theoretical  considerations.  As  apple  trees  grow  older,  however, 
the  cover  crops  seem  to  become  more  valuable,  and  the  same  is  true 
of  fertilization. 


Department  of  Horticulture. 

The  experimental  work  of  the  Department  of  Horticulture  is 
being  confined  chiefly  to  truck  crops — cabbage,  tomatoes,  and  as- 
paragus. During  the  past  five  years,  extensive  strain  tests  with  the 
leading  varieties  of  cabbage  (Plate  4,  Fig.  i)  and  tomatoes,  have 
been  conducted.  These  tests  have  shown  that  important  variations 
exist  among  strains  of  many  well-known  varieties,  and  that  in  some 
instances  these  variations  represent  a  money  value  of  more  than 
one  hundred  dollars  per  acre  in  the  case  of  cabbage,  and  an  amount 
nearly  equal  to  that  sum  in  the  case  of  tomatoes.  Bulletins  giving 
the  results  of  experiments  with  each  crop  have  been  published.  The 
strain-test  experiment  showed  the  importance  of  variations  within 
varieties,  and  it  has  since  led  to  the  institution  of  breeding  experi- 
ments for  the  purpose  of  determining  fundamental  principles  in- 
volved in  the  production  of  high-grade  seed  as  well  as  the  develop- 
ment of  improved  varieties  of  cabbage  and  tomatoes.  This  work  is 
not  sufficiently  advanced  to  permit  specific  statements  concerning  it, 


82 

but  the  data  thus  far  secured  promise  to  be  of  scientific  as  well  as 
economic  value.  The  work  with  asparagus  has  been  in  the  direction 
of  a  variety  test  which  was  established  in  1908.  The  test  has  in- 
cluded Bonvalet  Giant,  Conover  Colossal,  Barr  Mammoth,  Colum- 
bian Mammoth,  Dreer  Eclipse,  and  Palmetto.  The  financial  re- 
turns from  the  crop  of  these  several  varieties  have  varied  from  four 
hundred  and  thirty-nine  dollars  per  acre,  as  in  the  case  of  Columbian 
Mammoth,  to  six  hundred  and  seventeen  dollars  per  acre  received 
for  Palmetto. 

Another  interesting  experiment  with  asparagus  was  established 
for  the  purpose  of  determining  the  value  of  grading  the  crowns 
when  transplanted.  The  crowns  were  graded  into  three  sizes,  and 
from  the  beginning  the  differences  have  been  quite  pronounced 
The  records  of  harvesting  for  the  past  season  show  that  there  was 
a  difference  of  $155.00  per  acre  in  gross  receipts  from  the  small 
and  large  size  crowns.  The  rule  to  be  applied  is  that,  if  one  desires 
to  establish  an  asparagus  plantation,  he  should  secure  about  three 
times  as  many  crowns  as  will  be  needed  and  then  use  only  the  best. 
Some  experiments  are  being  conducted  for  the  purpose  of  develop- 
ing disease  resistant  strains  of  asparagus,  but  they  are  not  suffi- 
ciently advanced  to  justify  recommendations  at  this  time. 

For  student  practicum  work  in  vegetable  growing  see  Plate  4 
Fig.  2.  00^, 


BUSINESS  SESSION. 


The  regular  annual  business  session  of  the  Association  con- 
vened in  the  Court  House  at  7:30  P.  M.,  Wednesday,  Tanuarv  21 
1914.    President  Creasy  in  the  chair. 

The  Chair  hvaing  ruled  that  nominations  for  officers  be  made 
from  the  floor,  the  following  were  nominated. 

President:  C.  J.  Tyson  and  E.  A.  Weimer.  (3)  Vice-Presi- 
dents: Dr.  I.  H.  Mayer,  F.  H.  Fassett,  W.  J.  Lewis.  Secretary: 
J.  A.  Runk.    Treasurer:   Edwin  W.  Thomas. 

There  being  only  the  required  number  of  nominees  for  Vice- 
Presidents,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  the  Secretary  was  instructed 
to  case  the  ballot  for  the  above  named  officers  and  they  were  de- 
clared elected. 

There  being  two  nominees  for  President,  the  Association  pro- 

""1     a/^^!'^"''^'  ^^^  I^'"^*  ^^^"^'  ^-  J-  '^y^o"'  132;   E.  A.  Weimer, 
3».    Mr.  lyson  was  declared  elected  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Two  proposed  amendments  to  the  constitution  had  been  duly 
presented  in  writing,  included  in  the  notice  of  meeting  and  con- 
sidered by  the  Executive  Board.  The  Board  gave  them  both  favor- 
able consideration  and  voted  to  refer  them  to  the  meeting  for  deci- 
sion. Both  amendments  were  fully  considered  and  discussed  and 
both  hnally  carried  as  follows  : 

Amendment  to  Article  II,  making  the  Annual  Dues  two  dollars 
(S2.00)  and  the  Life  Membership,  twenty  dollars  ($2000) 
Amendment  to  Article  VI,  adding  the  following: 
"The  regular  meetings  of  the  Association  shall  be  closed  to  all 


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Fjg.  I.  Strain  tests  of  early  cabbage  conducted  by  Department  of  Horticulture  of 

The  Pennsylvania  State  College. 


P'lG.  2.    Intercropping  of  vegetables  in  student  gardens  at  The  Pennsylvania  State 

College. 

PLATE  4. 


82 

hut  tlic  data  thus  far  scoured  promise  to  he  of  scieiitifie  as  well  as 
economic  value.  The  work  with  asparagus  has  heen  in  the  direction 
of  a  variety  test  which  was  estahlished  in  I90(S.  The  test  has  in- 
cluded Bonvalet  Giant,  Conover  Colossal.  Barr  :\Tammoth,  Colum- 
bian Mammoth.  Dreer  Eclipse,  and  Palmetto.  The  financial  re- 
turns from  the  crop  of  these  several  varieties  have  varied  from  four 
hundred  and  thirty-nine  dollars  per  acre,  as  in  the  case  of  Columbian 
Mammoth,  to  six  hundred  and  seventeen  dollars  per  acre  received 
for  Palmetto. 

Another  interesting  experiment  with  asparagus  was  established 
for  the  purpose  of  determining  the  value  of  grading  the  crowns 
when  transplanted.     The  crowns  were  graded  into  three  sizes,  and 
from   the  begimiing  the   differences   have  been   quite   pronounced. 
I  he  records  of  harvesting  for  the  past  season  show  that  there  was 
a  difference  of  $155.00  per  acre  in  gross  receipts  from  the  small 
and  large  size  crowns.    The  rule  to  be  applied  is  that,  if  one  desires 
to  establish  an  asparagus  plantation,  he  should  secure  about  three 
times  as  many  crowns  as  will  be  needed  and  then  use  only  the  best. 
Some  experiments  are  being  conducted  for  the  purpose  o'f  develop- 
mg  disease  resistant  strains  of  asparagus,  but  they  are  not  sufli- 
ciently  advanced  to  justify  recommendations  at  this  time. 
^      I'^or  student  practicum  work  in  vegetable  growing  see  Plate  a 
hig.  2.  ^' 


BUSINESS  SESSION. 


The  regular  annual  business  session  of  the  A^'^nciation   con- 
vened m  the  Court  House  at  7:30  P.  M.,  Wednesday.  January  21 
1914.  ^  President  Creasy  in  the  chair. 

The  Chair  hvaing  ruled  that  nominations  for  officers  be  made 
from  the  floor,  the  fc^llowing  were  nominated. 

President:  C.  J.  Tyson  and  E.  A.  Weimer.  (^)  \'ice-Presi- 
dents:  Dr.  I.  II.  Mayer.  F.  11.  Fassett.  W.  J.  Lewis.  Secretary: 
J.  A.  Runk.     Jreasurer:    Edwin  W.  Thomas.' 

There  being  only  the  required  number  of  nominees  for  \'ice- 
President>.  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  the  Secretarv  was  instructed 
to  case  the  ballot  for  the  above  named  officers  and  thev  were  de- 
clared elected. 

There  being  twr>  nominees  for  President,  the  Association  pro- 

'^'^^^l  *''>^^"^'  ^^'^  '""'''^^  ''^'"^-  ^-  J-  '^vson.  132:  E.  A.  Weimer. 
3JS.    Mr.  J  yson  was  declared  elected  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Two  proposed  amendments  to  the  constitution  had  been  dulv 
presented  in  writing,  included  in  the  notice  of  meeting  and  o^ti- 
sidered  by  the  Executive  Board.  The  Board  gave  them  both  favor- 
able consideration  and  voted  to  refer  them  to  the  meeting  for  deci- 
sion. Both  amendments  were  fullv  considered  and  discussed  and 
both  finally  carried  as  follows  : 

Amendment  to  Article  11.  making  the  Annual  Dues  two  dollars 
(S2.00)  and  the  Life  Membership,  twentv  dollars  (S2000) 

Amendment  to  Article  \T,  adding  the  following: 

"The  regular  meetings  of  the  Association  shall  be  clo.sed  to  all 


l-*u..    I.   Str.-iiii   tt-t>  of  tarl\    laliliaj^r  (.•••iidiuifd  1>\    I  )i'|iartiiu  iit   ^>{   I  li)rti(.ulturr   of 

Tilt-   !'(  nn^\  Ivania   State-  (."<illci:c. 


L> 


'^■V-., 


i'i'^^P^^ 


^j,iJf^m»>-'-^^r-^  ■    1 


4.x  >>  •> 


ih-^^ 


I'K..  -'.     Iimrcrdiiiiiii}^  lif   vt.^vtalik>   in  stu(kiii   j^.ardiiis  at   Tlir    Pt  iiiisv  K  ania   State 

L't'Ikgr. 


INTENTIONAL  2ND  EXPOSURE 


83 

persons,  except  paid  up  members,  speakers,  delegates  from  associa- 
tions outside  of  Pennsylvania,  all  ladies  and  the  minor  sons  of  mem- 
bers." 

Certificate  was  received  for  Walter  Scott,  of  Cranbury,  N.  J., 
as  a  delegate  of  the  New  Jersey  State  Association.  His  presence 
was  most  acceptable. 

After  discussing  the  financial  condition  of  the  Association  the 
session  adjourned. 


COVER  CROPS  FOR  THE  ORCHARD. 


F.  H.  Fassett,  Meshoppen,  Pa. 

The  subject  assigned  me,  "Cover  Crops  for  the  Orchard,"  is  a 
very  important  one.  Naturally,  the  first  question  that  suggests  itself 
is  tillage  plus  cover  crops,  vs.  the  mulch  system.  Without  entering 
into  a  discussion  of  the  two  systems,  I  want  to  say  that  from  my 
observations  all  over  the  State,  and  from  my  own  experience,  I 
believe  the  tillage  and  cover  crop  system  is  the  best,  especially  for 
the  bearing  orchards. 

In  considering  the  question  of  a  cover  crop,  the  first  thing  to 
determine  is  what  do  we  expect  to  accomplish  with  them.  My  ob- 
servations of  the  orchard  conditions  lead  me  to  believe  that  in  most 
orchards  nitrogen  is  the  crop  limiter,  and  the  experiments  of  Dr. 
Stewart  clinches  this  belief,  as  in  every  case  when  nitrogen  was  ap- 
plied, whether  in  the  form  of  commercial  fertilizer  or  barnyard 
manure,  some  wonderful  results  were  obtained. 

Then  the  question  naturally  arises,  what  is  the  best  means  to 
obtain  this  element  ?  To  my  mind  it  points  strongly  to  the  use  of  a 
leguminous  cover  crop.  If  we  can  obtain  the  nitrogen  by  the  use 
of  these  cover  crops,  it  looks  to  me  as  though  this  was  the  cheapest 
source,  and  when  we  get  the  nitrogen  in  this  form  I  believe  it  is  the 
best  possible  form  for  the  use  of  our  trees. 

The  question  of  what  shall  we  use  for  a  cover  crop,  we  realize 
that  there  are  so  many  diflferent  soils  and  so  many  diflFerent  climatic 
conditions  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  name  any  one  crop  that 
would  be  the  best  for  all  parts  of  the  State.  We  have  a  number  that 
are  good.  Among  the  best  are  hairy  or  winter  vetch,  crimson  clover, 
soy  beans,  cow  peas  and  the  common  red  clovers.  Some  of  them 
may  be  used  in  a  combination.  Vetch  and  mammoth  red  clover 
makes  a  good  combination,  eight  pounds  of  red  clover,  twenty 
pounds  vetch  to  the  acre.  Rye  and  vetch  make  another  good  com- 
bination, twenty  to  twenty-five  pounds  of  vetch  and  one-half  to 
three-fourth  bushels  of  rye.  I  especially  recommend  the  last  in  or- 
chards where  vetch  has  not  been  grown. 

Cover  crops  have  not  been  given  a  fair  show.  Too  many  times 
most  orchards  are  so  depleted  in  fertility  that  they  are  unable  to 
grow  a  crop  that  amounts  to  anything.  It  ought  not  to  be  called 
a  cover  crop  until  we  get  our  orchards  in  such  a  condition  that  we 
can  grow  at  least  one  ton  or  more  to  the  acre,  then  we  will  be  able 
to  see  the  benefit  of  the  cover  crop  system. 


84 

There  are  some  reasons  why  we  orefer  thf  >,»f^i,      a 

rL'^Teenitrnt  ^^^'^T'?^"^  '«' 

none  of  the  othirs 3!  germlnfte  It  take,  I^'"  "-1  '°  t^  *''^t 
other.    The  onlv  thinir  f^Jnlf  ;»  '  .  ^l  '^^f  mo'sture  than  any 

and  yet  we  bS t^ayf  tTuse  T"^  *°  "^  *^  '^°''  °'  '"«  -<«■ 

and  to  my 'S'^fharfs^'the  *"'*  f't  '°^^^  •<^^°P  ''^'P^  «=  »"  ^o've, 
to-day.  Tha7  "s  'the  con  rn^nr;„-i'^''  ^T'''°"  *^t  ~"f'-°"t=  "s 
big  question  for  orchards  Lttn^  "'°'-i''-'  ^"V'  ''  ""*  °"'y  » 
thlt  confront    everyliller  of  th^  ^Tl  "'"''  "  "  "'^  :!:."=''  •J"«'i°" 

arises,  how  best  c7n 'w:%°!.tfo  Th  'gr^^tment'^t  7"'°". 
soil  moisture.     Lareelv  berausp  «,»  t^^    t    element— the  loss  of 

all  the  vegetable  matter    or  h?,n^,c       u-  l"""^^  °"'  °^  ""'  ^oil 

of  the  moisture.  Of^lardist,  that  of  nitrogen  and  conservation 

soil.  I'tent'cllmaHc'cond-tio  ='"''^."^','  '''^  <^°'««'--.  -^  h- 
suited  foTl^is  nee^^but  dZ'  V    ;,  ^"''  f "'  "'^  "^"^^  "°P  b^st 

yourorchard  in  suci,  a  conditon°"th^r"  ''"  '^''""  ""'"  y°"  ^ave 
crop.  condition  that  you  can  grow  a  good  heavy 

use  therto' checHrowth  in1h/°'  '  ^^","5?-     We  sometimes 

For  the  purpose  of  checking  growth   oats  mpkp«  a„  .      n     . 
crop:  sow  about  three  bushels  per  fere  about  the  fir.ftn^l,i^?' 

of  August     They  will  demand  from  [he  so    the  olant  fonH    '"^''.1,'" 
moisture,  because  thev  arp  ,  r,.,i,  tne  plant  food  and  the 

betochecktheTrowthand.IInT^.,^''""'^'''  ^"^  "'^  '*"''^"<=y  will 
winter  in  good  sliTpT  "''  "'°°''  '°  "P^"  "P  ='"d  ?»  into 

CounVTnV Mr'H:rsre';''o''f'H J"  f"^  ''^  ^'-  '^"''''  "^  ^dams 
the  .criminous  cov^eHX';  in  t^e  p^fcHrch-arT"'  '°  ''^  "'^  °^ 

shoJ"a„dT'rrs"uri  yrUn  be^^omf  aVLTb^^^"''^  -^  r'' 
as  I  am.  become  as  tirm  a  believer  in  them 

Discussion. 
Question.-How  about  sweet  clover  as  a  cover  crop? 

Penn^yWania''"-^  ^^  ""'  ^"^^  °^  '""^^  ^-P^^ience  with  it  in 


85 
Dr.  Mayer.— What  is  the  cost  of  hairy  vetch  ? 

Mr.  Fassett.— I  sow  about  30  lbs.  to  the  acre  and  it  costs 
around  10  cents  per  lb.,  a  little  more  expensive  than  some  other 
covers  but  then  it  is  a  sure  crop. 

Question. — When  do  you  sow  hairy  vetch? 

Mr.  Fassett.— I  sow  it  in  July  or  August  but  it  can  be  sown 

much  later.     In  fact  one  of  the  strong  points  in  its  favor  is  the 

tact  that  It  can  be  sown  later  than  almost  any  other  cover  crop 

except  rye.  *^ 

Mr.  Creasy.— Do  you  think  crimson  clover  could  be  made 
hardy  in  the  north  by  saving  seed  there  year  after  year  ? 

Mr.  Fassett.— It  is  entirely  possible  that  it  might. 

Mr.  D.  M.  Minnick.— We  have  an  orchard  in  Lycoming 
Lounty  and  have  had  some  very  good  results  with  crimson  clover 
and  orchard  grass  sown  together,  especially  on  hilly  ground  that 
IS  inclined  to  wash. 

Question.— Is  it  really  possible  to  get  a  good  stand  of  crimson 
clover  in  a  heavy,  first-class  crop  of  corn?  We  have  tried  it 
and  have  about  decided  that  it  is  better  to  grow  one  thing  at  a 
time.  ** 

Mr.  Fassett. — In  our  section  we  can  get  a  good  stand  of 
clover  in  the  corn  that  is  planted  at  the  regular  distance  for  grain. 
In  thickly  planted  ensilage  com  we  cannot  always  do  it. 

Mr.  D.  A.  Knupperburg.— In  breaking  up  an  old  orchard 
which  has  lain  in  sod  many  years,  how  deep  would  you  plow? 

Mr.  Fassett.— I  would  break  it  up  first  with  a  disk  and  work 
It  thoroughly  that  way  the  first  season.  After  that  you  can  plow 
safely  but  I  should  not  go  over  four  inches  deep. 

Mr.  J.  C.  Willson. — In  some  parts  of  the  State,  growers  are 
sowing  buckwheat  as  a  cover,  simply  to  loosen  up  the  soil. 

Mr.  Fassett.— Buckwheat  does  very  well  if  it  is  plowed  down 
in  time  but  I  do  not  like  to  have  any  grain  ripening  in  the  orchard. 
I  feel  very  sure  it  is  harmful. 


86 

COLD  STORAGE— A  VITAL  AID  TO  THE  APPLE 

INDUSTRY. 


Mr,  D.  N.  Minick,  Chambershurg. 


In  looking  through  your  program,  I  am  led  to  believe  that 
your  principal  object  for  holding  this,  your  Fifty-fifth  Annual  Con- 
vention and  Fruit  Show  of  the  State  Horticultural  Association,  is 
to  discuss  the  best  methods  for  growing  and  caring  for  fruits. 

"Cold  Storage,  A  Vital  Aid  to  the  Apple  Industry,"  is  the  sub- 
ject assigned  to  me. 

I  doubt  not  that  some  of  the  thoughts  that  it  suggests  to  me 
have  been  expressed  to  you  before.  Some  points,  however,  may 
well  bear  repetition.  I  have  been  assured  that  the  subject  is  a 
broad  one,  by  the  fact  that  you  have  placed  it  on  your  program. 
I  am  also  certain,  from  personal  experience  as  a  grower  and  dealer, 
that  the  vital  aid  of  the  cold  storage  in  handling  the  apple  crop 
is  of  such  great  importance  to  the  extent,  that  if  it  should  be  re- 
stricted or  done  away  with,  the  loss  of  the  Producer  would  be  im- 
measurable, and  the  thought  and  work  of  your  association  in  the 
past  fifty  years  would  partly  come  to  naught.  And  before  I  finish, 
I  shall  state  my  views  on  some  matters  that,  in  my  judgment,  are 
of  consequence. 

If  I  should  overstep  the  line  of  propriety  and  in  any  way 
offend  any  of  you,  I  shall  be  sorry  for  it.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  I 
should  be  able  to  say  anything  which  may  result  in  benefiting  you, 
I  shall  feel  well  pleased. 

The  creators  of  this  association  must  have  possessed  good  char- 
acter, if  I  understand  their  object  in  forming  this  organization. 

The  efforts  to  work  together  in  bringing  about  the  best  results 
in  the  production  of  foodstuffs  from  the  earth  in  order  to  supply 
man  and  beast  with  plenty,  at  a  reasonable  cost  and  for  a  reason- 
able profit,  is  what  I  think  your  organization  stands  for.  At  least, 
I  am  of  the  opinion  that  this  was  the  principal  object  of  the  cre- 
ators of  this  organization. 

I  am  sorry  to  state  that  in  my  way  of  thinking,  I  am  led  to 
believe  that  there  is  misrepresentation,  exaggeration,  dishonesty, 
and  envy  practiced  by  members  of  this  association  as  well  as  by 
members  of  other  associations  of  this  kind. 

By  misrepresentation  I  mean  creating  such  an  impression  that 
the  general  public  is  led  to  believe  that  the  apple  industry  is  as 
profitable  as  the  Standard  Oil  Company. 

I  often  wonder,  after  hearing  some  men  relate  the  immense 
profits  derived  in  the  fruit  growing  business,  that  there  is  any 
money  left  in  circulation  to  manipulate  any  other  kind  of  business. 

Exaggeration  is  the  principal  cause  for  the  cry  of  the  high 
cost  of  living.  This  leads  to  the  election  of  inexperienced  men  to 
office  who  are  introducing  bills  to  interfere  with  your  business. 

On  November  12th  and  29th  and  December  6th  respectively, 
Hon.  K.  D.  McKellar,  of  Memphis,  Tenn.,  introduced  in  the  House 
of  Representative,  bills  H.  R.  9266,  H.  R.  9530,  and  H.  R.  9987, 


t'r 


87 

prohibiting  the  storing  of  perishable  foodstuffs  for  a  longer  period 
than  90  days. 

And  if  enacted  into  laws,  will  limit  the  cold  stormg  of  all 
perishable  foodstuffs  to  90  days.  These  bills  also  provide  an  in- 
justice in  the  way  of  an  extra  expense  in  the  marking  and  selling 
of  same ;  which  will  have  to  be  paid  for  by  both  the  producer  and 
consumer. 

Apples  have  become  a  staple  food.  The  consumer  demands 
them  from  the  time  they  are  produced  until  the  time  they  are  re- 
produced and  this  demand  can  only  be  supplied  by  the  protection 
of  cold  storage. 

If  you  will  acquaint  yourselves  with  the  market  reports  from 
large  cities,  you  will  readily  see  that  apples  taken  out  of  cold 
storage  from  Dec.  15th  until  the  crop  is  consumed,  command  from 
50  cents  to  $i.cx)  a  barrel  more  than  apples  kept  in  common  storage. 

I  am  positively  certain  that  the  reason  for  this  is  caused  by 
the  consumer  being  perfectly  willing  to  pay  the  difference  in  price 
on  account  of  the  difference  in  the  condition  between  the  common 
and  cold  storage  fruit.  ,  . 

If  Bills  H.  R.  9266  and  9530  be  enacted  mto  laws,  it  will 
totally  ruin  the  apple  industry,  and  will  bankrupt  many  of  us  pro- 
ducers who  have  large  sums  invested  in  the  growing  of  orchards. 
There  would  also  be  famine  in  the  winter  and  such  an  over-supply 
the  rest  of  the  time  that  the  producer  would  get  nothing.  Apples 
need  no  restriction.  They  speak  for  themselves.  They  have  to  be 
moved  within  a  limited  time  from  their  very  nature.  There  never 
has  been,  and  never  will  and  can  be,  any  combination  to  fix  or 
control  their  price.     Competition  is  keen  and  universal. 

Cold  storage  is  absolutely  essential  and  without  the  vital  aid 
in  the  handling  of  the  apple  crop,  the  producer  on  one  hand  would 
become  bankrupt  and  their  investment  ruined,  and  the  consumer 
on  the  other  hand  would  be  without  any  fruit  a  large  part  of  the 


year. 


Discussion. 


H.  C.  Brinton. — Where  do  you  consider  it  best  to  build  the 
cold  storage,  in  the  city  where  the  fruit  is  marketed  or  in  the 
country  where  it  is  grown? 

Mr.  Minnick.— Both  are  needed  and  there  are  arguments  for 
both.  The  storage  house  is  needed  in  the  city  so  that  fruit  may  be 
gotten  out  and  put  on  the  market  quickly  and  the  fluctuating  de- 
mands taken  care  of,  even  when  the  weather  might  be  too  severe 
to  draw  from  the  house  in  the  country.  On  the  other  hand  there 
are  decided  advantages  in  favor  of  the  country  storage  houses.  The 
chief  of  these  is  the  great  importance  of  getting  apples  cooled  at 
the  earliest  possible  moment  after  picking.  We  have  found  this  to 
make  a  very  decided  difference  in  the  keeping  of  apples  of  the  same 

variety.  .         .       .  ,   .^ 

Refrigeration  keeps  the  fruit  by  preventing  ripening  and  it 

the  apples  are  allowed  to  stand  around  in  freight  cars  until  ripening 


88 

begins,  they  cannot  be  expected  to  keep  after  they  are  put  into 
cold  storage. 

Dr.  Mayer. — How  does  the  cost  of  storing  three  boxes  com- 
pare with  the  cost  of  storing  one  barrel  ? 

Mr.  Minnick. — It  costs  a  little  more.  We  have  not  made 
much  difference  in  charge  in  our  house  at  Biglerville  but  it  does 
cost  a  little  more  on  account  of  handling  three  packages  instead  of 
one  and  then  the  boxes  have  to  be  stripped. 

Question. — Which  is  the  best  system  of  cold  storage? 

Mr.  Minnick.— I  can  hardly  say.  We  have  the  Ammonia 
system  and  it  works  perfectly.  There  are  hundreds  of  them  in 
the  country. 

M.  G.  Kains,  New  York. — A  remark  was  made  yesterday  con- 
cernmg  the  gravity  brine  system  of  cold  storage.  At  the  time  I 
did  not  comment  on  this  as  I  presumed  that  it  would  be  brought  up 
when  Mr.  Minnick  spoke  to-day.  As  the  point  has  now  been 
raised,  I  may  say  that  while  I  have  not  had  personal  experience 
with  this  system  I  know  of  several  cold  storage  houses  run  on  this 
plan.  It  is  a  less  expensive  system  to  install  than  either  the  carbon- 
dioxide  or  the  ammonia  systems  because  no  engine  or  refrigerating 
machinery  is  needed.  It  is  also  less  expensive  to  operate  because 
a  skilled  engineer  is  not  needed  to  run  the  machinery.  The  prin- 
ciple on  which  it  operates  is  the  reverse  of  a  hot  water  system 
because  the  circulation  of  the  cold  water  is  downward  through  coils 
of  pipe  in  the  rooms  to  be  chilled  whereas  in  the  hot  water  system 
the  circulation  of  the  heated  water  is  upward  in  the  rooms  to  be 
warmed. 

The  advantages  of  the  gravity  brine  system  which  is  controlled 
by  Madison  Cooper  Company,  of  Calcium,  N.  Y.,  are:    First,  that 
cheap  labor  may  be  used  to  keep  the  plant  running,  and  natural  ice 
from  ponds  or  streams  will  supply  all  the  cold  needed.     The  ice 
IS  stored  in  an  ordinary  ice  house,  preferably  in  the  storage  build- 
ing so  it  can  be  kept  below  the  freezing  point  by  the  coils  of  pipe 
which  circulate  brine  at  a  lower  temperature  than  the  ice  itself 
There  is  thus  no  melting  or  loss  of  ice.     This  lower  temperature 
IS  secured  just  as  a  lower  temperature  than  ice  is  secured  in  an 
ice  cream  freezer;    namely,  by  a  mixture  of  broken  ice  and  salt 
packed  around  coils  of  brine-filled  pipe  in  a  tank  at  the  top  of  the 
building.     Herein,  however,  lie  three  of  the  chief  disadvantages 
of  the  system.     First,  there  must  Be  a  nearby  source  of  natural 
ice  which  can  be  cut  and  stored  at  small  cost;    second,  a  large 
amount  of  space  must  be  occupied  by  the  stored  ice  to  carry  pro- 
duce through  the  storage  season.    This  space  could  be  more  prof- 
itably utilized  in  either  of  the  chemical  systems  which  would  admit 
of  Its  being  used  for  the  storage  of  produce.    Third,  a  large  amount 
of  labor  is  needed  to  break  the  ice  and  mix  it  with  salt  to  main- 
tain the  freezing  temperature.     While  the  gravity  brine   system 


A 


, 


89 

can  be  and  is  used  successfully  for  storing  produce,  it  is  a  ques- 
tion in  my  mind  whether  it  would  prove  as  economical  in  the 
operation  of  large  plants  such  as  Mr.  Minnick's  at  Biglerville  or 
of  larger  plants  than  this.  I  know  of  no  available  and  unbiased 
data  on  this  point. 

Mr.  Clark  Allis,  of  Medina,  N.  Y.,  installed  one  of  the  Cooper 
systems  in  a  fruit  storage  warehouse  on  his  farm.  It  was  built 
specially  for  him.  I  visited  this  warehouse  during  construction, 
and  have  written  about  it  in  American  Agriculturist,  of  August, 
191 2.  It  kept  apples  perfectly  and  so  far  as  the  storage  is  con- 
cerned, it  gave  satisfaction.  However,  Mr.  Allis  told  me  only 
a  few  weeks  ago  that  he  does  not  like  the  amount  of  labor  involved 
in  operating  and  is  therefore  seriously  contemplating  a  change  from 
the  gravity  brine  system  to  one  of  the  chemical  systems  mainly,  I 
believe,  because  of  the  labor  involved  in  the  former  system. 

While  I  am  on  my  feet  I  may  call  your  attention  to  the  display 
of  small  refrigerating  machinery  in  the  exhibition  hall.  I  do  not 
know  anything  about  these  particular  machines ;  but  I  know  of  one 
small  machine  which  was,  I  am  sure,  smaller  than  the  one  shown  in 
the  hall.  It  is  in  a  drug  store  at  Springfield,  Mass.  The  druggist 
has  found  it  to  be  more  economical  in  keeping  his  ice  cream  and  his 
soda  water  cold  than  was  the  old  ice  system  for  the  same  purpose. 

Unquestionably  fruit  growers  should  have  some  system  of  cold 
storage  even  if  nothing  more  than  natural  storage  chilled  by  open- 
ing windows  and  doors  at  night  and  keeping  them  closed  during 
the  day,  the  way  Mr.  Lewis  manages  his;  but  whether  it  will  pay 
an  individual  fruit  grower  to  put  in  a  gravity  brine  or  a  chemical 
storage  will  depend  almost  wholly  upon  the  amount  of  fruit  or 
produce  he  has  to  dispose  of  and  the  markets  he  plans  to  reach. 


SOME  POINTS  ON  THE  GENERAL  CARE  OF  APPLE 

ORCHARDS. 


i 


By  Dr.  J.  P.  Stewart,  Experimental  Pomologist,  State  College,  Pa. 

In  the  present  discussion  we  shall  make  no  attempt  at  a  logical 
treatment  of  the  subject  of  orchard  care,  but  will  merely  call  atten- 
tion to  a  few  points  which  are  either  left  untreated  in  most  dis- 
cussions or  may  require  additional  emphasis. 

Securing  Earlier  Bearing. 

The  securing  of  early  fruiting  is  one  of  the  most  important 
matters  connected  with  orcharding.  Most  of  the  advice  of  the 
past  has  tended  to  delay  fruiting  rather  than  hasten  it.  This  is 
because  too  much  cutting  was  generally  advised  in  the  pruning 
and  training  of  the  tree,  thus  making  the  tree  produce  wood  re- 
peatedly over  the  same  general  spaces  without  making  anything 
like  a  normal  advance  for  each  season's  growth.  On  the  basis  of 
the  best  experiments  now  available  it  appears  that  the  earliest 
fruiting  for  any  variety  is  obtainable  primarily  by  securing  the 


90 

largest  growth  and  by  leaving  this  growth  alone  so  far  as  is  con- 
sistent with  the  securing  of  a  satisfactory  tree. 

The  way  to  secure  the  largest  growth  in  young  trees  on  the 
average  orchard  soil  is  chiefly  by  conserving  the  moisture      We 
have  found  that  the  rate  of  growth  of  the  trees  in  our  young  ex- 
perimental orchards  corresponds  very  closely  to  the  relative  amount 
of  moisture  conserved  by  the  different  cultural  methods.    Also  the 
best  method  of  conserving  moisture  is  by  means  of  a  satisfactory 
mulch  of  some  kind  of  vegetation,  especially  of  strawy  stable  ma- 
nure.   Probably  the  best  treatment  that  can  be  applied  for  hasten- 
ing growth  m  a  young  tree  is  to  keep  it  well  mulched  with  the 
latter  material.     If  a  mulch  is  used,  however,  it  is  essential  that 
some  definite  provision  be  made  against  mice.     Galvanized  wire 
screens  i8  x  i8  inches,  made  of  No.  20  wire  and  3  meshes  to  the 
inch,  are  very  effective  for  this,  and  they  will  last,  without  change 
for  12  or  15  years.    They  will  cost  about  7  cents  apiece.    Certain 
coatings  such  as  a  thorough  application  of  dense  lime-sulpluir,  more 
or  less  mixed  with  sediment,  will  also  prevent  both  mice  and  borers 
if  kept  renewed  sufficiently  often.  ' 

The  way  to  do  the  least  possible  amount  of  pruning  and  still 
have  a  good  tree  is  to  remove  the  superfluous  limbs  before  they 
have  made  any  appreciable  growth.     This  is  best  accomplished  by 
doing  the  necessary  pruning  and  training  in  the  early  part  of  each 
season  or  as  soon  as  possible  after  growth  starts.     This  is  es- 
pecially important  for  the  first  two  or  three   seasons.     In   fact 
the  entire  frame-work  and  general  habit  of  the  tree  should   be 
definitely  established  in  practically  any  variety  by  the  middle  of 
u    ^^'u"^  season  at  the  latest.     Five  limbs  is  the  maximum  that 
should  be  allowed  on  any  tree  for  frame  work  and  each  of  these 
limbs  should  be  permitted  to  develop  only  two  limbs  and  they  in 
turn  should  produce  not  over  two.     This  can  be  accomplished  in 
the  early  part  of  the  third  season,  and  after  that  the  tree  should 
be  left  largely  alone  until  it  begins  bearing,  at  which  time  some 
additional  pruning  may  be  done  if  this  seems  necessary 

Comparatively  little  heading  back  should  be  done,  and  that 
which  IS  done  should  be  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  top  balanced 
up  properly  and  not  permitting  any  of  the  limbs  to  greatly  outgrow 
the  others.  Also  in  some  few  varieties  which  tend  to  develop  ex- 
ceptionally long  annual  growths  with  comparatively  few  lateral 
branches  it  may  be  necessary  to  head  them  back  occasionally  to 
prevent  too  tall  and  rangy  growth. 

This  system  is  likely  to  develop  a  tree  that  looks  rather  dense 
and  frequently  bushy"  from  the  ordinary  horticultural  viewpoint 
but  both  experience  and  experiments  have  indicated  that  it  is  the 
way  to  secure  both  the  largest  growth  and  the  quickest  fruiting  of 
any  system  that  can  be  followed.  One  need  not  become  alarmed 
even  if  some  of  the  varieties  seem  to  be  growing  too  dense  and 
too  erect  in  the  tops,  as  in  the  majority  of  cases  these  same  trees 
will  spread  out  naturally  and  develop  very  satisfactory  tops  as 
soon  as  the  bearing  habit  becomes  well  established.  I  have  seen 
young  Baldwins  especially,  which  seemed  to  be  growing  much  too 
erect  and  dense  in  the  tops  and  from  their  appearance  it  was  very 


.t » 


i> 


I .» 


91 

natural  to  advise  that  they  be  pruned  rather  excessively  to  open 
out  the  tops  and  secure  more  spreading  growth.  A  comparison, 
however,  with  larger  trees  of  the  same  variety  right  alongside, 
which  had  been  handled  similarly,  showed  that  such  a  treatment 
was  not  likely  to  be  necessary  because  the  older  trees  had  already 
developed  excellent  and  typical  Baldwin  tops.  Incidentally  it  may 
be  well  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  in  pruning  to  open  up  the  top 
of  a  tree  it  is  much  more  effective  to  prune  to  outside  limbs  rather 
than  to  outside  buds  for  reasons  which  should  be  obvious. 

The  Control  of  Aphids  and  Red  Bugs. 

These  are  two  very  different  kinds  of  insects  that  have  re- 
cently been  causing  considerable  damage  in  this  State  and  their 
control,  as  well  as  the  nature  of  their  injuries,  should  be  more 
generally  understood.  There  are  five  species  of  aphids,  which 
attack  the  apple  and  two  species  of  red  bugs.  Of  the  aphids,  one 
of  the  most  important  is  the  woolly  apple  aphis  since  it  attacks 
both  the  top  and  roots  of  the  tree  and  it  remains  on  the  latter 
throughout  the  year,  producing  considerable  enlargements  on  the 
roots  and  eventually  causing  the  decay  and  death  of  the  roots  af- 
fected unless  their  action  is  checked. 

A  new  fact  of  importance  in  the  control  of  this  insect  has 
recently  been  discovered  by  Miss  Patch  of  Maine,  who  is  one  of 
the  leading  authorities  on  aphids  at  the  present  time.  This  is  that 
the  elm,  particularly  the  American  Elm  (Ulmus  Americana),  is 
the  over-wintering  host  for  the  sexual  forms,  eggs,  and  the  first 
two  or  three  broods  of  this  species  of  aphid  and,  strictly  speaking, 
the  apple  is  therefore  merely  the  summer  host  of  this  aphid  with 
the  exception  that  some  of  the  non-sexual  or  agamic  forms  remain 
over  the  winter  on  the  roots,  as  just  indicated.  In  view  of  this 
fact  it  is  evident  that  no  American  Elms  should  be  permitted  to 
grow  in  close  proximity  to  a  commercial  apple  orchard,  and  also 
the  production  of  both  apple  and  American  Elm  trees  in  a  single 
nursery  is  decidedly  bad  practice. 

As  a  general  proposition,  it  is  inadvisable  to  plant  any  apple 
trees  that  show  signs  of  material  injury  from  the  woolly  aphis  on 
their  roots.  If  this  aphid,  however,  is  found  to  be  attacking  the 
roots  of  trees  already  established,  some  method  of  control  is  nec- 
essary. A  great  many  measures  have  been  tried  for  it,  chief  among 
which  may  be  mentioned  the  use  of  tobacco  stems  or  tobacco  dust 
around  the  bases  of  the  trees.  This  method  and  nearly  all  of  the 
others  commonly  advised  have  been  found  to  be  practically  worth- 
less so  far  as  definitely  reducing  the  aphids  is  concerned.  One 
method,  however,  has  proved  successful,  and  it  involves  consider- 
able work.  Since  it  is  only  the  younger  or  smaller  trees  that  are 
especially  injured  by  the  aphis,  however,  the  method  is  usually 
practicable.  It  involves  the  removal  of  the  soil  around  the  trees 
to  expose  the  principally  infested  roots  for  a  distance  of  two  to 
four  feet  from  the  base  of  the  tree.  This  area  is  then  saturated 
with  kerosene  emulsion  diluted  to  contain  about  10  per  cent,  ker- 
osene and  the  soil  is  immediately  replaced,  as  the  fumes  are  thus  re- 


I 


92 

be  quite  effective  in  killing  practicaU^  fu  oi  tf  Jhids  w  thThich 
the  material  came  m  contact  and  in  preventing  additional  "tracks 
The  best  and  safest  time  for  making  the  application  is  durlnc  the 
acfvegrowmg  season  and  not  later  Ihan  the  first  of  July 

,„i  J      u'^u^'  '°''r'^  °'  "'■^  ^Phid,  and  also  any  other  of  the 
aphjds  which  attack  the  upper  portions  of  apple-trees    mav  be 
readily  contro  led  either  with  a  kerosene  emulsion  or  perhaps  hei 
ter  with  a  tobacco  extract  or  nicotine  solution  di°utedsras  to 

araoolie'd     Vh°/  f  '  P^""  T'i  °f."'cotine  sulphate  fn  the  ^pray 
as  applied     The  strongest  of  the  nicotine  preparations  offered  on 
he  market  is  apparently  the  "Black  Leaf  40"  put  out  by  the  Ken 
tucky  Tobacco  Products  Company,  at  Louisville      Thfs  material 
contains  40  per  cent,  of  nicotine  sulphate  and  is  rate  of  diW^n 

of  nTcod^ne^t/".''.'^  "T"'''^  '•'^  40%hich  indkates  th°e'per  cent 
of  nicotine  sulphate  in  the  concentrate,  by  the  "  o^;  of  i  ner  r^nr-' 

m^nt^'at^t  BlackT^    ''"'^  ^'rJ  q"otie«  of 'sS   which 
means  that  the  Black  Leaf  40  can  be  d  luted  i  to  800   or  at  th? 

rate  of  about  i  pint  to  100  gallons  of  spray  material  T'the  control 

of  aenal  forms  of  aphids.    The  rate  of  dilution  of  any  of  the  oth^r 

rade  preparations  can  be  readily  determined  in  the  same  wav  when 

the  per  cent  of  nicotine  sulphate,  which  they  contain!^'  known 

If  the  tobacco  extract  is  behg  applied  for  the  anhiH.  ^lAn. 

■t  IS  desirable  to  add  about  2  pounds  oTsoap  to  the  i^  gdlons  of 

spray  to  increase  its  spreading  and  wetting  qualities    Tf   towever 

the  tobacco  extract  is  being  added  to  one  If  %he  re^lar  sprats  in^ 

ekhe^materiaT'fh"'''  ""•'^''  """  ^^^'^''^  "^  <^°"'  whhout  ^  "o 
hI„  [1^         '  "'^  *°*P  '^  "°t  "eeded  and  it  is  likely  to  be  obiec 
tionable  in  case  any  arsenical  is  also  present  ^  ' 

a,   tin.  kT''^"'  ''*"*  •'"  'P':^^  ^°'  """^t  =P«<^"es  of  aphids  is  just 
for  San  Jose  scale  can  be  safely  deferred  untH^Ms  ?k^e    bo^h 

pr^dingi'^rbj:^-:^-rt  ^:^^t^rl 
a^^irqu!?i%sst'^SnrL^^^^^^^ 

about  the  time  of  the^firs^  applicatbn  f^r  ijl  sLt' b^d" m"o"th' 

ofthrrssird']^  -'"^  >"^'  -  '"^  ^^"'  '-^°wtg  i!;ihe""$ 

.he  S^.%^ZpS  Z^l^  trmTi'ilnTVcT 

a;;L^d°:flli  ^trktstea?:?  ^:'z^i{BErr 

they  have  wings  which  are  membranou    on I'y  at  the  tips  !n  the'caf^ 
of  the  upper  pair.    They  become  about  one-fourth  of  Lin.h  1 

fromV2'ro'.rm'i„^"V"  ^  ^""H^  ny"^pKat  "^hey  ,  °gf 
irom  1.2  to  4.3  millimeters  in  length      As  alrM^^r  ,v,^;^„*  j  \V ^ 

are  two  species  affecting  the  apple^  one'^of  whTc^sl'lM  Ihe'^e" 


</• 


t 


<    «. 


i_u 


•-•T* 


Fir..  I.  (irimes  ((iolden)  apples  injured  by  apple  red  bugs.  Tliose  on  the  right 
i.how  the  injury  which  has  reduced  their  size  by  more  than  60  per  cent,  and  has  pro- 
duced their  general  knottiness. 

PLATh:  10. 


i] 


^1*- 


93 

bug  and  the  other  the  false  red  bug,  although  the  latter  is  the 

redder  of  the  two.  *    ^  c    *. 

The  nymphs  of  both  species  are  a  brilliant  tomato-red  at  tirst, 
with  a  few  dusky  markings.  The  latter  become  more  prominent 
with  increasing  maturity,  especially  about  the  thorax  and  head  in 
the  case  of  the  red  bug.  This  insect  in  its  adult  stage  may  become 
nearly  black  over  the  forepart  of  its  body,  while  its  dorsal  surface 
is  covered  with  white  scalelike  hairs.  The  false  red  bug  lacks  these 
hairs  and  its  beak  is  light  colored  or  translucent,  with  a  dusky  tip. 
The  eggs  of  both  species  are  laid  in  twigs,  preferably  »"  two- 
year-old  wood,  late  in  June  or  early  in  July.  Those  of  the  red  bug 
are  inserted  in  slits  made  in  the  bases  of  fruit  spurs ;  those  of 
the  other  bug  are  inserted  in  pairs  in  the  lenticels.  The  former 
begin  hatching  soon  after  the  fruit  buds  open  and  are  through  when 
the  blossoms  open.     The  latter  hatch  about  a  week  later. 

The  young  nymphs  are  rather  shy,  but  are  very  active,     i  he 

first  indication  of   their   presence   is  likely  to  be  the  clusters  of 

minute  reddish  dots  on  the  young  leaves,  caused  by  the  punctures 

of   their   needle-like   beaks.     Their   presence   may   be   determined 

earlier  by  placing  branches  of  bearing  wood  in  water  any  time 

after  March  ist,  to  force  out  the  buds.     If  present  the  brilliant- 

red  nymphs  should  appear  soon  after  the  leaves.  ^.     r     -, 

As  soon  as  the  fruit  is  set  they  begin  feeding  on  it.    The  fruit 

punctured  most   severely   usually   drops;    that   remaining  on   the 

tree  may  mature,  but  it  becomes  dwarfed,  knotty  and  practically 

worthless.    See  Plate  10,  Fig.  i.    I  have  found  a  reduction  of  more 

than  sixty-one  per  cent,  in  the  size  of  infested  apples. 

The  habits  of  the  bugs,  together  with  experiments  and  com- 
mercial practice  in  New  York,  indicate  that  the  best  times  to  spray 
for  these  insects  are:  i.  Between  the  opening  of  the  buds  and 
petals  for  the  red  bug.  2.  Immediately  after  petals  fall  for  the 
Slse  red  bug  and  for  stragglers  from  the  earlier  species.  Nico- 
tine solutions  at  the  strengths  indicated  above  for  the  aerial  forms 
of  the  aphids  should  be  used.  In  the  second  spray  these  solutions 
should  be  added  to  the  more  diluted  forms  of  lime-sulphur,  and 
if  scale  is  not  involved  this  form  is  probably  best  for  ^oth  ^P^Yvf- 
The  usual  lead  arsenate  for  the  apple  worm  can  be  added  in  the 
second  spray  without  reduction  in  efficiency. 


Notes  on  the  Fruit  Pit  Disease,  or  "Stippen 


>> 


This  is  a  disease  which  appears  in  a  number  of  varieties,  caus- 
ing the  pithy  or  punkv  spots  frequently  observed  in  the  Hesh  ot 
thi  varieties  aflfecled.  'This  is  called  the  Fruit  Pit  disease  in  most 
of  the  American  literature,  and  it  is  referred  to  as  Mippen  by 
the  Germans.  The  latter  name  would  really  be  preferable  in 
American  literature  to  avoid  confusion  with  certain  f^^J  diseases 
commonly  referred  to  under  the  name  of  Fruit  Spot.  So  far  as 
we  know  it  is  a  physiological  disease.  It  is  supposed  to  be  in- 
creased by  conditions  which  favor  excessive  transpiration  during 
the  day,  followed  by  a  sudden  checking  at  night  with  a  continua- 
ion  of  vigorous  absorption  of  moisture  by  the  roots  as  a  result  of 


l-l. 


I.    <"InIm••^    ((iiil(Kiii   api'K  -   miuird  !'\    apiiK-  ind   1>ul;- 


Til. 


ill    tlK-   nulil 


•low   llu-  iiijurx    uliirli  !ia-  ndii'  id  jiuir  -i/r  '>>    ni'.rt    tliaii  <><•  lur  rent,  and  Iia»  pro- 
iliu't  il  tlirir  unnral  kii' 'lliiu^^. 

i'l.  \'ri-.    1". 


I 


) 


m  * 


«  • 


.* 


y 


^ 


^  ♦ 


1 


v«    t 


^rf 


93 

bug  and  the  other  the   false   red  bug,  aUhough   the   latter  is  the 

redder  of  the  two.  i    ^  r    <. 

The  nymphs  of  both  species  are  a  bnlbant  tomato-red  at  tirst. 
with  a  few  dusky  markings.  The  latter  become  more  promnient 
with  increasing  maturity,  especially  about  the  thorax  and  head  m 
the  case  of  the  red  bug.'  This  insect  in  its  adult  stage  may  become 
nearly  black  oyer  the  forepart  of  its  body,  while  its  dorsal  surface 
is  coyered  with  white  scalelike  hairs.  The  false  red  bug  lacks  these 
hairs  and  its  beak  is  light  colored  or  translucent,  with  a  dusky  tip. 
The  Cii2^  of  both  species  are  laid  in  twigs,  preferably  in  two- 
year-old  wood,  late  in  Tunc  or  early  in  July.  Those  of  the  red  bug 
are  inserted  in  slits  made  in  the  bases  of  fruit  spurs;  those  of 
the  other  bug  are  inserted  in  pairs  in  the  lenticcls.  1  he  tormer 
begin  hatching  soon  after  the  fruit  buds  ojien  and  are  through  when 
the  blossoms  open.     The  latter  hatch  about  a  week  later. 

The  young  nymi)hs  are  rather  shy.  but  are  yery  actue.  I  he 
tir^t  indication  of  their  presence  is  likely  to  be  the  clusters  of 
minute  reddish  dots  on  the  young  leayes,  caused  by  the  punctures 
of  their  needle-like  beaks.  Their  presence  may  be  determined 
earlier  by  i)lacing  branches  of  bearing  vyood  in  water  any  time 
after  March  ist,  to  force  out  the  buds.  If  present  the  bnlliant- 
red  nymphs  should  appear  soon  after  the  leayes. 

As  soon  as  the  fruit  is  set  they  begin  feeding  on  it.  1  he  fruit 
punctured  most  seyerely  usually  drops:  that  remaining  on  the 
tree  mav  mature,  but  it  becomes  dwarfed,  knotty  and  practically 
worthless.  See  IMate  lo.  Fig.  i.  1  hayc  found  a  reduction  of  more 
than  sixty-one  per  cent,  in  the  size  of  infested  apples. 

The'habits  ,>f  the  bugs,  together  with  experiments  and  com- 
mercial practice  in  New  York,  indicate  that  the  best  times  to  spray 
for  these  insects  are:  i.  Between  the  opening  of  the  buds  and 
petals  for  the  red  bug.  2.  Immediately  after  i)etals  fall  for  the 
false  red  bug  and  for  stragglers  from  the  earlier  species.  Nico- 
tine solutions  at  the  >trengths  indicated  aboye  for  the  aerial  forms 
of  the  aphids  should  be  u^ed.  In  the  second  spray  these  solutions 
should  be  added  to  the  more  diluted  forms  of  hme-sulp  lur.  and 
if  .cale  is  not  inyohed  this  form  is  probably  best  f.^r  both  ^pray^. 
The  usual  lead  arsenate  for  the  apple  worm  can  be  added  in  tlie 
>econd  spray  without  reduction  in  elticiency. 

Notes  on  the  Fruit  Pit  Disease,  or  "Stippen." 

This  h  a  disease  which  api)ears  in  a  number  of  yarietie..  caus- 
ing the  pithy  or  ].unky  ^]nM,  frequently  obseryed  m  the  flc-^h  o 
the  yarieties  affecle.1.  "This  is  called  the  I;ru,t  IM  disease  in  most 
of  the  American  literature,  and  it  is  referred  to  a>  Mippen  l,> 
the  (;ermans.  The  latter  name  wouhl  really  be  preferable  in 
American  literature  to  avoid  confusion  Nyjth  certain  f'<^l^^''^'^ 
commonly  referred  to  under  the  name  r,t  bruit  ^pct.  S  far  as 
we  know  it  is  a  physiological  disease.  It  is  supposed  to  Ik  in- 
m>ased  by  conditilms  which  fayor  excessive  trans;,iration  during 
the  day  followed  by  a  sndden  checking  at  night  with  a  continua_ 
tion  of' Vigorous  absorption  of  moisture  by  the  roots  as  a  result  of 


INTENTIONAL  2ND  EXPOSURE 


94 

the  warm  soil  and  abundant  moisture.  Incidentally  we  might  call 
attention  to  the  fact  that  these  are  also  the  conditions  which  are 
supposed  to  favor  the  development  of  water  core  in  apples.  Also, 
we  have  received  a  recent  report  that  a  man  in  Australia,  McAlpine 
by  name,  who  has  given  a  great  amount  of  attention  to  this  disease 
and  has  published  very  extensively  on  it,  has  recently  discovered 
the  real  cause  and  he  is  supposed  to  be  writing  up  his  discoveries 
at  the  present  time.  For  fear,  however,  that  his  cause  will  be 
beyond  the  control  of  the  average  orchardist  when  we  do  obtain 
his  report,  I  wish  to  call  attention  to  one  or  two  methods  of  in- 
fluencing this  disease  which  are  within  control. 

The  first  of  these  suggestions  is  to  control  the  disease  by  avoid- 
ing susceptible  varieties.  This  can  be  done  only  by  having  satis- 
factory lists  of  the  leading  varieties,  in  which  their  relation  to  this 
disease  is  made  clear.  For  this  reason  I  am  submitting  a  provi- 
sional list  of  our  more  important  varieties  showing  those  which 
are  very  susceptible,  those  moderately  affected,  those  affected  only 
superficially,  and  those  usually  immune  or  practically  so.  This  list 
is  intended  merely  as  a  guide  until  we  have  fuller  information  and 
more  observations  on  the  behavior  of  the  different  varieties.  It  is 
also  quite  likely  that  there  will  be  some  shifting  of  varieties  from 
some  of  the  classes  into  others.  As  a  general  proposition,  however, 
we  believe  that  the  present  list  comes  fairly  close  to  the  actual  be- 
havior of  the  varieties  indicated  in  their  relation  to  the  Fruit  Pit 
or  Stippen  disease. 

Provisional  List  of  Varieties  in  Their  Relation  to  Fruit  Pit. 

(A)  Very  Susceptible.  Baldwin,  Sutton,  and  Pennock.  (In 
some  situations  also  the  Gano  and  York  Imperial  are  very  severely 
affected  with  essentially  this  same  disease  though  in  a  somewhat 
different  type  in  which  the  spots  are  much  larger  and  more  ir- 
regular in  shape.) 

(B)  Intermediate.  Varieties  Moderately  Affected.  Hub- 
bardston,  Yellow  Newtown,  Albemarle,  Gravenstein,  Rhode  Island 
Greening,  Newtown,  Spitzenburg,  Porter,  Winter  Banana,  and  De- 
licious. (The  York  Stripe  and  Stark,  named  in  Section  D,  may 
also  belong  in  this  class.) 

(C)  Varieties  Affected  Superficially.  Jonathan  and  North- 
ern Spy. 

(D)  Varieties  Immune,  or  Practically  so.  Yellow  Transpar- 
ent, Early  Ripe,  Williams  Red,  Maiden  Blush,  Summer  Rambo, 
and  practically  all  varieties  maturing  before  the  Gravenstein.  Also 
the  Mcintosh,  Wealthy,  Smokehouse  (?),  Grimes,  York  Stripe 
(?),  Stayman  Winesap,  Rome  Beauty,  Stark  (?),  Paragon,  and 
Black  Twig,  or  Arkansas. 

With  this  list,  and  the  corrections  and  additions  that  may  be 
made  from  time  to  time,  it  should  be  possible  for  one  to  prac- 
tically avoid  the  stippen  disease  by  omitting  the  varieties  or  lo- 
calities that  are  especially  susceptible  or  conducive  to  it.  In  an 
orchard  already  established,  however,  and  containing  varieties  es- 
pecially subject  to  the  disease  it  is  probable  that  the  chief  way  to 


95 

reduce  it  is  to  avoid  those  conditions  which  tend  to  develop  abnor- 
mal size.  This  suggestion  is  based  on  the  fact  that  our  fertilizer 
experiments  show  that  practically  the  only  influences  which  seem 
to  materially  increase  the  disease  are  those  which  also  tended  to 
produce  unusual  or  abnormal  size  in  the  fruit.  This  is  particularly 
true  of  manure,  when  the  number  of  fruits  on  the  tree  is  rather 
small.  It  is  hoped  that  further  suggestions  looking  toward  the 
control  or  elimination  of  this  disease  may  be  possible  in  the  near 
future,  as  I  consider  it  one  of  the  most  serious  difficulties  now 
affecting  the  apple  business.  . 

(A  demonstration  of  different  styles  of  wrapping  apples  was 
also  given,  in  which  the  merits  and  defects  of  some  of  the  common 
methods  were  brought  out.  The  method  considered  best  by  the 
speaker  was  indicated.  It  is  impracticable,  however,  to  present  this 
phase  of  the  subject  satisfactorily  in  the  present  report.) 


SELECTING  FRUIT  FOR  EXHIBITION. 

Pro^.  F.  N.  Fagan,  State  College. 


It  should  be  the  object  of  a  fruit  exhibit  to  show  the  exhib- 
itor's skill  in  growing  high-class  fruit.  The  fruit  is  the  result  of 
his  labor.  The  fruit  should  also  be  his  advertisement,  and  there- 
fore should  be  samples  of  his  product.  While  we  consider  that 
show  fruit  should  be  selected  according  to  given  ideals  the  same 
ideals  are  to  be  found  in  preparing  fruit  for  market  and  thus  the 
exhibit  and  the  market  are  connected.  The  important  points  or 
ideals  are  as  follows:  i.  True  to  name;  2.  Fruit  free  from  blem- 
ishes; 3.  Fruit  of  good  (a)  color,  (b)  size  and  (3)  shape,  for 
the  variety  they  represent ;  4-  Uniformity  of  the  specimens  one 
with  the  other,  (a)  uniformity  of  color,  (b)  of  size,  (c)  shape, 
(d)  eveness  of  maturity. 

Methods  Used  in  Selecting  the  Fruit  for  Exhibit. 

One  should  begin  with  the  tree  as  soon  as  a  set  of  f»*"'t  '^ 
established.  All  growers  have  trees  of  given  varieties  that  they 
know  from  past  years  are  equal  to  producing  fruit  of  fine  appear- 
ance, typical  of  the  variety  in  question.  These  trees  should  receive 
^ood  attention,  but  not  overdue  attention  for  in  case  the  pet  tree 
received  undue  attention  in  regard  to  spraying,  thinning  and  etc., 
its  production  would  not  be  an  honest  advertisement  of  the  main 
crop  of  the  orchard.  It  is  for  this  last  reason  that  the  shows  bar  the 
fruit  resulting  from  excess  thinning.  After  careful  growing  has 
been  given,  then  extreme  care  should  be  given  to  the  picking.  All 
precautions  should  be  given  to  prevent  bruising.  After  picking  the 
crop  from  the  trees  bearing  the  fruit  of  each  variety,  the  grower 
should  make  his  first  selection.  Select  with  the  ideals  in  mind  that 
are  above  stated.  One  should  select  more  fruit  at  this  time  than 
he  expects  to  exhibit  to  overcome  a  shortage  that  might  occur  on 
account  of  accident  in  storage. 


96 

The  storage  of  exhibit  fruit  is  not  so  different  from  that  for 
commercial  purposes.  In  case  of  fruit  for  shows  coming  in  early 
fall,  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  place  the  winter  and  fall  varieties 
in  cold  storage  but  for  late  summer  varieties  it  is  sometimes  ad- 
visable to  put  them  in  cold  storage  or  in  cases  of  summer  and  fall 
varieties  of  plums,  pears,  grapes,  and  peaches.  It  has  been  noticed 
that  fruit  keeps  better  in  storage  if  each  specimen  has  been  wrapped 
in  paper.  In  cases,  except  grapes,  one  will  likely  have  better  suc- 
cess in  keeping  his  fruit  if  each  specimen  is  wrapped  and  the  entire 
lot  stored  in  comparatively  small  packages.  One  main  point  in 
storing  either  in  cold  storage  or  in  ventilated  store-rooms  or  cellars 
is  an  even  temperature  and  for  most  fruits,  this  temperature  should 
be  between  32  degrees  F.  and  38  degrees  F. 

I  wish  now  to  consider  more  closely  the  ideals  to  which  I  have  re- 
ferred. These  ideals  generally  make  up  the  judging  feature  of  a 
score  card. 

True  to  Name  is  an  ideal  of  much  importance,  for  we  should 
not  mislead  the  public.  In  case  you  do  not  know  the  name  of  a 
variety,  it  is  best  not  to  enter  it  at  all  or  enter  it  as  an  un-named 
variety  with  the  hope  that  some  one  will  see  and  give  it  the  correct 
name. 

freedom  from  Blemishes. — This  is  one  of  the  main  ideals  for 
if  fruit  is  free  from  blemishes,  commonly  caused  by  insects,  fun- 
gous, spraying  scald,  etc.,  it  is  a  sign  of  the  growers  thorough- 
ness in  spraying  operations.  At  least  it  indicates  such  thoroughness 
in  most  fruit  sections  of  the  East,  for  as  a  whole  we  are  troubled 
with  fruit  pests.  Freedom  from  blemishes  with  many  judges  will 
carry  as  high  as  25  to  50  per  cent,  of  the  total  possible  100  per 
cent,  a  plate,  box,  barrel,  or  a  collection  of  each  could  receive,  and 
in  some  shows  fruit  showing  signs  of  insect  or  fungous  injury  is 
even  barred  from  the  stands. 

Fruit  of  Good  (a)  Color,  (b)  Sise  and  (c)  Shape. — The 
"color"  in  commercial  fruit  plays  an  important  part  in  its  sale.  It  has 
been  said  one  should  select  color  typical  for  the  variety.  In  general, 
the  more  the  color  the  better  for  show  fruit,  but  we  should  se- 
lect for  the  color  that  is  typical  for  the  variety  in  the  region  of 
the  country  where  same  is  grown,  (b)  "Size"  is  nearly  equal  to 
color  as  far  as  most  judges  are  concerned.  They  give  about  10  to 
15  per  cent,  out  of  the  total  too  to  this  ideal,  for  the  correct  size 
of  the  variety,  while  color  will  carry  from  15  to  25  per  cent.  Good, 
typical  size  for  the  variety  does  not  mean  the  extra  large  ones, 
which  would  be  called  "monstrosities"  if  placed  on  the  commer- 
cial market;  however,  a  little  over  the  typical  size  would  be  better 
than  a  little  under,  (c)  "Shape"  is  more  difficult  to  select  because 
shape  of  a  variety  often  differs  within  the  variety ;  however,  in  such 
cases  we  should  try  and  select  for  the  typical  shape  of  that  variety 
in  the  region  where  located.  With  a  judge,  shape  will  carry  less 
than  size — about  5  to  15  per  cent. 

Uniformity. — This  ideal  is  nearly  as  important  as  is  "free- 
dom from  blemishes."  It  refers  to  the  likeness  of  one  specimen  to 
the  other  within  the  variety,  such  as  the  likeness  of  all  the  speci- 
mens on  a  plate,  in  the  box,  barrel  or  likeness  of  one  plate  to  the 


-» .». 


vl 


97 

others  if  in  a  five-plate  class  of  one  variety,  or  one  box  with  other 
boxes,  as  in  the  case  of  a  five-box  class,  etc.,  to  a  car-load  entry  for 
that  matter.  "Uniformity"  is  given  a  place  in  a  show  because  in 
commercial  work  on  the  market,  "uniformity  throughout  a  box  or 
barrel  is  highly  desirable.  The  customer  when  buying  a  barrel  of 
apples,  pears,  or  a  basket  of  peaches  or  plums  has  often  been  dis- 
appointed in  the  past  and  will  be,  no  doubt,  in  the  future  because 
of  the  various  shapes  and  sizes  of  the  fruit  in  the  package.  Gener- 
ally the  large,  best-appearing  ones  are  on  top.  Most  all  customers 
notice  these  things  and  in  most  cases  the  producer  and  packer  does 
also.  One  should  select  specimens  as  near  alike  as  the  old  saying 
implies  "alike  as  two  peas  in  a  pod." 


STRAWBERRIES. 


F.  H.  Fassett,  Meshoppen,  Pa. 


The  growing  of  strawberries  offers  to  the  grower  quick  returns 
and  sure  profits.  The  amount  of  profits  depends  entirely  on  the 
grower.  There  is  no  fruit  that  responds  so  well  to  good  care  and 
ideal  conditions.  The  possibilities  in  strawberry  growing,  to  my 
mind,  have  never  been  reached.  We  ought  not  to  be  satisfied  with 
less  than  $250.00  net  per  acre. 

The  selection  of  a  site  is  quite  important.  I  think  a  sandy 
loam  is  an  ideal  condition,  and  yet  we  find  them  growing  on  many 
different  types  of  soil.  Strawberries  demand  a  large  amount  of 
water,  and  the  site  may  be  on  the  lower  or  bottom  lands,  and  yet 
a  site  on  which  stagnant  water  stands  would  not  be  best.  They 
will  do  well  on  land  that  would  be  wet  for  some  of  our  tree  fruits. 

The  preparation  of  a  bed  should  begin  one  year  in  advance, 
for  two  reasons;  first,  that  we  may  fill  the  soil  full  of  vegetable 
matter  to  enable  it  to  better  conserve  the  moisture  and  to  get  rid 
of  some  of  the  hand  work.  An  ideal  preparation  would  be  to  plow 
down  a  good,  heavy  sod,  planting  it  to  potatoes,  early  sweet  corn 
or  some  crop  that  demands  clean  tillage.  Allow  no  weeds  to  grow 
and  we  will  not  have  so  much  trouble  to  keep  them  down  in  the 
strawberries;  and  incidentally  we  help  to  control  the  white  grub, 
the  great  enemy  of  the  strawberry  plant. 

As  soon  as  the  crop  is  harvested,  sow  some  cover  crop,  crim- 
son clover  when  it  succeeds  well,  or  hairy  vetch.  The  following 
Spring  plow  this  under,  using  a  jointer,  and  plow  deep,  leaving 
the  furrow  on  edge  at  an  angle  of  about  45  degrees,  then  pulverize 
the  soil  very  thoroughly  to  the  depth  of  four  or  five  inches.  Do 
not  leave  it  lumpy,  make  it  fine  by  repeated  harrowing.  When  ready 
to  set,  roll  or  plank  the  field,  in  order  that  the  setter  may  more 
readily  know  where  the  top  line  of  soil  is.  It  is  very  important 
that  the  plants  be  set  just  the  right  depth  in  the  soil.  If  too  high 
then  the  plant  dries  up;  if  too  low,  then  the  dirt  washes  into  the 
crowns  and  rots  them.  The  plant  should  be  set  so  the  top  soil  comes 
about  half-way  up  the  crown,  or  about  one-half  inch  above  where 
the  roots  start  out.     We  may  set  strawberries  in  the  fall  about 


98 

August  or  1st  of  September,  but  will  not  get  much  of  a  crop.  The 
spring  is  the  best  time;  just  as  early  as  the  ground  will  permit 
working. 

There  are  three  sources  from  which  to  secure  plants.  Grow 
them  yourself,  buy  from  a  local  grower,  or  from  a  man  who  makes 
a  business  of  growing  plants  for  sale.  If  you  do  not  grow  your 
own  plants,  then  if  you  have  a  local  man  who  is  careful  enough  so 
you  can  get  th€  varieties  you  desire,  I  would  prefer  to  get  them 
from  him.  If  not,  then  we  have  to  get  them  of  the  man  who  makes 
a  business  of  growing  plants.  I  think  it  best  to  throw  away  all 
weak  plants,  only  using  good  strong  ones,  then  we  are  not  apt  to 
have  any  misses.    We  must  have  a  good  solid  row. 

We  do  not  care  to  say  much  about  varieties  because  it  is 
hardly  possible  to  name  any  number  that  would  be  best  in  all  parts 
of  the  state.  We  have  found  the  varieties  that  are  imperfect 
bloomers  to  be  the  heaviest  yielders,  and  we  are  using  just  enough 
perfect  flowering  varieties  to  cross-pollinate,  using  two  rows  of 
imperfect  ones,  always  commencing  and  ending  with  the  perfect 
flowering  varieties.  We  are  now  growing  Haverland  and  Sample, 
fertilizing  with  the  Wm.  Belt. 

Do  not  expose  the  plants  to  the  sun  or  wind,  as  it  will  soon 
wilt  them. 

It  is  immaterial  how  we  set  them,  only  so  we  get  the  roots 
straight  down  and  well  firmed  in  the  soil.  It  is  best  to  trim  the 
roots  to  about  two  and  one-half  inches  long.  One  of  the  ways 
to  determine  when  the  plants  are  firm  enough  in  the  soil  is  to 
follow  after  the  setter,  take  hold  of  a  leaf  with  thumb  and  finger, 
and  if  it  is  not  firm  enough  to  break  out  a  leaf  then  it  is  not  firm 
enough  to  grow. 

There  are  a  number  of  ways  of  setting,  and  our  markets  ought 
to  determine  how  we  shall  set.  If  we  have  a  market  that  will  pay 
a  premium  for  fancy  berries  then  we  can  use  the  hill  system,  other- 
wise we  think  it  best  to  use  the  narrow,  matted  row.  Rows  4  feet 
apart,  plants  18  to  24  inches  in  the  row,  make  a  narrow  matted 
row. 

As  soon  as  we  are  done  setting  we  should  commence  culti- 
vating, and  cultivate  often,  never  allowing  any  crust  to  form  on 
top  of  soil.  We  want  to  consume  all  the  moisture  possible.  Cul- 
tivate up  late  in  season,  then  mulch  with  some  material  to  the 
depth  of  3  or  4  inches.  A  material  that  does  not  have  seeds  to 
sprout  up  to  bother  in  the  spring  is  best.  Clean  rye  straw  and  swamp 
hay  are  among  the  best.  The  mulch  not  only  helps  to  hold  mois- 
ture but  insures  clean  berries  and  a  clean  place  to  pick. 

We  should  only  use  good,  clean,  white  baskets,  and  always 
standard  measure,  and  good,  clean  crates.  Don't  use  old  dirty 
crates ;  you  will  lose  money  by  so  doing.  Have  your  berries  alike 
all  the  way  through  the  crate  and  the  basket.  Make  it  as  attractive 
as  possible. 

The  best  time  to  grade  them  is  in  the  field  as  they  are  being 
picked.  To  attempt  to  grade  after  picking  usually  results  in  soft 
berries  and  lower  prices. 

There  are  a  number  of  insects  that  demand  our  attention.    The 


99 

more  important  are  strawberry  leaf  roller,  strawberry  saw-fly,  and 
strawberry  crown  borer.  These  may  usually  be  held  in  check  by 
the  application  of  arsenic  sprays.  There  are  also  some  leaf  rusts 
and  other  fungous  diseases  that  may  be  held  in  check  by  the  use 
of  Bordeaux  Mixture  4-4-50.  We  have  found  it  more  economical, 
as  well  as  more  profitable,  to  immediately  after  picking  plow  down 
the  bed  and  seed  to  clover.  In  this  way  we  can  control  the  insects 
and  fungous  diseases  cheaper  than  by  spraying  and  grow  a  new 
bed  each  year,  making  our  rotation  clover,  potatoes  and  straw- 
berries. 

I  am  sure  that  the  growing  of  strawberries  may  be  used  as  a 
side  line  by  many  fruit  growers  and  will  be  found  to  be  very  prof- 
itable. 


I 


-»  ♦^ 


*;!♦ 


lOI 


Vegetable  Section 

in«  ^A^^^^^J^^  ^^^^'°r"  Z^*"  ^^getable  growers  occupied  both  morn- 
ZL  ^A^TP"!.  ""l^^^  twenty-first.  The  following  papers  were 
presented  and  fully  discussed. 


SOME  SPECIAL  PROBLEMS. 


Prop.  W.  B.  Nissley,  State  College. 

Ikf  nV/i.Tl^  ^"^  ask  each  gardener  present  to  present  me  with  a 
111?  ^*^^^he  considered  his  special  problems,  I  am  sure  I  would 
receive  no  two  lists  alike  and  the  total  differences  would  make 

Ta\u  ^"^I"^-  ''''^""'"-  ^"^  '^  ^^  ^  ^^ss  to  know  where  to  begin, 
and  the  most  important  problem  for  one  grower  may  be  a  slight 
one  for  another.  I  have  chosen  several  topics  which  I  believe 
affect  gardeners  quite  generally.  They  are,  (i)  Crop  rotations 
extn'ttnlr-"''?^'  ".^l"^'  ;;succession,"  crowing,  a^nd  to  some 
lem  r,?Z  ?•  ""'  I"tej';  cropping.  (2)  The  labor  prob- 
^  -A  ;r  ^^^f  tising,  and  (4)  storing  of  vegetables.  I  might 
nc  dently  say  that  the  marketing  problem  and  the  important  sub- 
n!.n.rf  /^'^P^f  »o"'  With  which  our  agricultural  magazines  and 
papers  are  full  to-day,  are  of  great  importance;  they  have  been 
fairly  well  set  before  the  public  and  I  Will  confine  myseff  to  the 
topics  mentioned.  ^ 

Crop  Rotation. 

Beginners  in  gardening,  and  even  our  experienced  gardeners 
who  have  a  limited  area  of  ground  and  very  often  limited  supply 

?or  rolir'  """V-  f  ^°''  '^-^"^^  i"^*  ^^^'  combinations  to^u  e 
tor  rotation  and  inter-cropping. 

in  H;ffi"'^l'V"rJ-^'°"'.:  '""'^  conditions,  and  markets  are  so  variable 
in^different  localities  that  each  person  will  have  his  special  prob- 

nr.o^^'lu^''''''  ''  """^  ?^u^^  ''""P^^'^  ^"^  "lost  practical  ways  to  in- 
crease the  income  of  the  garden  without  much  increased  cost  of 
production.  It  is  beneficial  in  the  prevention  of  fungous  diseases 
lfi^T^''  It  more  difficult  for  insects  to  locate  the  patch  of  veg- 
etabes  on  which  they  ive.  It  is  therefore  insuring  the  safety  of 
ones  crops.  Do  not  plant  vegetables  that  are  subject  to  the  same 
iLTrrnnc  't'^^^"  ^""^  Cauliflower,  onions  and  radishes,  etc.  All 
leaf  crops  which  require  large  quantities  of  nitrogen  should  not  be 
grown  through  a  number  of  years  in  succession,  bu?  shouW  be  fol^ 

^nXJ''\  ^'^""''''  .n^-  ^''^  ^'^  ^^"^^  S^^^  rotations  hat  have 
worked  out  very  satisfactorily  and  that  are  well  adapted  to  each 

100 


>^\! 


'^^i 


1st  year,  Sweet  Potatoes. 
2d  year,  Melons  or  Cantaloupes. 

-^d  year,  Irish  Potatoes  (Corn  and  Pole  Beans  planted  between 
the  rows  at  last  cultivation.)  At  last  cultivation  of  corn,  sow  Peas, 

^^°^Plow  down  the  strawberry  bed.  Plant  it  to  beans  or  late  to- 
matoes.   The  next  year  it  is  in  fine  shape  for  melons  or  potatoes. 

Do  not  follow  early  cabbage  with  late  cabbage,  or  early  pota- 
toes with  late  tomatoes. 

Early  peas  in  April  and  sweet  corn,  June. 

Early  peas  and  late  cabbage.  ,      ...    w        u 

Onions  from  sets  marketed  July  15,  followed  with  late  cab- 

^^^^'Spinach  and  onion  sets  followed  by  peas,  beans,  lettuce,  rad- 
ishes, onions,  celery,  etc.  .  . 

in  sowing  onions  for  ripening,  sow  every  other  row  with 
white  ones,  for  bunching.  Where  these  bunch  onions  were  one  can 
set  celery,  lettuce,  endive,  etc. 

Follow  strawberries  with  beets,  radishes,  lettuce   etc. 

Strawberries  followed  by  late  celery,  very  good,  as  well  as 
eettine  the  bed  ready  for  the  next  season. 

Lettuce  and  radishes  between  rows  of  asparagus  in  late  sum- 
mer if  rows  are  far  enough  apart. 

Celery  or  beans  will  very  nicely  follow  an  early  crop  of  cab- 

^^^^Cabbage  and  cauliflower  inter-planted  with  horseradish. 

Peas  rows  four  and  one-half  feet  apart,  followed  as  early  as 
possible  with  potted  tomato  plants  between  pea  rows 

Onion  sets,  4  inches  apart,  alternating  every  fifth  row,  with 
early  potted  celery  plants,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 

There  are  many  other  combinations  which  can  be  worked  out 
equally  well  as  those  juGt  mentioned.  Much  depends  on  the  person 
and  his  natural  ability  to  keep  things  going  all  the  time.  One  is 
apt  to  neglect  sowing  and  planting  just  at  the  time  it  ought  to  be 
done  and  so  lose  the  opportunity  to  make  the  land  produce  what 
it  is  capable  of  producing.  Feed  the  soil  wel  ,  and  ask  big  and 
many  returns  from  it  in  payment.  Never  let  it  lie  idle  If  veg- 
etables cannot  be  sown  any  more  that  season,  sow  to  oats,  barley, 
vetch  millett,  etc.,  and  plow  it  under.  The  harder  you  work  the 
soil  intelligently,  the  harder  it  will  work  for  you. 

Labor. 

When  most  growers  of  vegetables  are  approached  on  the  labor 
question  they  throw  up  both  hands  almost  without  exception  and 
Si  you 'that  it  is  undoubtedly  the  most  serious  and  greatest  ques- 
tion of  the  day.  The  trades  with  the  short  hours  and  big  pay  de- 
manded by  the  labor  unions  make  inviting  and  profitable  employ- 
ment for  the  class  of  men  who  would  otherwise  make  intelligent 

and  «?killed  help  in  the  garden.  .,  . ,     .    j  a 

There  is  only  one  class  of  skilled  help  available  to-day,  and 

they  are  professional  gardeners  who  have  had  experience  in  private 


102 

gardens  and  who  ask  wages  that  preclude  their  "'"^i^eration^   One 
h^rto  out  UD  with  such  help  as  can  be  obtained,  which  is  usual  y 
Poles  or  talians  in  the  rush  season  hired  by  the  day.    Ordinarily 
t^Jv  have  to  be  continually  watched  and  directed,  as  they  seldom 
hZ  much tf  any  knowledge  of  the  work,  unless  they  have  worked 
have  much  it  any  ■*""".  trower  who  needs  a  limited  number  of 
tZVCt^  do":  i  ph^sLKVwtk  usually  has  a  difficult  propo, 
Stl^n  on  hfs  hands.    Where  a  large  number  are  employed,  the  work 
can  be  divWed  into  different  groups  and  one  group  do  one  thing  all 
A      l^J;     Th..  foreieners  are  fairly  efficient  in  this  sort  of  work 
J^viTe^hl^rrglverned  by  a  jood  ^o-     The  --^^^^^^^ 
bosses  should  ordinarily  be  Americans.     Some  growers  rnake  use 
of  a  number  of  high  school  students  during  vacation,  but  the  trouble 
comes  to  Sepuml^r,  when  they  return  to  schoo   about  the  time  the 
^atTcabbaee  and  celery  needs  attention.    A  certain  grower  in  Illinois 
ra'sedS  five  acre^s  of  cucumbers  for  the  pickle  fartory.     Not 
Sng  looted  near  a  town  large  enough  to  furnish  ^"f«ent  ^  ' 
f^r  fickine  he  devised  a  novel  plan  to  get  his  pickles  to  the  factory. 
HLC^trouble  began  after  school  opened  in  the  fall  but  having 
an  auto  he  came  to  the  schoolhouse  about  the  time  school  was  over, 

^adeTup  aCt  a  dozen  boys  and  '0°'' t"^,'- ''='tw"'the ''"Lk  t'o 
Dicked  for  about  three  hours  after  which  he  took  them  back  to 
wwn  Some  boys  wanted  the  auto  ride  as  much  as  the  money,  and 
Ta  resuTthey'secured  a  little  of  each.  Some  grower  have  at- 
tempted to  put  unskilled  labor  on  piece  work,  but  this  has  not 

""  One°way%otlveThria^r  problem  is  to  try  to  avoid  rushes. 
Plan^o  hrve^he  work  fit  in  such  a  way  that  while  there  is  always 
olentv  to  do    he  same  number  of  hands  can  handle  it  from  March 
?st  to  Tanuary  .St.    A  grower  from  Massachusetts  (S   A    Noble^ 
who  hi's  had  t'wenty  yeafs  of  experience  and  who  has  hired  men  o 
all  nationalities  and  descriptions,  has  decided  that  the  <^erman  is 
1  most  efficient  and  reliaWe  help,  quick  to  adopt  new  ^ethof  am^ 
is  v^v  industrious.    But  on  account  of  their  ambition  to  start  busi- 
ness fo    themselves  and  their  instinct  for  saving,  they  seldom  stay 
more  than  two  or  three  seasons.    Unskilled  labor  ranges  ordinardy 
fJom  one  to  two  dollars  a  day,  depending  on  the  locahty.     Some 
erowe^s  are  so  located  that  two  dollars  a  day  is  the  nummum  and 
fkXed  abor  is  from  $60.00  per  month  up.  -Qn  account  of  not  being 
able  to  hi^  competenThelp  at  all,  and  on  account  of  wages,  such  as 
fl^^ve  ju  t  ment^ned,  many  growers  have  had  to  reduce  operatK^ns 
fullv  ^o  per  cent,  in  the  last  few  years  and  have  been  forced  to 
resort^^oTermanent  crops,   such  as   small    fruits    asparagus   and 
rhubarb  instead  of  the  quickly  maturing  vegetables. 

It  seems  to  be  evident  that  the  salvation  of  the  trucking  bus,- 
n^sc;  must  come  through  higher  prices  for  their  produce  which 
■:in  eZu.  Tgrower  fo  hirl  skilled  labois  as  the  mer^anti  e  con^ 
cerns  do.  What  the  grower  does  not  care  to  do  is  ^ohre^km  new 
men  each  year.  They  want  men  who  will  stick  year  after  year 
Xr  they  Cve  once  learned  the  business  and  can  be  trusted  to  go 
?o  work  wh^n  the  grower  is  absent  and  do  things jight^  I  believe 
thaHf  the  grower  tould  try  some  scheme  to  get  his  laboring  class 
interested  i^n  the  business  and  in  the  crops  they  would  do  much 


103 

better  work,  and  they  will  be  much  better  satisfied.  If  a  small  per- 
centage of  the  net  profits,  say  5  per  cent,  is  divided  among  the 
laborers  they  would  feel  that  they  held  a  financial  interest  in  the 
crops  and  therefore  work  better.  They  will  work  harder,  longer, 
pack  and  grade  more  carefully  and  in  the  end,  I  believe  would  in- 
crease the  profits  to  such  an  extent  that  the  grower  would  never 
feel  the  loss  of  the  five  per  cent,  and  at  the  same  time  have  per- 
manent help. 

Advertisement. 

This  is  an  age  of  keen  competition  when  men  in  all  lines  of 
business  are  using  printer's  ink  to  set  their  merchandise  before  the 
public  and  it  behooves  the  farmer  to  do  likewise.    It  is  well  worth 
your  eflfort  in  dollars  and  cents  and  will  build  for  you  a  reputation 
which  will  stand  indefinitely.     It  is  an  excellent  thing  to  let  your 
produce  advertise  itself,  but  the  people  should  know  who  raised 
th'^m  or  in  some  way  know  where  to  get  more  of  the  same  quality. 
Then  when  Mrs.  A.  goes  to  the  green  grocer,  she  will  ask  for  let- 
tuce raised  by  Mr.  B.,  or  if  Mr.  B.  calls  at  Mrs.  A.'s  house  and 
the  little  daughter  calls  upstairs  and  asks  her  mother  whether  she 
wishes  any  strawberries,  the  mother  is  likely  to  say,  "who  is  it? 
"It  is  Mr.  B."    "Yes,  I  do,  tell  him  to  walk  right  in."     (i)  Every 
grower  should  have  a  well-chosen  name  for  his  farm.     (2)  The 
circulating  of  business  cards  to  keep  yourself  constantly  before 
the  public.     This  might  also  include  letter  heads.     (3)  Bulletin 
boards  along  the  road  for  autoists.     (4)  Advertising  in  local  news- 
papers is  probably  one  of  the  best  means.     (5)  Displays  in  store 
windows  are  very  catchy  and  bring  results.     (6)  Exhibits  at  county 
fairs,  grangers  meetings.  State  Horticultural  Associations.  (7)  Sten- 
cilled packages. 

Grown  by 

John  Brown, 
York,  Pa. 

Fruitvale  Farm. 
(8)   Place  your  card  in  each  package.     (9)   Stamped  wrapping 
paper. 

Storing. 

If  I  was  to  judge  the  vegetable  growers'  problems  by  the  in- 
quiries that  came  to  my  desk,  I  would  surely  put  "storing''  down 
as  an  important  one.  While  I  do  not  propose  to  go  into  a  detailed 
discussion  on  this  subject  as  a  volume  could  easily  be  written  on 
it  I  will  emphasize  a  few  things  which  I  believe  to  be  all  essential 
and  if  these  essentials  are  properly  cared  for,  there  should  be  little 

^°"  i^In  the  first  place,  a  vegetable  that  is  expected  to  be  stored 
should  be  properly  grown  to  get  the  maximum  results.  In  all  cases, 
with  the  exception  of  tomatoes,  celery  and  probably  a  few  others, 
the  vegetable  should  go  into  storage  in  a  ripe  sound  condition ;  the 
exceptions  just  mentioned  must  be  stored  in  an  unripe  state  out 
of  necessity. 


I04 
2   Careful  handling  and  packing  when  taken  up  and  put  into 
storage.""  Too  much  strfss  cannot  fJ^^:^:'^:,^tro.^^t^^::^ 
?■■  -'  tld^;o^'XuTt1T«t  through  the  'whole  crop' 

want  a  ccx)l  dry  place,  storing  temperature  as 

and  glass  a"<l/t't^;  °'f '^jer  Ventilators  are  sometimes  neces- 
layer  of  e~""<l  "^^^^^^l^seem  to  keep  fresher  looking  when  stored 
S'p'itt  AZTella^TVbrured  b/covering  the  vegetables  w.th 

soil  to  prevent  drying  out. 

1  Vegetables  should  be  properly  grown. 

2  Care  in  handling  and  packing  in  storing. 
3.  Proper  conditions  during  storage. 


GRADING  AND  PACKING  VEGETABLES. 

By  H.  C.  Thompson,  U:  S.  Department  of  Agriculture, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

Grading  and  Packing  Vegetables. 

Assuming  that  the  grower  has  produced  a  good  crop,  such  as 
will  uird:i^and\ponLy  good  market^t^^^^ 
depend  largely  upon  proper  grading,  packing  and  marketing.     1 00 


105 

better  product  poorly  graded  and  packed.  It  is  evident,  therefore, 
that  to  bring  the  highest  prices,  vegetables  must  be  of  good  quality, 
well  graded  and  sorted,  put  up  in  neat,  attractive  packages,  and  be 
put  on  the  market  at  the  time  when  there  is  a  good  demand. 

Grading  Vegetables. 

In  grading  vegetables,  the  grower  should  bear  in  mind  that  the 
poorest  product  in  the  package  determines  the  price  received  for 

the  goods.  r  r     '         J 

Careless  and  dishonest  methods  of  packing  of  fruits  and  vege- 
tables have  led  to  many  of  the  difficulties  that  have  arisen  between 
the  growers  and  dealers.  The  method  of  putting  small  and  inferior 
fruit  and  vegetables  in  the  center  or  bottom  of  the  package  and 
topping  off  with  first-class  products,  is  entirely  too  common.  In 
some  cases,  the  farmer  thinks  he  is  "putting  one  over"  on  the  dealer, 
but  this  is  not  the  case.  In  fact,  the  dealer  often  takes  advantage 
of  such  practices  by  reducing  the  price  more  than  the  quality  of  the 
produce  justifies.  The  writer  has  very  little  sympathy  for  the 
grower  who  is  always  complaining  that  the  dealer  has  taken  ad- 
vantage of  him.  If  the  product  is  honestly  graded  and  carefully 
packed  in  .neat,  attractive  packages,  the  prices  received  will  usually 

be  s3.tisf actorv. 

In  grading  most  products,  it  is  important  to  make  two  or  three 
grades.  The  first  grade,  which  might  be  called  "fancy,"  "prime," 
or  similar  terms,  should  include  only  those  specimens  that  are  the 
best  in  quality  and  appearance.  This  grade  would  include  the  aver- 
age size  rather  than  the  large  or  overgrown  specimens,  and  should 
be  uniform  in  every  particular  and  free  from  injury  of  any  kind. 
The  second  grade  would  include  good,  marketable  produce,  but  not 
fancy.  In  this  grade  would,  ordinarily,  be  included  all  that  is  not 
put  up  as  first  grade,  with  the  exception  of  culls.  The  culls  should 
never  be  put  on  the  market  with  the  other  grades,  as  they  will  lower 
the  prices  of  the  better  grades.  It  is  better  to  throw  away  the  culls 
or  feed  them  to  live  stock  than  to  try  to  dispose  of  them  on  a  low 

market.  .  ,  ,        ,         •     •    u-  u 

Many  growers,  who  grade  their  produce  when  the  price  is  hign, 
stop  grading  when  the  price  drops.  This  should  not  be,  because 
when  the  market  is  glutted  it  is  only  the  best  that  will  bring  a  re- 
munerative price.  The  lower  the  price  and  the  more  plentiful  the 
product,  the  more  rigid  should  be  the  grading.  When  the  market  is 
glutted  low  grade  produce  will  not  pay  the  cost  of  transportation 
and  marketing,  and  for  this  reason  only  the  best  should  be  offered 
for  sale  at  such  times.  The  low  grade  goods  will  compete  with  the 
better  goods,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  price  on  the  latter  will  not 
be  as  high  as  it  should. 

In  grading  and  packing  vegetables,  the  part  of  the  package 
which  is  exposed,  when  offered  for  sale,  should  give  a  correct  indica- 
tion of  the  contents  of  the  entire  package.  In  other  words,  the 
practice  of  topping  off  a  package  with  a  higher  grade  of  goods  than 
the  entire  package  contains  should  be  discontmued  because  it  is  a 
deception     The  writer  realizes  that  most  growers  who  follow  this 


io6 

method  do  not  intend  to  deceive  their  customers,  but  this  is  the  case. 
Absolute  honesty  in  grading  and  packing  will  pay  in  the  long  run. 
A  grower  who  puts  up  a  uniform  grade  of  goods  will  very  soon  at- 
tract attention  and  his  product  will  be  called  for  by  the  consumer. 

The  writer  believes  that  all  goods  put  up  in  packages  should  bear 
the  name  and  address  of  the  grower  and  the  grade  of  goods  con- 
tained in  the  package.  Whenever  a  grower  puts  his  name  on  a 
package,  he  is  going  to  see  that  the  goods  are  up  to  standard.  1  his 
is  proven  by  the  fact  that  growers  who  use  a  label,  Avhich  contains 
his  name  and  address,  seldom,  if  ever,  use  it  on  inferior  goods.  In 
other  words,  he  does  not  want  the  consumer  to  know  that  he  put 
up  the  inferior  product,  but  when  he  has  first-class  goods  he  wants 
his  name  on  the  package.  A  neat,  attractive  label  serves  as  a  good 
advertisement  for  the  grower  and  stimulates  business. 

Types  of  Packages. 

It  is  impractical  to  give  here  specific  information  in  regard  to 
types  of  packages  that  should  be  used  for  all  vegetables  under  all 
conditions.    However,  a  few  general  suggestions  may  not  be  out  of 
place      Packages  for  any  commodity  should  be  strong  and  well 
made ;   should  be  of  standard  and  full  measure ;   clean  and  bright; 
adapted  to  the  product  for  which  it  is  intended ;   of  such  size  and 
shape  that  it  can  be  conveniently  handled  and  stacked  in  cars  or 
wagons;    and,  when  opened,  should  expose  the  fruit  to  good  ad- 
vantage    The  package  should  be  cheap,  but  the  other  points  should 
not  be  sacrificed  for  cheapness.    That  the  box,  crate,  basket  or  bar- 
rel should  be  well  made  is  very  evident,  but  this  is  not  always  the 
case.    The  standard  celery  crate  used  in  the  north  is  not  strongly 
made  and  often  goes  to  pieces  before  the  product  is  sold.     This 
crate  is  too  large  for  convenient  handling.     The  writer  believes 
that  a  smaller  crate  would  be  more  satisfactory,  because  it  can  be 
more  conveniently  handled,  does  not  break  up  so  badly,  and  when 
used  in  storage,  the  celery  keeps  better  than  in  a  larger  crate.    The 
shape  of  the  package  is  very  important  from  the  standpoints  of 
stacking  in  cars,  from  the  appearance,  and  the  carrying  of  the  goods 
Tomatoes   should   not   be  packed   in   long,   narrow   boxes  or  tall 
hampers,  because  the  weight  of  fruit  will  crush  the  lower  layers. 
For  such  commodities,  wide,  flat  baskets  or  boxes  should  ordinar- 
ily be  used.    The  four  or  six  basket  carrier  is  one  of  the  best  types 
of  packages  for  tomatoes. 

Old,  weather-beaten,  dirty,  or  damaged  packages  should  never 
be  used,  as  they  detract  from  the  appearance  of  the  goods.  A  first- 
class  product  put  up  in  unattractive  packages  will  not  bring  a  good 
price.  Packages,  when  bought  some  time  before  being  used,  should 
be  stored  where  they  will  be  protected  from  rains,  and  can  be  kept 

clean 

The  package  should  be  cheap,  as  it  is  given  away.  It  is  much 
better  to  have  a  cheap  gift  package  than  a  more  expensive  one  which 
will  be  returned,  but  it  must  not  be  so  cheap  that  it  will  fail  to  pre- 
sent the  goods  in  an  attractive  manner.     The  grower  should  al- 


io/ 

ways  bear  in  mind  that  the  container  helps  or  hinders  fhe  sale  of  the 

oroduct   depending  on  the  appearance  of  the  package. 

proauct,  aep        ^        .^  .^  advisable  to  put  up  the  product  m  such 

size  ^ckaees  that  the  consumer  will  take  an  unbroken  package. 
Even^heT  the  goods  are  sold  wholesale  or  consigned  it  .s  some- 
Umes  Tdvisable  to  pack  in  such  size  containers  as  the  consumer  can 

""'  GXe^s  have^Seen  giving  most  of  their  attention  to  the  produc- 
tion ofTegetables  and  entirely  too  little  care  and  attention  to  the 
leading  pfcking  and  marketing  of  their  products.  All  these  factors 
fhoudWoroughly  studied, Is  lack  of  attention  to  any  one  phase 
of  "he  work  will  materially  reduce  the  returns.  No  matter  how 
good  th^  product,  if  poorly  graded  -"^packed,  they  w,n  not  brmg 
iood  prices  under  ordinary  market  conditions,  "'^e  goods  are  ot 
hieh  quality  and  well  sorted  and  are  poorly  packed  in  unattractive 
oalka^s  they  will  not  sell  to  good  advantage.  It  shows  lack  of 
eood  fudgment  for  a  grower  to  put  first-class  goods  in  a  second  or 
fhTrd  ff  package,  or  to  put  first,  second,  and  third  class  goods 

'"  ''ThH^orrT  grower  makes  a  careful  study  of  the  grading 
packing   and  marketing  of  his  goods,  the  sooner  he  will  be  on  the 
I^Ia^  success      We  should  bear  in  mind  that  our  lack  of  suc- 
c^f  is  due  to  our  Tn  Citations  rather  than  to  the  limitations  or 

dishonesty  of  others. 

IRRIGATION  AS  A  FACTOR  IN  VEGETABLE  GROWING. 

By  a.  M.  Seabrook,  Bridgeton,  N.  J. 

nnrinp  the  last  few  years  "The  High  Cost  of  Living"  and  the 
'■Conservation  o  Our  National  Resources"  are  two  of  the  questions 
thaHave  come  before  the  people  for  discussion  and  consideration. 
DeLheAe  effect  that  the  cold  storage  of  our  ood  supplies  may 
hnvriDon  orices  I  believe  that  the  cost  of  living  is  and  always  will 
be  lared?  dete^ined  by  the  law  of  supply  and  demand.  I  have 
Uttle  faith  in  thTtheory  that  the  cost  of  living  can  be  regulated  by 
egllatTve  e^ctment,  and  do  not  believe  that  our  Present  tanff  law 
wm  maki  any  material  difference  in  the  cost  of  the  necessities  of  life 

*°  "^ThXTessential  in  reducing  the  living  cost  is  the  elimination 
r  ,!.»     It  is  said  that  we  are  the  most  wasteful  nation  on 

iTobT   If  the  waste  from  o^r  tables  and  culinary  departments 
could  be  eliminated  there  is  no  question  but  what  Jt  would  have  a 
Her  ded  effect  in  the  reduction  of  the  cost  of  foodstuffs. 
'^''*  The  further  solution  of  this  question  lies  •" '"ereased  produc- 
tinn     This  can  be  brought  about  by  the  conservation  of  our  water 

produce  fn  Europear.  countries  is  far  in  excess  per  acre  of  wha^. 
is  in  this  country.    The  question  may  be  asked.    How  is  the  tarmer 


io8 

to  be  benefited  if  he  has  to  place  his  product  on  the  market  for  a 
lower  price  than  he  receives  at  the  present  time.  In  reply  to  this 
question  it  may  be  stated  that  if  the  farmer  can  double  the  amount 
of  his  product  per  acre  the  corresponding  reduction  in  the  cost  of 
producing  it  will  enable  him  to  sell  at  a  much  lower  figure  and  still 
make  a  larger  profit  than  at  present.  It  costs  very  little  more  to  pro- 
duce 500  bushels  of  potatoes  per  acre  than  it  does  to  produce  250. 
If  the  farmer  grows  the  latter  quantity  and  sells  them  for  $1.00  per 
bushel  his  receipts  are  $250.00  per  acre  On  the  other  hand  if  he 
grows  500  bushels  and  sells  them  for  75  cents  per  bushel,  his  re- 
ceipts are  $375.00.  Under  these  conditions  he  is  much  better  off 
and  the  consumer  is  getting  his  table  supply  for  twenty-five  per  cent, 
less  than  under  the  former  condition. 

The  three  essentials  that  enter  into  the  growing  of  a  full  crop 
are  fertility,  cultivation  and  moisture.  We  may,  however,  have  our 
soil  in  the  highest  state  of  fertility,  give  it  the  very  best  of  cultiva- 
tion, take  the  utmost  care  to  protect  our  crops  from  insect  pests  and 
disease,  and  still  fail  to  gather  a  full  crop,  because  there  has  not 
been  sufficient  moisture  to  bring  it  to  maturity. 

I  have  chosen  this  subject  this  afternoon  because  I  believe  it  to 
be  one  of  the  most  vital  and  most  practical  questions  for  the  con- 
sideration of  the  vegetable  grower.  In  the  arid  regions  of  the 
West,  the  necessity  and  practicability  of  irrigation  were  long  ago 
recognized,  but  it  is  only  in  recent  years  that  the  subject  has  been 
given  attention  and  its  practicability  recognized  in  this  section  of 
the  country. 

Secretary  Lane,  in  his  annual  report,  recommends  that  the 
government  appropriate  $100,000,000.00  to  be  used  in  the  next  ten 
years  in  extending  irrigation  in  the  western  states.  Irrigation  in 
this  section  is  not  as  necessary  as  it  is  in  the  West,  but  it  is  just  as 
practical.  In  all  sections,  even  where  there  is  ample  rainfall,  it  is 
so  irregularly  distributed  that  droughts  are  frequent  and  crop  short- 
ages prevalent. 

We  utilize  our  water  supply  in  the  form  of  steam  to  run  our 
railroad  trains,  steam  boats,  factories  and  mills,  thus  adding  to  the 
progress  and  wealth  of  our  country,  and  you  say  that  this  is  prac- 
tical. The  vast  power  which  was  locked  up  in  Niagara  for  centuries 
has  been  unlocked  in  recent  years  and  is  being  utilized  to  run  electric 
trains  and  operate  industrial  plants  over  a  large  extent  of  country, 
and  we  admit  that  this  is  practical.  It  is  just  as  practical  to  take 
the  water  from  your  streams,  or  even  artesian  wells,  and  utilize  it 
in  the  growing  of  your  crops. 

In  our  experience  as  vegetable  growers  we  have  found  irriga- 
tion practical  for  the  following  reasons : 

1st.  It  insures  a  perfect  germination.    Under  favorable  condi- 
tions ninety-nine  per  cent,  of  the  fertile  seed  will  germinate. 
-    2.  It  insures  a  quick  growth. 

3.  On  the  average  it  will  double  the  amount  of  produce  per 
acre,  protographs  were  shown  where  the  crop  was  more  than  double 
that  on  adjoining  ground  without  irrigation. 

4th.  It  produces  a  crop  of  superior  quality.    Vegetables  contain 


109 

a  high  percentage  of  water,  and  to  get  the  best  quality  they  must 

have  sufficient  moisture  to  properly  mature  them.  t,;„u,,f 

5th.  Irrigation  grown  vegetables  command  the  very  highest 

^^^  TherTare  some  essentials  to  successful  irrigation  which  must  be 

always  considered,  as  follows:  ^      _  :.  ^^^t 

I  St.  An  abundant  water  supply.    A  never  failmg  stream  is  pref- 
erable, where  this  cannot  be  had,  artesian  wells  can  be  used. 

2d    A  high  state  of  fertility.     Fertilizer  containing  a  formula 
suitable  to  the  needs  should  be  applied  to  each  crop. 

3d.  Best  quality  of  seed,  both  as  to  purity  and  quality.    All  seed 

^  °"4th.^A^quick  succession  of  crops.  From  two  to  five  crops  can 
be  grown  per  season.    Intercropping  can  be  done  successfully. 

Though  irrigation  has  proven  to  be  practical  and  profitable  it 
must  not  be  regarded  as  a  cure-all  for  insect  pests  and  crop  diseases 
These  must  be  contended  with  under  all  circumstances,  but  under 
irrigation  they  are  reduced  to  a  minimum,  for  crops  grown  upon 
highly  fertile  soil  with  a  normal  condition  of  moisture  are  not  as 
susceptible  to  the  ravages  of  insects  and  disease  as  where  there  are 
severe  droughts  or  even  where  there  is  irregular  rainfall. 


ROUND  TABLE  DISCUSSION. 

The  round  table  discussion  on  varieties  was  conducted  by  Prof, 
•p   T    \Vatts 

Amongthe  characters  desired  in  all  varieties  of  vegetables,  spe- 
cial emohasis  was  laid  upon  the  following : 

rXlness  to  Type.-Tht  need  of  being  able  to  secure  seed  true 
to  type  was  emphasized  by  a  number  of  the  ^^^^^1^'%^"^:     .   , 
Quality.-Thcrt  is  a  tendency  to  require  vegetables  having  bet- 
ter quality'  than  formerly,  since  by  producing  vegetables  of  this 
kind  the  consumption  may  be  increased. 

Appearance -More  attention  should  be  given  to  the  appearance 
of  vegetables  when  placed  on  the  market,  since  a  >^f.",  f  ^^^^^  P^^^f  " 
uct  put  up  in  an  attractive  package  is  much  more  liable  to  be  sold 
than  where  the  work  is  careless  and  poorly  done. 

A  number  of  the  important  truck  crops  were  then  considered, 
the  first  of  which  was  celery.    Mr.  R.  H.  Garrahan,  of  Kingston 
orefers  White  Plume  for  the  early  crop.    He  stated  that  his  trade 
prefers  this  variety  although  it  will  not  hold  up  as  well  as  fo^o^ 
others      Mr.   H.   F.  Thompson,   Washington,   D.   C,   stated  that 
Golden  Self-Blanching  is  of  better  quality  when  grown  on  muck 
sons  than  on  other  soils,  and  emphasized  the  point  that  when  thus 
grown  the  ribs  are  considerably  smaller.     Chicago  Giant  was  said 
fo  be  a  good  medium  early  variety.     It    s  a  summer  celery  w  1  h  a 
winter  flavor.     Mr.  Shallcross,  of  Harnsburg,  prefers  the  Golden 
SeH-Blanching  for  his  market.    Marshall  Ben,  of  Stokesdale,  stated 
tha   ninety-nine  per  cent,  of  the  celery  grown  for  the  early  crop  m 
hi  vkinity  is  Golden  Self-Blanching.    Mr.  Seabrook,  of  Bndgeton 
N  J    prefers  Winter  King,  and  Magnificence  for  the  late  crop.    A 


no 


number  of  the  members  find  Winter  Queen  and  Giant  Pascal  to  be 
satisfactory. 

Cabbage. — Mr.  Abram  Hostettler,  who  grows  cabbage  for  the 
Johnstown  market,  prefers  Copenhagen  Market,  Jersey  Wakefield, 
and  Charleston  Wakefield,  for  the  early  crop.  His  experience  has 
been  that  Copenhagen  Market  matures  evenly,  and  he  prefers  it  to 
the  other  varieties.  Mr.  R.  H.  Garrahan,  Kingston,  who  is  close  to 
the  Wilkes-Barre  market,  also  Harry  Pearce,  of  the  same  place, 
have  not  found  Copenhagen  Market  to  be  satisfactory  for  their  con- 
ditions. They  recommended  Jersey  Wakefield  for  the  early,  fol- 
lowed by  Enkhuizen  Glory  and  Succession  for  the  midseason  crop, 
and  for  the  late  crop,  Danish  Railhead,  Succession  and  Surehead. 
Some  of  the  members  recommended  the  use  of  a  ton  of  fertilizer 
which  will  analyze  six  per  cent,  of  nitrogen,  eight  per  cent,  of  phos- 
phoric acid  and  ten  per  cent,  of  potash  applied  to  the  ground  before 
the  planting  is  made.  After  the  plants  become  established,  this  is 
supplemented  with  from  four  to  six  hundred  pounds  of  nitrate  of 
soda  per  acre. 

Tomatoes. — For  the  extra  early  tomatoes,  some  were  of  the 
opinion  that  a  good  strain  of  Earliana  was  the  most  satisfactory. 
Some  have  found  Bonny  Best  to  be  superior.  These  varieties  fol- 
lowed by  Chalk  Jewel,  Matchless  and  Stone,  will  give  a  succession 
of  cropping.  Where  the  purple  fruited  varieties  are  desired,  June 
Pink,  Beauty  and  Globe  were  recommended. 

Beans. — Stringless  Greenpod  and  Burpee's  Stringless  were  gen- 
eral favorites.  For  the  pole  lima  beans.  Early  Leviathan,  King  of 
the  Garden  and  Dreer's  Improved  were  general  favorites.  No 
one  present  was  successful  in  growing  bush  limas  an  heayv  soils. 

Sweet  Corn. — Adams*  Extra  Early,  Burlington  and  Evergreen 
were  varieties  generally  considered  to  give  the  best  results.  These 
may  be  planted  on  the  same  day  and  will  give  a  succession  for  the 
market.  Some  members  have  found  that  Burlington  matures  sixty 
days  from  the  time  of  planting.  Mr.  Hostettler  grows  White  Cob 
Corry  and  Pocahontas,  Kendal's  Early  Giant  and  Stowell  Evergreen. 
His  average  is  one  thousand  dozen  per  acre,  and  when  planted  on 
the  same  day  these  varieties  mature  over  a  considerable  period  of 
time.  Mr.  Settlemeyer,  of  Wilmore,  finds  the  variety  Howling 
Mob,  desirable  for  his  market.  It  was  generally  considered  that 
Golden  Bantam,  where  known,  is  a  general  favorite. 

Peas. — Nott  Excelsior  was  generally  found  to  be  of  good  qual- 
ity, but  small.  Some  consider  that  the  variety  Thomas  Laxton  is 
to  be  preferred. 


SUMMER  MEETING 


The  1913  Summer  Meeting  was  held  at  Gettysburg,  September 
10  and  II.  The  afternoon  and  evening  of  the  lOth  were  occupied 
by  a  program — two  of  the  papers  are  here  given. 

On  the  nth  about  thirty  automobiles  took  the  guests  through 
the  apple  belt  and  a  few  of  the  orchards  of  Adams  County.  In  this 
trip  and  in  a  bounteous  luncheon  served  in  Fruit  Growers  Hall  at 
Bendersville,  at  the  end  of  the  trip.  The  Fruit  Growers  Association 
of  Adams  County  acted  as  host  to  the  State  Association.  The 
Fruit  Growers  Association  of  Adams  County  deserve  unstinted 
praise  for  the  liberal  entertainment  provided  during  this  trip  and 
luncheon.  It  would  have  done  every  member  of  the  State  Associa- 
tion a  world  of  good  to  have  taken  part  in  the  trip. 


A  CLOSER  UNION  BETWEEN  GROWER  AND  DEALER. 


By  R.  G.  Phillips,  Rochester,  N.  Y .,  Sec.  International  Apple 

Shippers  Association. 

I  am  down  on  your  program  to  speak  on  the  Sulzer  Bill,  and 
that  subject  has  been  announced  to  you  this  evening.  It  came  about 
in  this  way :  Sometime  ago  your  ofificers  requested  me  to  speak  on 
the  "Middleman,"  or  along  the  lines  of  a  closer  union  between 
grower  and  dealer.  I  was  not  then  sure  of  having  the  necessary 
time  to  prepare  such  a  talk  and  suggested  that  my  subject  be  put 
down  as  "the  Sulzer  Bill,"  with  the  understanding  that  if  possible  I 
would  take  up  the  original  subject.  Circumstances  so  shaped  them- 
selves that  I  shall  be  able  to  comply  with  the  first  request  and  talk 
to  you  for  a  little  while  concerning  the  "Middleman." 

A  few  years  ago,  when  the  New  York  Central  Railroad  was 
putting  in  a  siding  back  of  our  warehouse  on  Railroad  Street,  in  the 
city  of  Rochester,  the  foreman  in  charge  of  the  work  was  acci- 
dentally killed  by  stepping  backward  on  to  one  of  the  main  tracks. 
His  name  was  O'Brien,  and  from  the  nationality  you  may  judge  he 
was  popular,  not  only  with  the  men  under  him,  but  also  with  the 
officials  of  the  road.  He  had  risen  from  the  ranks,  starting  in  as  a 
green  boy  from  the  old  sod  with  his  pick  and  shovel.  He  was  very 
proud  of  his  position,  but  Mrs.  O'Brien  went  him  several  better. 
She  was  so  proud  that  she  disliked  to  be  reminded  in  any  way  of  the 
time  when  Denny  himself  wielded  a  pick  and  shovel. 

Well,  the  next  day  I  went  down  to  the  house  to  oflFer  my  sym- 
pathy, and  Mrs.  O'Brien  insisted  that  I  should  come  in  and  view  the 
many  and  beautiful  floral  offerings.  "Yes,"  she  went  on,  "thim 
flowers  do  be  showin*  how  many  friends  he  had.  That  pilly  came 
from  the  Master  Mechanic;   this  wreath  was  sint  by  the  Division 

III 


112 


Superintendent,  and  that  broken  calyum  came  from  the  Mayor 
himself."  Then  she  paused,  as  her  eyes  rested  on  a  beautiful  floral 
anchor  which  she  grabbed  savagely  and  flung  out  of  the  window, 
exclaiming  as  she  did  so,  "Who  the  divil  had  the  bad  taste  to  sind 
that  pick  ?" 

First  of  all  I  hope  this  won't  prove  to  be  anybody's  funeral, 
especially  mine,  and  I  don't  want  you  to  mistake  me  for  a  pick  and 
throw  me  out  of  the  window.  I  do  not  come  in  that  antagonistic 
form,  but  rather  in  the  spirit  of  friendship  and  good  will,  even 
though  I  am  a  representative  of  that  much  maligned  and  misunder- 
stood person,  the  middleman. 

Our  former  President,  Mr.  Loomis,  tells  this  story,  illustrating 
the  general  high  plane  in  the  world's  work  which  the  so-called  mid- 
dleman, dealer  or  commission  merchant  occupies,  at  least  in  the 
minds  of  certain  people.  Probably  you  have  heard  it  many  times, 
but,  anyway,  I  will  repeat  it.  It  seems  there  was  a  minister  who 
had  a  son  and  the  good  man  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  select  for 
him  the  precise  vocation  in  life  for  which  he  was  most  suited.  One 
day  he  said,  "Wife,  I  have  received  an  inspiration  as  to  how  we  can 
settle  this  tremendous  question.  We  will  take  our  son  to  the  attic 
and  leave  him  there  along  with  the  Bible,  a  silver  dollar  and  an 
apple.  After  a  time  we  will  look  in  and  if  he  is  reading  the  Bible, 
which  I  trust  he  will  be,  we  will  make  a  minister  of  him :  if  he  is 
interested  in  the  dollar,  we  will  make  him  a  banker,  and  if  he  is 
playing  with  the  apple,  we  will  make  him  a  farmer."  So  they  took 
the  little  fellow  to  the  attic  and  there  left  him.  At  length  they  tip- 
toed cautiously  to  the  door  and  looked  in,  only  to  find  the  boy  seated 
on  the  Bible,  clutching  the  dollar  in  his  right  hand  and  eating  the 
apple  from  his  left.  The  good  minister  was  horrified  and  in  de- 
spair. He  said,  "Wife,  our  son  is  not  fit  to  be  a  minister ;  he  doesn't 
know  enough  to  be  a  banker;  wife,  our  son  is  a  hog — let  us  make  a 
commission  merchant  of  him." 

From  the  dawn  of  history  mankind  has  demanded  a  scapegoat 
upon  whose  head  could  be  laid  all  the  iniquities  of  the  people  that  he 
might  bear  them  away  into  the  wilderness  of  forgetfulness.  First 
it  has  been  one  man  or  one  policy,  or  one  political  party  and  then 
another.  They  all  get  it  sooner  or  later,  and  for  that  reason  I  do 
not  know  that  the  middleman  should  unduly  complain  at  haying 
been  the  "goat"  for  the  last  two  or  three  years.  Still,  some  things 
can  go  too  far. 

This  attitude  of  mind  illustrated  by  the  story  has  been  fos- 
tered and  created  largely  by  the  yellow  press,  the  sensational  maga- 
zines, the  notoriety  seeking  politician,  the  man  with  an  ax  to  grind, 
and  some  well  meaning  individuals  whose  knowledge  of  the  subject 
is  chiefly  distinguished  by  its  absence.  For  example :  The  presi- 
dent of  one  of  our  railroads  addressed  a  group  of  farmers  in  my 
State  last  fall  and  assumed  to  tell  them  how  they  were  being  robbed 
of  their  too  splendid  cabbage  crop  by  this  evil  one — the  middleman. 
He  told  them  to  build  storehouses  and  lay  the  crop  away  until  win- 
ter and  reap  the  the  sure  and  certain  reward  of  high  prices  that  in- 
variably came.  Now  this  good  man  may  have  known  something 
about  a  railroad,  but  what  he  really  knew  about  the  cabbage  crop  and 


"3 

the  problems  of  marketing  was  distinguished  by  its  absence.  Un- 
fortunately for  the  middleman,  not  all  of  the  growers  heeded  his 
advice,  for  in  my  State  alone  the  remnants  of  hundreds  of  tons  were 
drawn  out  in  the  spring  from  the  storehouses  and  dumped  on  the 
land — a  total  loss,  plus  carrying  charges. 

This  man  knew  nothing  of  the  law  of  supply  and  demand.  He 
was  unaware  of  the  fact  that  crops  are  raised  to  be  consumed,  and 
that  one  year  with  another  they  must  be  kept  moving  from  the  very 
time  they  are  harvested,  or  disaster  results.  Evidently  he  had  never 
heard  of  shrinkage  or  decay,  nor  comprehended  that  fruits  and  vege- 
tables cannot  be  corded  up  like  brake  beams  or  yarded  like  old  cars 
and  kept  from  year  to  year.  The  fact  that  there  could  possibly  be 
too  many  cabbages  was  a  preposterous  proposition  to  him.  All  he 
knew  was  that  cabbage  was  cheap  and  that  therefore  the  middleman 
was  to  blame  for  it.  There  was,  and  could  be,  no  other  explanation 
or  cause ;  and  he  had  the  remedy  and  administered  it  with  all  the 
majesty  of  omniscence.  Those  who  took  it  have  my  sympathy. 
Now,  I  may  be  wrong,  but  I  imagine  his  suflfering  patients  will  call 
a  real  doctor  the  next  time  and  let  him  attend  to  railroading. 

Then  again,  you  all  know  our  good  friend,  Mr.  Yoakum,  form- 
erly one  of  the  head  men  of  the  Frisco  Lines.  For  close  to  two 
years,  and  until  this  spring,  it  has  been  nearly  impossible  to  pick  up  a 
magazine  or  the  Saturday  Evening  Post,  or  newspaper  without  read- 
ing his  attacks  upon  the  middleman,  coupled  with  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  words  of  advice  to  the  farmer  how  to  run  his  business  and 
exterminate  this  enemy  of  his  happiness.  And  all  the  time  he  was 
delicately  insinuating  that  the  railroads  should  be  allowed  to  raise 
their  rates.  He  became  an  authority  on  the  middleman  to  those 
who  knew  nothing  about  the  subject.  He  made  speeches  from 
Texas  to  Chicago;  he  told  the  farmers  how  to  milk  and  how  to 
curry  the  horses ;  he  was  quoted  as  the  very  fountain  head  of  wis- 
dom on  this  subject,  and  editors  wasted  pounds  of  ink  in  their  edi- 
torial columns  praising  this  new  Moses. 

Now  listen  to  the  conclusion  and  the  climax :  It  is  very  sad  to 
relate  that  this  spring  Mr.  Yoakum's  railroad  went  into  the  hands  of 
a  receiver  while  he  went  to  Europe.  Now  the  question  is,  and  judg- 
ing by  results,  did  he  know  any  more  about  the  middleman  than  he 
did  about  railroading? 

Then,  too,  there  has  been  this  wonderful  movement  on  the  part 
of  professors  and  politicians  to  uplift  the  farmer  and  redeem  him 
from  his  ignorance,  his  sufferings  and  his  poverty.  To  read  the 
articles  and  the  speeches  and  the  projects,  an  uninformed  person 
would  think  that  the  farmer  was  a  barbarian  and  incompetent  to 
conduct  his  affairs,  and  that  the  middleman  was  to  blame  for  it. 
Up  my  way,  and  practically  all  over  the  United  States,  the  farmers 
drive  automobiles,  wear  diamonds,  go  to  Florida  and  Japan  in  the 
winter,  send  their  children  to  college,  live  well,  have  money  in  the 
bank  and  could  lend  a  strong  hand  toward  uplifting  the  uplifter. 
And  as  for  competency  to  manage  his  affairs,  I  never  yet  ran  on  to 
very  many  fools  on  the  farm — not  enough  to  notice  it.  They  don't 
grow  that  kind  out  in  the  open,  under  the  sun  and  the  stars,  and 
with  all  of  the  Creator's  infi.nite  and  wonderful  forces  about  them. 


114 

We  had  a  well  meaning  man  up  our  way,  again  connected  with 
a  railroad,  who  for  a  time  was  engaged  in  this  uplift  movement, 
establishing  model  farms  and  telling  the  farmers  how  to  raise  and 
market  larger  crops.  This  was  very  commendable,  but  all  the  while 
he  was  thus  engaged  his  own  railroad  was  unable  to  haul  the  crops 
that  were  then  raised,  and  the  waste  from  car  shortage,  lack  of 
motive  power  and  delays  was  tremendous.  An  uprising  was  neces- 
sary to  get  relief  and  even  since  then  there  has  been  more  attention 
paid  to  railroading  than  to  outside  lines. 

It  is  my  judgment  that  it  would  be  better  for  many  of  these  peo- 
ple who  are  so  free  with  their  attacks  if  they  could  answer  like  the 
Irishman  did  when  his  friend  asked  him  what  made  his  nose  so  red. 
"Faith,"  he  replied,  "me  nose  glows  wid  pride  because  it  is  stuck 
into  nobody's  business  but  me  own."  ,  .,       u 

For  two  or  three  years  back  the  middleman  has  stood  the  abuse 
of  the  ignorant  and  malignant— those  who  know  nothing  about  the 
business  or  its  problems,  and  many  who  have  cared  less.  One 
would  have  thought  that  this  middleman  was  a  jail  bird;  a  robber 
of  the  helpless;  a  buccaneer  of  trade  who  had  raised  the  black  flag 
and  scoured  the  high  seas  of  life— a  sort  of  Captain  Kidd  and  Silver 
and  Ben  Gunn  combined,  who  tramped  the  deck  smging, 

"Fifteen  men  on  the  dead  man's  chest, 
Yo-ho-ho  and  a  bucket  of  rum." 

The  fame  of  Francois  Villon,  student,  poet  and  house  breaker, 
has  been  perpetuated  in  song  and  story  for  five  centuries  and  yet 
he  is  but  a  crude  performer  compared  to  the  middleman,  if  the  de- 
ductions and  accusations  of  the  uninformed  are  to  be  believed.  We 
have  been  made  the  scapegoat  of  every  ill  and  the  cause  of  all  the 
sufferings  of  mankind.  And  all  of  this  in  spite  of  repeated  investiga- 
tions and  facts  proving  the  contrary.  t^.       ^  xt       v    i 

A  special  committee,  appointed  by  Governor  Dix,  of  New  York, 
known  as  the  New  York  State  Food  Investigation  Commission,  con- 
sisting of  William  Church  Osborn,  Hon.  Calvin  J.  Huson,  Com- 
missioner of  Agriculture,  and  Ezra  A.  Tuttle,  of  Long  Island,  as- 
sisted by  Horace  V.  Bruce  and  Raymond  A.  Pearson,  investigated 
the  high  cost  of  living,  the  middleman  and  various  methods  of  mar- 
keting, and  filed  their  report  last  November.  They  found  that  the 
total  cost  of  wholesaling,  including  profits,  was  about  ten  per  cent., 
and  of  retailing  thirty-three  per  cent.  They  furthermore  found 
that  these  items  were  chiefly  made  up  by  cost  of  handling,  and  not 
profits.  Will  any  fair-minded  man  say  that  ten  per  cent,  is  un- 
reasonable for  the  wholesaler  who  must  be  on  the  docks  or  at  his 
store  from  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  another  night  falls,  and 
who  out  of  this  pays  his  rent,  his  deliveries,  takes  the  risk  of  bad 
accounts,  maintains  a  force  of  skilled  men  and  who,  by  his  energy 
in  salesmanship,  finds  an  outlet  for  these  commodities?  Is  this  an 
unreasonable  profit  and  expense  account  combined,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  products  which  are  perishable  and  the  packing  and  gradmg 
of  which  is  often  dishonest?  .,,.«. 

Much  was  heard  at  one  time  concerning  the  wide  difference  be- 


^) 


(4 


3 

I 


"5 

tween  the  price  the  farmer  received  for  eggs  and  the  price  the  con- 
sumer paid.  The  middleman  was  straightway  called  a  robber  and 
continued  to  be  until  the  recent  investigation  of  the  government  set- 
tled the  question.  The  government  found,  what  every  middleman 
knew,  viz.,  that  the  waste  from  rotten  and  broken  eggs  was  tre- 
mendous. In  other  words,  everything  that  looked  like  an  egg  was 
shipped,  whether  fit  or  not.  These  bad  and  broken  eggs  have  to  be 
taken  out  and  thrown  away,  or  utilized  for  by-products.  The  con- 
sumer won't  take  them  and  won't  pay  for  them,  and  the  loss  in 
shrinkage  has  to  be  added  to  what  is  left.  I  myself  have  taken  as 
high  as  six  dozen  eggs  which  were  absolutely  worthless  out  of  a 
single  crate.  I  had  the  man  who  packed  them  in  the  office  before  I 
would  sell  the  balance,  for  I  didn't  propose  to  be  called  a  robber 
later  on.  Confronted  with  the  goods,  he  admitted  that  he  knew  they 
were  there  and  said  they  came  from  old  nests  under  the  barn.  I  had 
another  man  in  the  office  who  calmly  admitted  that  he  had  stuffed 
450  barrels  of  apples  on  us  the  preceding  year  and  had  tried  it 
again.  I  had  another  man  who  felt  that  he  had  been  wrongfully 
used  when  the  same  trick  was  discovered,  and  in  great  anger  he  ex- 
claimed, "Well,  that's  the  first  time  anybody  ever  caught  me." 

I  could  multiply  these  examples  indefinitely.  They  are  going 
on  constantly  all  over  this  country,  and  yet  the  middleman  is  held 
up  as  the  chief  of  all  evil  spirits. 

The  government  made  still  another  report  in  June  of  this  year, 
in  which  he  found  that  during  the  last  twenty  years  of  advancing 
prices,  the  margin  between  the  producers*  and  consumers*  prices  had 
not  widened  much,  if  any,  thereby  conclusively  proving  that  the  mid- 
dleman has  not  been  enriching  himself  at  the  expense  of  either  pro- 
ducer or  consumer,  and  the  attacks  against  him  were  unwarranted. 

Now,  then,  what  are  some  of  the  causes  of  the  high  cost  of 
living?  I  will  touch  upon  a  single  phase  of  the  question,  viz.,  the 
cost  of  high  living,  and  omit  all  reference  to  the  tremendous  increase 
in  the  prcxluction  of  gold,  which  is  alone  sufficient  to  raise  prices. 

We  have  become  a  people  who,  because  of  the  natural  wealth 
and  plenty  of  our  country,  have  been  prodigal  of  its  resources  to 
the  point  of  waste.  We  have  constantly  demanded  increased  luxur- 
ies, service  and  utilities,  both  private  and  municipal.  The  farm  has 
been  deserted  for  the  city  and  production  has  failed  to  keep  pace 
with  population  on  the  basis  which  we  knew  twenty-five  years  ago. 
Hours  of  labor  have  been  reduced  to  the  point  where  it  is  almost 
time  to  go  home  as  soon  as  the  man  reaches  a  job.  With  the  short- 
ening hours  wages  have  constantly  been  increased. 

Outside  of  the  fields  of  actual  utility  consider  the  millions  of 
dollars  tied  up  in  automobiles  as  a  luxury,  a  product  whose  value 
shrinks  by  leaps  and  bounds  with  every  month  owned.  The  thirty- 
horse  power  man  of  to-day  must  own  a  sixty-horse  power  machine 
to-morrow,  regardless  of  where  the  money  comes  from. 

Travel  by  rail  and  boat  has  resolved  itself  into  a  question  of 
speed,  ease  and  luxury.  Hotels  of  real  and  bizarre  magnificence 
have  been  erected  from  one  end  of  the  country  to  the  other.  The 
service  of  kings  is  yours,  surrounded  by  tapestries,  and  paintings, 
marble,  granite,  crystal,  gold,  silver  and  bronze.    An  army  of  serv- 


ii6 

ants  clothed  in  white  gloves  and  gold  lace,  wait  upon  you  all  the 
way  from  the  curb  to  the  thirty-second  floor. 

Look  at  the  retailer  for  a  moment :  The  store  he  occupies  costs 
three  times  what  it  did  twenty-five  years  ago.  Added  to  that  he 
must  have  the  most  expensive  equipment,  sanitary  ice  boxes,  plate 
glass  windows,  mahogany  show  cases  and  quartered  oak  counters. 
His  help  must  be  clothed  in  clean  linen  coats  every  day.  His  deliv- 
eries must  be  many  and  expensive,  and  in  addition  to  that  he  must 
have  a  special  boy  to  take  a  yeast  cake  to  Mrs.  Jones  when  she  is  in 
a  hurry. 

Now,  gentlemen,  all  of  these  things  add  a  tremendous  overhead 
expense  for  which  someone  must  pay.  When  you  buy  an  apple  in 
the  Astor  House,  you  pay  for  the  apple  plus  the  luxuries  and  the 
service  that  surround  you.  When  you  buy  apples  from  the  grocer, 
you  pay  for  the  apples  plus  equipment  and  service. 

Take  Iftie  item  of  deliveries :  On  my  street  in  Rochester  there 
are  twelve  houses  and  deliveries  are  made  by  five  different  milkmen, 
five  markets,  six  grocers,  four  icemen  and  five  department  stores,  all 
weaving  a  web  of  unnecessary  expense.  And  yet  no  man  on  that 
street  would  sacrifice  in  the  interest  of  economy  his  sacred  right  of 
trading  where  he  desires.  Would  we  ourselves  carry  anything 
home?  Never!  Perish  the  thought!  On  some  streets  in  every 
city  it  is  a  disgrace  to  carry  a  bundle,  and  the  one  who  does  it  is 
socially  ostracised.  The  tntth  of  the  matter  is  we  don't  want  to  be 
economical.  Economy  is  regarded  as  something  low  and  degrading 
It  is  unmanly  and  unwomanly. 

Take  it  on  the  farm.  I  can  remember  when  I  was  a  boy  that  the 
man  who  had  a  top  buggy  was  regarded  both  as  a  king  and  a  riotous 
liver.  It  was  the  end  of  human  endeavor.  We  used  to  keep  ours 
under  a  big  sheet  and  never  under  any  circumstances  took  it  out  in 
the  rain,  when  the  top  would  have  been  of  real  benefit.  To-day 
thousands  of  farmers  wouldn't  look  at  a  top  buggy.  They  own 
automobiles  and  would  drive  them  through  the  bottomless  pit,  if 
they  wanted  to  go,  with  the  gasoline  tank  on  fire  and  the  paintblis- 
tering  on  the  body ;  throw  it  away  to-morrow  and  get  another. 

Now  the  conclusion  of  the  whole  matter  is  this :  The  American 
people  can't  eat  their  cake  and  have  it  at  one  and  the  same  time. 
If  a  man  dances,  he  must  pay  the  fiddler.  I  am  not  criticising  any 
man  for  how  he  lives  or  what  he  does  with  his  money.  That  is  his 
business.  He  can  have  all  the  luxuries  and  service  he  desires,  but 
I  have  absolutely  not  one  iota  of  sympathy  or  patience  with  this  con- 
stant wail  about  the  high  cost  of  living  when  the  people  themselves 
are  largely  to  blame  for  it.  And  I  have  still  less  sympathy  with  the 
constant  effort  to  find  a  scapegoat  and  to  endeavor  to  saddle  our  own 
improvidence  on  the  shoulders  of  the  middleman.  We  love  to 
blame  some  one  else.  We  want  a  victim  to  sacrifice  in  the  hope  that 
our  own  sins  may  be  washed  away. 

Now  I  have  lived  with  the  wholesale  middleman  a  good  many 
years.  I  have  shipped  him  a  good  many  thousand  barrels  of  apples 
and  hundreds  of  cars  of  other  commodities.  I  have  dealt  with  farm- 
ers, doctors,  lawyers,  carpenters,  ministers,  and  bankers,  and,  take 
him  all  in  all,  I  have  found  this  much  maligned  middleman  to  be  of 


117 

as  high  character,  as  reliable,  as  industrious  and  of  as  much  use 
in  the  world  as  any  other  class.  You  will  find  dishonest  men  in 
every  walk  of  life,  but  with  few  exceptions  there  is  not  much  excuse 
in  doing  business  with  them. 

The  so-called  middleman  is  absolutely  essential  and  without 
him  the  wheels  of  commerce  would  come  to  a  standstill.  He  is  a 
specialist  in  an  age  of  specialization.  Life  has  become  too  complex 
for  one  man  to  do  it  all.  A  hundred  years  ago  the  individual  was 
supreme.  He  raised  his  food,  made  his  own  clothes  and  shoes,  con- 
structed his  own  buildings  and,  in  short,  was  sufficient  unto  himself. 
To-day  no  man  is  sufficient  unto  himself.  If  he  can  do  one  thing 
well,  he  is  fortunate,  and  to  that  all  of  his  energies  must  be  directed. 
We  are  interdependent  and  need  the  co-operation  of  a  hundred  in- 
dustries to  contribute  to  our  needs  and  efficiency. 

In  the  city  of  New  York  alone  look  at  the  problem  of  distribu- 
tion, where  on  some  days  more  than  a  million  packages  of  food  ar- 
rive. Does  it  require  no  one  to  receive  them,  to  care  for  them,  to 
find  customers  and,  by  the  power  of  trained  salesmanship,  find  an 
outlet  ?  Does  it  require  no  capital  and  brains  and  energy  to  handle 
this  tremendous  volume?  Does  it  require  no  one  to  collect  the 
money  ?    And  what  is  true  of  New  York  is  true  all  over  this  broad 

land. 

I  suppose  there  are  some  good  people  who  would  advocate  dis- 
tributing the  thousands  of  cases  of  eggs,  tubs  of  butter,  cars  of 
water  melons,  berries,  cantaloupes,  potatoes,  onions,  apples  and  a 
hundred  other  commodities  by  parcels  post.  Last  winter  a  committee 
of  reformers  in  New  York  did  advocate  selling  the  apple  crop  in 
10  pound  packages  by  parcels  post.  That  would  have  meant  on 
December  ist,  i,200,ooo,cxx>  pounds  of  apples,  and  120,000,000  ten 
pound  packages.  A  beautiful  dream,  wasn't  it?  Even  had  it  been 
possible  to  get  the  fruit  in  this  shape,  or  for  the  mail  to  have  carried 
it,  who  was  to  find  a  market  for  it  and  collect  the  $20,000,000  that 
it  was  then  worth  ? 

Now,  in  conclusion,  let  me  read  you  what  the  great  north- 
western apple  country  thinks  of  the  middleman.  I  quote  from  the 
address  of  E.  H.  Shepard,  of  Hood  River,  Oregon,  Publisher  of 
Better  Fruit,  and  a  large  grower  of  apples,  and  read  at  our  Cleve- 
land meeting: 

"I  am  sorry  to  say  that  frequently,  as  I  stated  in  my  address  at 
Niagara  Falls  in  1910,  in  my  opinion  the  drawback  to  the  fruit 
business  being  profitable  is  a  lack  of  confidence  between  dealer  and 
grower.  In  all  cases  of  difference  there  is  always  right  and  wrong 
on  both  sides.  By  that  I  mean  that  both  dealer  and  fruit  grower 
has  been  subject  in  the  past  to  criticism,  and  I  want  to  say  that  in 
many  instances  this  criticism  was  more  or  less  justified.  But  do  not 
misunderstand  me ;  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  a  large  majority  of 
of  dealers  have  been  at  fault,  nor  do  I  mean  to  say  that  a  large  part 
of  the  growers  are  to  blame,  but  there  has  been  sufficient  friction 
to  interfere  with  successful  business,  affecting  both  the  pocket-book 
of  the  fruit  grower  and  fruit  dealer.  You  have  your  troubles — 
fruit  growers  have  theirs.    I  believe  this  lack  of  confidence  in  many 


ii8 

cases  in  the  past  has  been  responsible  for  many  of  our  present  trou- 
bles. 

"The  idea  exists  with  some  that  the  middleman  can  and  should 
be  eliminated.  Even  some,  I  might  say  many,  maintain  that  the  fruit 
grower  should  sell  direct  to  the  consumer;  that  public  markets 
should  be  owned  and  operated  by  the  fruit  growers  and  by  so  doing 
the  high  cost  of  living  could  be  eliminated  and  the  fruit  grower 
made  rich.  Do  not  be  quick  to  censure  fruit  growers  who  maintain 
these  ideas.  Be  patient.  Patience  is  a  virtue.  I  believe  it  is  your 
duty,  I  believe  it  is  my  duty,  and  I  believe  it  is  the  duty  of  everybody 
who  has  had  business  experience,  who  knows  business  methods,  so 
far  as  time  and  finances  will  permit,  to  try  and  create  a  better  under- 
standing of  necessary  expenses  in  distribution.  By  so  doing  we 
will  all  soon  be  educated  to  better  understand  the  necessary  busi- 
ness methods  and  ways  of  handling  the  fruit  crop. 

"I  believe  I  am  justified  in  saying  that  a  large  part  of  the  fruit 
growers  who  believe  the  middleman  should  be  eliminated  are  people 
who  have  never  been  engaged  in  any  commercial  business  of  any 
importance  I  think  I  am  justified  in  saying  to  you  that  the  firms  who 
have  engaged  in  handling  the  fruit  of  the  Northwest,  the  associa- 
tions, including  their  managers  and  directors,  have  some  compre- 
hension of  the  force,  the  number  of  men  and  the  capital  required  to 
distribute  the  immense  crop  of  fruit  that  is  grown  in  the  United 
States.  Fruit  growers  realize  that  the  fruit  season  lasts  but  a  few 
months.  We  know  that  any  concern  that  supplies  the  retail  trade 
must  keep  its  employes  on  the  payroll  by  the  year.  We  know  it 
must  pay  rent  for  the  year.  We  know  dealers  must  handle  other 
commodities,  such  as  oranges,  bananas,  vegetables  and  various  other 
products,  and  do  a  continuous  business  the  entire  year.  We  know 
that  to  conduct  the  necessary  number  of  concerns  in  each  of  the 
many  diflFerent  cities  and  communities  where  our  fruit  is  distributed 
would  require  hundreds  of  thousands  of  people  and  millions  of 
capital.  We  realize  that  it  is  impossible  for  us  to  maintain  such  a 
payroll,  or  to  stand  the  necessary  expense  of  conducting  such  a  busi- 
ness, or  to  raise  the  capital  that  is  necessary.  At  the  Washington 
State  Horticultural  meeting,  held  in  North  Yakima,  January,  191 3, 
both  Mr.  Gilbert  and  myself  expressed  ourselves  in  plain  words,  en- 
deavoring to  make  it  clear  that  the  middleman  is  a  necessity  and 
that  it  would  be  practically  impossible  to  eliminate  him." 

That  address  was  read  by  Wilmer  Sieg,  of  the  Hood  River 
Apple  Growers  Association.  Mr.  Sieg  prefaced  the  reading  of  this 
address  with  the  following: 

"Gentlemen,  I  come  to  you  from  the  Northwest,  delegated  by 
my  friend  Shepard,  of  Better  Fruit,  to  read  his  paper,  a  paper  care- 
fully compiled  and  to  which  I  call  your  attention.  And  I  come  to 
you  from  a  new  Northwest,  I  hope  new  in  its  affiliations — a  North- 
west that  realizes  that  the  sentimentality  has  gone  out  of  the  box 
apple  and  that  we  are  down  to  the  reality ;  a  Northwest  that  wants 
to  co-operate  with  you  and  not  to  antagonize  in  any  respect;  a 
Northwest  that  realizes  and  appreciates  the  known  method  of  dis- 
tribution and  whose  whole  eflfort  shall  be  toward  co-operation." 
Gentlemen,  let  us  have  a  better  understanding  of  each  others* 


119 

trials  and  needs.  Let  us  get  together  and  work  together  toward  the 
upbuilding  of  this  wonderful  industry,  and  not  waste  good  time  and 
injure  progress  by  antagonism  and  bitterness.  Our  interests  are 
identical.  We  cannot  prosper  without  you  and  you  cannot  prosper 
without  us.  You  are  entitled  to  fair  prices  that  will  make  you  a 
reasonable  profit  upon  your  investment  and  for  your  labor.  The 
dealer  is  entitled  to  a  fair  profit  for  his  services  and  risk.  More 
than  that  no  man  has  ever  yet  received  in  the  long  run,  nor  will  he 
ever  receive. 

You  know  the  men  who  are  trustworthy,  who  give  you  good 
service,  who  pay  for  what  they  buy  and  stand  by  their  contracts. 
These  are  the  men  to  do  business  with  and  to  tie  to.  Give  them  your 
support  and  they  will  give  you  theirs,  and  both  shall  prosper. 


ADVERTISING  THE  APPLE. 


By  U.  Grant  Border,  Baltimore,  Md. 


What  is  the  most  important  problem  confronting  the  apple 
producing  business?  Is  it  the  selection  of  soil  or  location?  Is  it 
fertilizing,  cultivating,  pruning,  spraying,  assorting  and  packing? 
Important  and  necessary  as  all  these  are,  they  lose  their  value  when 
there  are  none  to  buy  the  fruit  at  a  profitable  price.  Then  all  those 
problems  are  swallowed  up  in  the  one  great  problem — Marketing. 

A  short  crop  has  few  marketing  problems.  A  normal  crop  has 
many.  What  of  a  bumper  crop?  Consumption  must  be  made  to 
keep  pace  with  production.  This  country  cannot  grow  too  many 
apples  if  marketing  is  made  easy  by  insistant  demand.  Demand  can 
be  created  by  and  through  the  power  of  publicity.  Consumers,  who 
are  now  satisfied  to  eat  few,  must  be  urged  to  eat  more.  Those  who 
know  little  of  the  fruit  must  be  taught,  markets  must  be  developed 
where  now  apples  are  almost  unknown.  Apples  are  served  in  197 
ways,  and  are  creators  and  preservers  of  physical  health  and  beauty, 
giving  us  a  line  of  selling  talk  no  other  fruit  on  earth  can  claim. 

Mr.  Gilbert,  of  Richey  &  Gilbert  Co.,  a  prominent  factor  in 
the  box  apple  business  of  the  Northwest,  sailed  from  San  Francisco 
on  February  26,  1913,  on  the  mission  of  studying  the  prospects  of 
marketing  American  apples  in  all  the  lands  of  the  East.  In  his 
report  he  says,  "Some  power  should  arouse  us  to  our  duties  in  the 
Orient,  the  possibilities  of  our  expanding  markets  there  are  beyond 
measure." 

Gentlemen,  we  have  not  yet  begun  to  take  advantage  of  the 
possibilities  of  our  own  markets,  and  yet  we  hear  the  cry  "overpro- 
duction." Overproduction!  I  have  no  patience  with  those  short- 
sighted, narrow-minded  Americans  who  think  there  can  be  a  re- 
stricted demand  for  apples,  the  greatest  fruit  God  has  given  to 
man.  The  demand  can  always  be  made  to  take  care  of  the  pro- 
duction, if  the  marketing  problems  are  met  with  the  broad-minded 
spirit  that  is  in  keeping  with  the  importance  of  the  industry. 

Wrigley  spends  twenty-five  per  cent,  of  his  gross  receipts  in 
advertising.     Twenty-five  per  cent,  of  the  gross  sales  of  apples 


I20 

would  give  twenty  millions  for  advertising.  One-half  of  one  per 
cent,  would  give  a  fund  sufficient  to  insure  a  profitable  market  for 
every  apple  grower,  and  yet  we  fold  our  arms  seemingly  content  to 
snatch  a  profit  from  every  second  or  third  crop,  and  then  profitable, 
chiefly  because  disaster  has  overtaken  some  other  orchards. 

Some  say  apples  need  no  advertising,  that  every  apple  finds  a 
market.  True,  but  that  market  is  often  found  at  great  sacrifice  in 
prices.  A  letter  I  received  from  a  lady  in  Long  Island,  gives  an  idea 
of  the  point  of  view  of  some  consumers.  In  her  letter  she  says- 
Why  spend  money  to  advertise  apples?  simply  lower  prices 
so  consumers  can  afford  to  buy  all  they  want."  And  right  along  that 
line  a  great  educational  campaign  must  be  waged,  for  consumers 
must  be  taught  that  it  costs  money  to  produce  the  kind  of  apples  de- 
manded at  present,  taught  that  cost  of  labor,  material,  package  and 
freight  IS  higher,  taught  that  the  cost  of  distribution  as  now  de- 
manded by  consumers,  is  greater  than  ever. 

The  day  of  the  old  farmer  hauling  a  few  bushels  of  knotty, 
diseased^  bruised  apples  to  market  in  old  sacks,  is  past.  That  man 
could  afford  to  sell  his  apples  at  fifty  cents  per  bushel,  not  so  with 
the  apple  of  commerce  to-day.  Why,  gentlemen,  if  you  made  me  a 
present  of  your  apples,  they  could  not  now  be  sold  at  retail  in  the 
Baltimore  market  in  March,  for  less  than  thirty-five  cents  per  peck 
I  would  have  to  pay  forty-five  cents  for  barrels,  forty  cents  for  gath- 
ering and  packing,  ten  cents  hauling,  twenty-five  cents  freight  fifty 
cents  storage,  twenty-five  cents  to  make  sound,  another  hauling 
charge  of  five  cents,  twenty-five  cents  for  my  jobbers  profit  and  they 
cost  the  retailer  over  twenty  cents  per  peck.  He  in  turn  cannot 
keep  up  his  present  up-to-date  establishment  and  sell  apples  at  less 
than  fifteen  cents  per  peck  profit.  That's  what  they  would  cost  if 
apples  were  absolutely  given  away  by  the  grower.  So  when  apples 
are  retailed  in  the  spring  at  less  than  fifty  cents  per  peck,  someone 
either  producer  or  speculator,  is  losing  money. 

Notwithstanding  the  kick  against  high  cost  of  apples,  they  are 
in  reality,  the  cheapest  fruit  grown— because  they  are  the  best 
More  food  and  health  satisfaction  may  be  obtained  from  $i.oo  worth 
of  them,  than  from  $i.oo  spent  in  any  other  fruit.  You  readily  see 
the  great  work  necessary  to  remove  all  these  prejudices  from  the 
minds  of  consumers. 

Apples  must  combat  the  aggressive  advertising  campaign  now 
being  waged  by  the  orange,  grapefruit  and  pineapple  interests; 
50,000  carloads  of  California  oranges  must  and  will  be  marketed. 
1  en  million  boxes  Florida  citrus  fruits  will  be  sold  in  competition 
with  apples.  Can  we  afford  to  sit  idly  by  and  view  with  equinimity 
the  displacing  of  the  king  of  fruits  by  these  others  ?  One  concern 
m  California  has  appropriated  $250,000  to  spend  this  season  to  in- 
crease sale  of  their  oranges.  They  are  telling  the  people,  oranges 
have  no  equal  m  health  giving  properties.  If  we  are  silent  about 
apples,  what  will  be  the  result  ? 

Notwithstanding  that  funds  available  were  meagre,  our  com- 
mittee accomplished  much,  especially  its  work  for  "Apple  Day  "  the 
third  Tuesday  in  October.  We  secured  hundreds  of  splendid  edi- 
torials and  press  notices,  which  had  the  effect  of  greatly  increasing 


f 


121 

the  sale  of  apples.  As  Mr.  Wagner,  of  Chicago,  wrote,  "We  gave 
an  impetus  to  the  consumption  of  apples  on  that  day  that  will  be 
felt  throughout  the  entire  season." 

Our  "197  Ways"  to  serve  apples  has  met  with  a  demand  we 
cannot  keep  up  with.  Requests  for  copies  have  been  received  from 
every  state  in  the  Union,  from  Canada,  Europe,  even  Hawaii  and 
far  off  Australia. 

Some  of  you  recall  the  disastrous  apple  season  of  1896,  when 
thousands  and  thousands  of  barrels  in  February  and  March,  were 
sold  at  less  than  $1.00  per  barrel.  Many  did  not  realize  how  com- 
plete the  disaster  was  until  they  had  finally  sold  or  given  away  the 
last  of  their  holdings,  then  they  asked,  "What  happened  to  apples  ?" 
which  reminds  me  of  the  story  of  Olds  and  his  friend.  The  two 
were  walking  on  a  railroad  track  when  Olds  was  killed.  His  com- 
panion was  asked  at  the  inquest  to  give  his  version  of  the  accident. 
He  said,  "We  were  on  the  track  when  hearing  a  train  behind  us,  I 
stepped  to  one  side — the  train  passed  and  I  saw  nothing  of  Olds. 
Walking  a  little  farther  I  saw  a  leg — farther  on  I  saw  an  arm — 
still  farther  I  saw  Old's  head,  and  then  I  realized  something  must 
have  happened  to  Olds." 

No  trouble  can  come  to  our  business  if  we  use  common  sense 
and  take  advantage  of  means  within  our  reach,  to  prevent  disaster. 

The  question  then,  gentlemen,  is  not  one  of  how  to  advertise, 
for  that  bridge  must  be  crossed  when  we  come  to  it,  but  the  question 
is,  How  to  raise  the  necessary  funds  ?  The  answer  is :  "The  Stamp 
Plan."  This  idea,  since  its  inception,  has  been  discussed  by  repre- 
sentative growers,  shippers  and  dealers  from  coast  to  coast,  and 
from  none  of  them  has  aught  but  favorable  indorsements  been 
heard. 

It  is  also  necessary  that  the  expense  of  the  advertising  shall  be 
equitably  distributed  among  all  who  will  profit  by  the  advertising, 
so  that  each  will  give  in  a  just  proportion  to  the  benefits  he  will 
individually  receive.  "The  Stamp  Plan"  admirably  solves  these 
problems,  providing  the  funds  by  a  method  that  will  scarcely  be 
felt  by  any  grower  or  shipper,  while  bringing  him,  through  in- 
creased sales,  profits  that  will  richly  repay  the  expenditure. 

What  the  "Stamp  Plan"  Is. 

The  plan  is  patterned  after  the  method  used  by  the  various 
governments  when  it  becomes  necessary  to  raise  large  funds.  The 
Spanish-American  War,  for  instance,  was  financed  by  our  govern- 
ment through  special  stamps  placed  on  checks,  drafts,  etc. 

The  details  of  the  plan  are  as  follows : 

The  stamps  are  issued  in  two  denominations — one  cent  and  two 
cent.  On  every  box  of  apples  a  one  cent  stamp  will  be  placed,  and 
for  every  barrel  a  two  cent  stamp  will  be  used.  The  man  who  has 
fifty  packages  to  market  will  buy  fifty  stamps,  while  he  who  has 
1,000  packages  will  buy  1,000  stamps,  etc. 

The  entire  issue  of  stamps  will  be  in  the  custody  of  the  Equit- 
able Mortgage  &  Trust  Co.,  of  Baltimore. 

This  trust  company,  through  the  many  banks  that  are  its  agents 


122 

in  the  various  sections  of  the  countrv  will  c#»ii  ^u^  o^„ 

grower,  shipper  or  dealer  who  appHes  for  them     The  ?f  '°  ^^"'^ 

While  the  expenditures  for  advertising  will  be  under  the  di 

vert$  ~rr.  :!!^::^^^'^^  -^  -*—  of  ad. 

by  three  dulfauthori.eH^^ffi  °"  ""'^  "'^°"gh  checks  or  drafts  signed 
o^  tt  a7verSg°co^i?^e""'  '""  ^°""'-^'e"^<l  ^^  'he  chair'man 

IVhat  the  "Stamp  Plan"  Will  Accomplish. 

try-wWr'adverll^lL"'"  """"'  for  carrying  on  a  continuous,  coun- 

of  apples     '  '■""°^'  '  ^'■''*  '"'''"'^''  '°  "-*  widespread  consumption 

Z'^wSft^^^rA^- ^^^^^^^^^  -  app,eV°prr^^ 

fnr  ii7      forever  settle  the  question  as  to  the  amount  it  is  orooer 

cessife^tes",  lt-1fl%'!rSl?tteXyi  t^^^ 

femfy^oS  r/^rir  ^"^  ^"^^^  '°  -'^"«  su-c^^thT 'pU-" 

Just  as  soon  as  the  trade  is  assured  that  an  efficient  advertising 

feT:;«u%^rallrr"et;^•'•  ""^"^  -'"  ■•-'  '■"  app.es!'';^'re"sf 
who?;;:-„tis^tTrhra:^^^ 

^  '111  f '^rKf'^r'  e^  "  "°P  f^«=^^  °^  ^tailar  df  as?er,  but  saddS 
of  all  IS  the  blow  to  the  man,  who,  having  grown  a  fine  croo  and  es 

thT^nfrf  K°'  ^'"''^"'  '^«J?'hose  „./  rfturns  are  insufficTent  t"  pay 
la^ltTitter^ra^i::    ^'''  "°^  '^  ^^'^"-^'^  -^  ' "" - 


i 


123 

Editor's  Note. 

The  following  paper  has  been  contributed  by  a  member  living 
in  Arkansas.  It  is  printed  at  this  time  for  two  reasons :  First,  The 
subject  treated  is  important  and  along  the  lines  of  inquiry  in  our 
recent  meeting.  Second,  Many  of  our  members  will  be  interested 
to  note  the  difficulties  that  must  be  overcome  by  the  apple  growers 
of  the  middle  west. 

CROSS  POLLINATION  OF  APPLES. 


"  The  Relation  to  Selection  of  Varieties  and  Its  Effect  Upon  the 

Apple  Crop. 


Charles  S.  Bouton,  Springdale,  Ark. 

The  factors  that  make  for  success  in  orcharding  are  many  and 
varied.  For  the  purpose  of  emphasizing  the  particular  subject  of 
this  paper,  I  wish  to  enumerate  some  of  them  as  follows : 

1.  The  personal  factor.  Some  men  succeed  where  others  fail. 
All  of  us  think  we  are  fit.    Are  we? 

2.  Location.  This  includes  selection  of  a  site  adapted  to  apples, 
with  good  air  drainage,  water  drainage  and  convenience  to  market. 

3.  Soil  Character  and  texture,  water  holding  capacity  and 
methods  of  cultivation. 

4.  Proper  use  of  fertilizers  and  soil  builders. 

5.  Pruning,  including  how  not  to  do  it. 

6.  The  climatic  factor,  including  rainfall  and  temperature. 

7.  Parasites  and  the  knowledge  of  how  to  fight  them. 

8.  Proper  selection  of  varieties. 

It  is  difficult  to  say  which  of  these  factors  makes  most  toward 
success  or  failure,  but  it  is  certain  that  very  many  failures  are  due 
to  improper  selection  of  varieties.  You  may  cultivate,  prune  and 
spray  to  the  very  acme  of  perfection,  you  may  have  good  soil,  fine 
markets,  first  class  air  and  water  drainage,  you  may  turn  under 
crops  of  rye,  cowpeas  or  clover,  you  may  add  to  your  land  lime, 
wood  ashes,  tons  of  stable  manure,  and  thousands  of  pounds  of  the 
best  commercial  fertilizer,  and  yet  you  may  fail  from  lack  of  knowl- 
edge and  judgment  in  the  selection  of  varieties. 

In  a  former  paper  on  the  subject,  "A  Logical  Selection  of 
Apples  for  Growing  in  the  Ozarks,"  I  endeavored  to  emphasize  the 
importance  of  proper  selection  of  varieties,  showing  among  other 
things  the  necessity  of  selecting  varieties  climatically  adapted  to  our 
locality  and  the  advisability  of  choosing  varieties  which  are  self- 
fertile,  or  good  pollinators  or  easily  susceptible  to  cross  pollination. 
It  was  impossible  to  give  much  more  than  passing  notice  to  this  lat- 
ter branch  of  the  subject  at  that  time,  but  in  this  paper  I  want  to 
point  out  the  advantages  of  cross  pollination  and  a  few  of  its  re- 
sults. 

Dean  L.  H.  Bailey,  in  his  "Principles  of  Fruit  Growing,"  pub- 
lished in  1905,  says:  "There  is  very  little  positive  knowledge  con- 
cerning the  inter-pollination  of  fruits,  and  no  subject  connected  with 


124 

pomology  is  in  greater  need  of  studv  We  ^kj-a  i 
most  productive  orchards  are  usuallv  fh^!^  t  ^  ''"°*  '"'^t  the 
that  some  varieties  sometimes  refu^  J^f  ?f  ""^"J  ^"i^ti^^.  and 
safest  practice,  therefore  ?s  to  olan,  '°  ^'"''■^^themselves.  The 
rows  of  any  one  variety  to«Vh/r^f  T  T-'  "^"  t"""  °'-  three 
is  a  frequent  characterbt  c^  The  .hi  f""'-'"  ^'''"''  self-sterility 
selecting  the  varieties  is  that  thev  shall  1.^"'.  '°  ^  °''^"^^<'  '" 
and  apples,  and  nearlv  or  ouite  ^if    i       """^  together.    All  pears 

whenjfey  bloom  stouItanUsh?."""  P'""'  ^"""  *°  ^  inter-f^tile 

The  last  sentence  needs  revi<;.^n  o: 
amount  of  evidence  hasten  co[S  wh?  i?  T^  ^"  '"""*"«« 
that  many  varieties  that  bl^m  a  the  same  tilf  °*'  conclusively 
mter-fert  e.  I  have  in  mv  nri-iToVi  !  ',""*  "^  anythmg  but 
type.  I  think  it  Is  a  WilKam's  Favorite  'tv  '^'  ^^""""  2"^^ 
bloomer,  the  equal  or  suwrior  of  T»  m  *•''  ^Tl^  ^  wonderful 
this  respect,  and  like  the'fiS  Twli  U^T"""'*'  ^'="^''  Twig  in 
abundantly.  Within  a  radius  nf  til^ (  . ^^TV^^  P^°^"<'^  Po"en 
Belleflower,  sever"  Millms  several  L!fn°^- *'"^''**'  ^^"^ ''  ^ 
of  which  bloom  at  oracSlvthe  ?  ^^"'^  *"<*  ^  Minkler,  all 

tree  is  healthy  andTcafble  of  h^,''""'''  '^'^'-  '^'"  '^^«-  The 
I  do  not  think  I  have  evereathereH  !,  ""'^  T  "'"u^'s'"  ''^"«'^'  yet 
it  in  any  one  year     Snme  ^^('^^'^  ^^  """eh  as  three  bushels  from 

William^s  Favorite  I've  A/T  ""^  '^^  "^A'"  "°'  '"t^^^^ted  k, 
enough  Winesap  and  BlIck^Twit  ^J*  .^l",  ^"^'^  °'^^"'^  «i'h 
Bens  "  All  right  let  us  hrin^fi,  ^u°  '''''?  °"*  ^he  sale  of  the 
touches  you.     Prof    C    I    Crl^n  '"J^'T  f^""  "P  '°  where  it 

has  been^xperTmeming  fiong  these  l?nes  V«f  "1'^  °*  """°'^ 
year  (ign,  I  thinks  the  Rel.  r>,   •    J         '""^  several  years.     One 

He  ti>k  t;enty-"our  clusters  emL'/?'.  Tl  '"u'f'"'"?  "l"*'*  f""- 
them  with  sacks  then  twentv  W  f'^''?  *''*  blossoms,  covered 
and  supplied  Ben  Davis  ™L^  hours  later  took  the  sacks  off, 
clusters  he  supph"ed  the  uo^en  of  '°. """'her  group  of  twenty-five 
Beauty  and  to  another  Wn'sao  n«^".'^l^*"l.'°  ='"°"^"  Ro^e 
suits  were  quite  dXren,A?;^  ^  '*"  *?  '*'''^*  "^^  'ays :  "The  re- 
Ben  Davis  flowers  whhRe„^'''-'  *?,  ^'^'•""«<»  exclusively  the 

Where  Xe  used  Wi^e  ap^"lle^"w:  ^J^"'  ~'.  V'"^''  ^™'^  »«• 
dredths  of  one  pe/cent    ri^.  tho  ^  seventy-four  to  one-hun- 

Beauty  was^?wee„   seilmeen  anT'  '"^f  »'»"dred).    The  Rome 

Golden  between  tren%!:n:rd^w\"nVtfo  pe"  c'S't  Th"  '   ''"'"''. 
to  be  qu  te  a  differenrp      TK^d         "^  •       ^     ^^"^-  ^"^^^  seemed 

Flora.  Illinois,  "fome ^of  yluTnow'^"'" w'  ^P  ""'"T^  '' 
tra  la,  Illinois    a   real  n,./i,-  ^-  ^-  Perrme.  of  Cen- 

"The'wSp  fs  he  weSes7rr,!:rr  ^"7"  '^  *•"»'  "^^  ^^'y": 
Davis  comes  pretty  clore^^w  ^r"'^''"^  .°^  ^"^  ^«  have:  ien 
lenizer.  Thirty  y^rs  Lo^Lnir  "'"'  "/  ''"^  f^'  '^If-pol- 
bore  very  well   but^e  =.1f  i-  "'°"<'"'°".«  ^femed  to  be  such  that  it 

the  Ben^Dlvt'  .'"1  "v:ry"irsett:r '"  ''"  ''''  '^"  °^  «'""  y^^ 

SoutheTn"ltois"'wh!°r;^hrson''L'"c^'^°?.^^"'"  -'^"°"  °f 
^tl^±!^?if^^  ^^^  HaTe^-efe-^^: 


125 

vations  are  not  too  pronounced.  It  does  not  follow,  however,  that 
because  a  variety  is  self  sterile  in  one  section  of  the  country  that  it 
is  necessarily  so  in  another  section.  In  fact,  there  are  many  ex- 
ceptions. Take  Ralls  (or  Geniton)  for  instance.  Lewis  and  Vin- 
cent in  their  experiments  made  in  Oregon  in  1907  and  1908  report 
it  as  a  self  sterile  variety.  There  it  blooms  at  the  same  time  as 
most  other  varieties.  Here  it  is  the  latest  bloomer  we  have,  and 
generally  it  does  not  bloom  until  all  the  other  varieties,  including 
such  late  bloomers  as  Yellow  Horse  and  Rome  Beauty  have  set 
their  fruit.  There  is  no  chance  for  it  to  be  cross-pollinated  and  yet 
it  is  a  heavy  bearer  with  us.  But  in  the  matter  of  the  Winesap  and 
the  Ben  Davis,  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  Lewis  and  Vincent  report 
the  Winesap  as  self  sterile  and  Ben  Davis  as  nearly  so.  The  New 
York  experiments  show  much  the  same  results. 

Here  then,  we  have  this  situation  confronting  a  large  number 
of  our  Ozark  growers.  In  the  orchards  set  out  between  1890  and 
1907,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  80  per  cent,  were  Ben  Davis  and  Gano, 
about  10  per  cent.  Winesap,  and  Black  Twigs,  and  the  remaining 
10  per  cent,  represented  a  host  of  other  varieties,  perhaps  one- 
half  of  which  were  Collins  Red,  fortunately  a  self -fertile  variety. 
In  other  words,  nine  out  of  every  ten  trees  set  in  this  period  were 
self -sterile  or  nearly  so,  and  much  sadder  to  relate,  they  were 
usually  set  out  in  solid  blocks.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  the  ratio  of 
bushels  produced  to  acres  planted  is  as  low  as  it  is  in  the  Ozarks. 

Before  we  come  to  the  remedy  for  this  particular  condition,  I 
want  to  take  up  another  phase  or  two  of  the  subject. 

In  determining  the  best  pollenizers  for  any  variety  it  is  es- 
sential that  a  close  study  be  made  of  their  mutual  affinities.  The 
potency  of  the  pollen  of  the  pollenizer  on  the  pistillate  plant  must 
be  ascertained.  Also  the  action  of  the  pollen  of  the  pistillate  plant 
on  the  pollenizer  should  also  be  known,  before  deciding  which  va- 
riety is  the  best  pollenizer  for  some  of  the  commercial  varieties. 

To  illustrate:  In  the  experiments  of  Prof.  Crandall  hitherto 
mentioned,  the  Ben  Davis  was  used  as  the  pistillate  or  female  in 
every  instance.  It  was  found  that  the  Winesap  was  a  poor  pol- 
lenizer for  Ben  Davis,  but  it  was  not  found  what  kind  of  a 
pollenizer  Ben  Davis  is  for  Winesap.  I  suspect  it  is  effective.  But 
even  if  it  is,  Winesap  is  the  only  gainer.  The  trees  should  be  inter- 
fertile,  and  at  the  time  of  planting  should  be  so  known  to  be. 

We  should  also  understand  something  of  the  many  other  fac- 
tors that  enter  into  cross-pollination.  The  receptivity  of  the  stigma 
is  one.  The  stigmas  are  covered  with  a  viscous  or  sticky  fluid,  to 
which  the  pollen  shed  by  the  anthers,  or  carried  by  bees  and  other 
insects,  adheres.  When  the  flowers  open  on  bright  warm  days,  the 
stigmas  of  most  varieties  exude  this  viscous  fluid  in  abundance; 
on  the  other  hand,  when  the  flowers  open  in  cloudy  weather  and 
in  low  temperature  the  exudation  is  hardly  noticeable.  The  anthers 
of  the  stamens  are  similarly  affected.  While  they  will  open  in 
cool  weather,  they  do  not  take  their  usual  erect  position  and  thus 
do  not  shed  their  pollen  in  a  normal  way.  Add  to  the  phenomena 
just  mentioned  the  fact  that  the  bees,  the  principal  cross-fertilizing 
agent,  do  not  fly  on  wet  01  cold  days,  and  it  can  be  readily  under- 


126 

l^'Ar^p"^'""  '""'  """"•^  -«=  «o  essential  to  the  setting  of 
certafn^tditiotVonentTreynldl?'"',!^-.^^  "^^.P""-'    ""der 

agent'^'^lewls  and'^ncermrd"^  "'  '^'  P""?'P^'  cross-fertilizing 
glass  slides      X  ,  inches   c^er^H^f.,'"*"*;'''"^  experiments  with 
leeward  side  of  trees  in  fuH  bl^  J     aI  « '"^  ^""^  P'''«<»  °"  '^e 
the  tree,  eight  gram/ weretu^^at  twentffTet'^x  S'  ^7 
aS"rirr^S;i^al!"o^  theii:;d  ean'n^?  'C^'JX^:,- J'^^ 
the  corolla,  oTfl^ra    Dart    fr„™  Tlt^K^P*"'"'"'  "'^y  removed 
one  in  three  hundrK  fr^k      0„l'  ""ITT  °"  "  '^^e.     Only 
visiting  the  tree  duHn.,  th.  K        ^"'^  *'?'']  ^'"  "'^''^  observed 
flower  onW  twentySf  awL  r"""/  ^"°f     O"  ^  ^^^  '"  fu" 

in  half  anLur  &ere  weha^e  aoarti^fll^^''  T'"^/  T^^  ^^en 
from  which  a  wind  and  rafn  <,tr,^  htl  e''P'^"5"0"  °f  why  a  tree 
the  flowers  sets  so  little  fruTt     T^  ^»  """*''  "'^  P/'^'^  "'^  °^ 

^rrso%rt'ellKr^^^^^^^^^ 

foreign  Xn  ttr!ns{J",  \T^,  °L't"s  "fcl  ^°""=  ."iK*^'' 
and  other  insects  aid  in  this  work      ^  '^"'  ""'''  '^''• 

that  unt'tutleF; are°'no'j''ra''rr  W.'r  "'P'^'^''  ^'"^  <^-<""o"' 

othMe-et^BKr^^T^^^^^^^^^ 

both  the  third'   ee?n   "v'eryTh'rd '  ow^"Th'  °'  J"'"'"'"  °^  '^'"' 
every  third  tree  1r.„Zu,^  °^-    ^''"*'  fo*  '  wou  d  have 

4  wo^uld  have  eve/y  third  t'reerw^  '"''  ^  ^""'''^  ^^n  Davis,  row 
and  so  on  ^  '*  ^"""'^-  ''""^  5  and  6  solid  Ben  Davis. 

polle&\"ere"'and'rth"':re'^j:,'^''  T'"'=  *"","  ^^'  ^ood  self- 

Further  their  spraying  dlteswitfi^h. ''""'"•'"'■I   ^°'   ^.*"   ^^^*^- 
spray  following  the  dmnnina  *"".  the  occasional  exception  of  the 

with'^that  orihf  Ben  Davfs  ^  "°°'"'  ""  ^  "^'^^  ''''""^al 

pollin';tLn''va?ir4s\trHoYn'L'''H'^°,  ^-f'  *°  '^''^'^t  ^°^  — 
the  objection  aga  nst^lanLiPc,         ^''°"t  the  same  time.     This  is 

If  the  solid  orchfrdl^fsIv'TT'^^Pf'''  ^"^  ""'"'"'  ^"'«'es. 

of  top  grafted  trees  cin  Z  nfL\  m  '?  '*"  ^^ars  old,  the  number 

f  S      lea  trees  can  be  profitably  mcreased.     If  less  than  six 


f 


years  old  it  would  be  advisable  to  alter  solid  rows,  and  m  setting 
out,  perhaps  the  best  plan  is  to  have  four  rows  of  the  main  variety 
flanked  by  two  rows  of  one  variety  on  one  side,  and  two  rows  of 
another  on  the  other  side.  Three  varieties  give  still  better  results 
than  two  where  all  are  inter-fertile. 

Now  we  come  to  the  last  thing  to  be  considered  herein,  viz. : 
the  effect  of  cross-pollination  on  the  apple  yield.  The  first  ex- 
periments in  this  field  were  made  by  Waite  in  1894,  and  Fletcher 
and  all  other  investigators  since  that  year  have  joined  Waite  in  de- 
claring that  the  usual  effect  is  to  increase  the  size  of  the  fruit.  It 
also  tends  to  preserve  regularity  in  the  shape  of  the  apple  by  in- 
creasing the  number  of  sound  seeds.  Self -pollinated  apples  are 
usually  deficient  in  seeds  and  where  the  ovule  in  a  cell  has  not 
been  fertilized  that  part  of  the  apple  adjoining  is  often  stunted.  The 
flavor  is  not  changed  in  cross-pollinated  fruit.  It  is  of  course  pos- 
sible that  if  seedlings  should  be  grown  from  the  seed  of  these  cross- 
pollinated  apples,  some  of  them  will  produce  fruit  which  will  blend 
or  unite  the  flavors  of  both  parents.  An  immense  amount  of  work, 
in  the  hope  of  procuring  such  desirable  crosses,  is  constantly  being 
done. 

There  is  one  more  effect  claimed  for  cross-pollination  by  such 
experienced  and  practical  growers  as  W.  S.  Perrine  and  Senator 
Dunlap  of  Illinois.  Speaking  on  the  subject  of  orchard  heating, 
the  latter  uses  these  words :  "There  is  another  protection  that  we 
can  give  our  fruit,  and  that  is  cross-pollination.  Cross-pollinated 
fruit  at  blooming  time  has  a  greater  vitality  than  that  that  is  self- 
pollinated.  That  that  is  true,  I  have  seen  demonstrated  in  my 
own  orchard  and  in  other  orchards  and  there  is  not  any  doubt  about 
it  at  all.  It  is  just  as  positive  as  any  statement  and  can  be  made 
in  horticulture,  that  in  cross-pollinated  fruit  you  have  a  stronger 
fruit  bud  than  you  have  in  any  other  way.  So  if  in  addition  to 
the  thorough  spraying  and  cultivation  of  the  year  before,  the  buds 
have  cross-pollination  we  can  resist  frost  conditions  unless  they  are 
severe." 

Summing  up  then,  we  find  that  by  cross-pollination  more 
blooms  set,  when  set,  they  are  more  resistant  to  adverse  conditions, 
the  apples  produced  tend  to  be  more  regular  in  shape,  and  hence 
run  less  to  culls,  and  finally,  in  the  great  majority  of  cases  are 
larger.  Is  there  any  question  but  what  the  crop  of  good  apples  is 
multiplied. 

Question  Box. 

This  department  was  conducted  by  Dr.  J.  P.  Stewart  who 
received  the  questions  and  assigned  them  to  members  in  the  aud- 
ience, himself  assisting  in  the  discussions.  It  proved  to  be  a  most 
interesting  feature,  filling  one  whole  lecture  period  on  Wednes- 
day afternoon  and  a  similar  time  on  Thursday  forenoon.  Fol- 
lowing are  the  most  important  discussions: 

Question. — What  can  you  say  about  Delicious  and  King  David 
apples  as  grown  in  Pennsylvania? 


128 

others  I  ordered  two  Delicious  and  as."l^"y  !t'  °  or  four  years. 
:  1  grew.    The  Delicious  have  bee"  beamg  for  th^ 

I  sent  one  bushel  and  a  Pl*'^  »"  .''^f-.^Pr «  ss^^ation  at  Pittsburgh 
the  Meeting  of  the  State  ""T^^^'^^'^tre  The  Stark  Bros,  had 
in  1912-  I  saw  them  °"  ^'''^'^l"""  *  i'denient  led  me  to  believe 
some  of  their  Delicious  t*'"^,»"trorablv^th  theirs.  I  can  say 
that  my  apples  compared  quite  favorably  wit  ^^^^^  ^  ^^^ 

SwranrLX\perqp^^i   o  nu.^^^^^^ 

bcT^'f  trheT'^hfh:^  brso7§-e  as  to  eat  it.    I 
am  sorry  now  I  did  not  plant  five  hundred  trees  ^ 

plant!d^!!;^"i^KLe-r  tTnamfthe^  am  not  sorry  I 
did  not  plant  more  of  them. 

Walter  J.  Shearer.  Vinemont.-I  h-  /r^ed  ^t^^^^^^^^^ 

r  ^Lt  eerstrh-SVele^r;  Ke^n^  or  getting  soft 

at  the  core. 

trees  and  grafts.  ^„oiifv    rinenine  with  Baldwin  and 

Grim^e^  G^^nVrha^-e^i^^o^n^K^^^  a  Uttle  better  than 

"m-grown  in  Vork  Coun^  thejrmt  a^^^^^^  % 

has  plenty  of  color  making  •»"'<*;»'      heavHy.     The  tree  is  a 

lasting  tree. 

H    H    Laub    Tr     Lcwistown.  Pa.-The  Delicious  tree  is  a 

The  skin    s  rather  tender  and  thereiore  vciy  f 

:^'rt'  trX"  Vetr  of  \he  -f  t:';S„V  ™nd"^^^^^^^^^ 
3tora?eTon^dZlif  :id'wh::«  %X^^  ve^ry  mealy  instead 

°^  -r  fw^r  l^heteT^"  TZ-a  profitable  acquisition 
to  my  orchard  in  a  few  years  time. 


129 

Am  pleased  with  it  thus  far,  though  my  trees  only  being  eleven 
years  old,  cannot  say  what  it  may  develop  later. 

Have  not  grown  any  King  David  apples  and  not  knowing  any- 
thing about  that  variety  from  personal  experience,  I  am  not  in 
a  position  to  express  an  opinion  at  this  time. 

Dr.  J.  H.  Funk,  Boyertown.— As  to  my  opinion  of  the  De- 
licious apple  I  hardly  know  how  to  answer.  Had  you  asked  me 
three  years  ago  I  would  have  said  I  do  not  know.  One  year  later 
I  would  have  placed  it  in  the  foremost  list.  Last  season  puts  me 
again  in  doubt.  In  the  year  191 1  I  had  my  first  crop  on  top 
worked  trees.  The  crop  was  light  but  the  fruit  was  very  fine  and 
quality  good. 

In  19 1 2  the  same  trees  were  heavily  laden  with  a  full  crop 
of  as  fine  apples  in  size,  color,  and  quality  as  the  finest  from  the 
famed  Oregon  growers.  I  sold  my  crop  at  $1.50  per  bushel  from 
the  trees  as  they  ran.  Last  season,  1913,  the  same  trees  had  a 
very  light  crop  of  very  poor  quality.  Scarce  an  apple  that  could 
be  classed  as  first  grade.  So  I  hesitate  to  pass  on  it,  but  I  am 
still  inclined  to  believe  it  may  still  make  good.  But  I  do  not 
believe  it  will  ever  compete  favorably  with  the  Stayman.  As  to 
the  King  David.  I  have  it  bearing  four  years,  and  I  would  say 
go  slow  in  planting.  It  is  a  heavy  and  early  bearer,  of  very  dark 
red  apples  of  good  quality.  But  the  fruit  is  too  small,  and  has 
some  serious  faults,  one  being  subject  to  rot  inside,  fruit  will  look 
perfect  outside,  and  inside  unedible.  I  consider  Jonathan  much 
preferable  as  a  commercial  apple.  But  Stayman,  Winesap,  and 
Rome  Beauty  are  my  best  money  makers.  Trusting  this  will  an- 
swer your  inquiry  satisfactorily  I  remain. 

John  G.  Engle,  Marietta.—My  Delicious  nearly  failed  the 
past  summer  and  the  few  scattering  fruits  were  badly  marked  with 
summer  spot.  (A  few  other  sorts  were  just  as  bad.)  would  ad- 
vise limited  planting  of  Delicious  for  home  use  or  commercially. 

My  Jonathan,  Grimes  Golden,  York  Imperial,  Rome  Beauty, 
Stark,  and  Sutton  Beauty  surpassed  the  Delicious  in  every  way. 

David  S.  Blessing,  Harrisburg.— I  have  fruited  King  David 
and  find  the  tree  a  strong  and  vigorous  grower.  As  to  its  bearing 
qualities  it  excels  or  at  least  equals  York  Imperial.  Last  year  I 
had  trees  loaded  to  the  ground  even  after  what  I  thought  had  been 
a  severe  thinning.  Their  size  was  medium,  probably  due  to  their 
overloaded  condition.  In  color  I  never  saw  anything  more  beau- 
tiful in  the  apple  line;  it  is  susceptible  to  a  very  high  polish  1 
have  seen  and  tasted  the  western  King  David  but  the  apples  I  had 
were  I  thought  better  colored,  better  quality  but  not  so  large. 
Another  good  quality  I  noticed,  they  are  most  tenacious  stickers 
and  winds  do  not  blow  them  off;  in  fact  they  are  a  little  hard  to 
pick  on  that  account  and  fruit  spurs  are  liable  to  be  pulled  ott  it 
not  careful.  Last  year  I  left  them  hang  a  little  too  long  and  this 
I  think  impaired  their  keeping  qualities.  Novv  for  the  faults,  ot 
which  I  found  two.    First,  it  is  susceptible  to  the    Jonathan  Spot. 


second,  in  common  ^-f ,jf ,^-fL'„rS^  ^^fu^ 

and  vigorous  growers. 

Question-Warn,  five  best  peaches  for  your  ovm  section  of 
Pennsylvania. 

that  it  is  meant  for  commercial  planting.     W^^  J^;^^ 

ones.  We  especially  Ike  *?  Smock  for  a  late  peach,^^^^^  P  ^^ 
greatest  fault  is  that  it  '^ /'^"e  to  oveAear  then  't  g.^^^  ^^^ 
thinned  to  get  best  results  ." . 'yf//^°?.,'^°exten^vely  planted 
merits  of  the  Smock  it  ^o"'<l/°"*''J^^i'i*  Tte  whe^^  the  demand 

planting,  varieties  that  have  been  thoroughly  testeo  ^^^_ 

^antinl.     In  such  kinds  we  ^y^^^J^-^f  ^l/Con  Free.'  Reeves 
pion,  Mountam  Rose   Stump  the  Worw.  urn  Rareripe, 

favorite,  Ray,  Crawford  s  Late,  ^^f./r.e  are  mostly  all  right,  the 
etc.    For  quality  and  P^^urtiveness  these  are  most  y  |^  ^^  ^ 

chief  objection  to  some  of  t^^em ,  *°"'^  .,  „,":ted     We  certainly 

= .tis  ;£  ^sfnz  's.£|  si^s  .-.,- 

^  j; "."-"»'° "  «"  S"  >-  ™" » •*•  •" 

old  maxim : 

"Be  not  the  first  by  whom  the  new  is  tried 
Nor  yet  the  last  to  lay  the  old  aside. 

Levi  M.  Myers.  Siddonsburg.-When  you  ask  for  the  best 


for  corn- 
ripening  : 
(yellow), 
Seedling 

of  ripen- 
varieties 


131 
peaches  for  Southern  Pennsylvania,  I  presume  you  mean 

mercial  planting.  ,  ...  .         z 

I  would  select  the  foUowmg  vaneteis  m  order  ot 

Carman    (white).   Belle   of   Georgia    (white),   Elberta^ 

Chairs'  Choice,  or  Improved  Crawford   (yellow).  Fox  s 

(white),  Geary  Holdon  (Yellow).     .    .      ^      ^ 

There  are  many  other  good  varieties  but  for  season 

ing  hardiness  and  productiveness  the  six  above  named 

alone  cannot  be  excelled. 

Question.— fT/ia^  do  you  know  about  the  J.  H.  Hale  Peach? 

Prof.  H.  A.  Surface,  Harrisburg.— For  three  years  the  J.  H. 
Hale  peach  has  come  to  me  exactly  at  the  time  of  ripening  of  my 
late  Crawfords.  In  appearance,  color,  size  and  roughness  of  pit 
and  in  all  regards  I  regard  it  as  indistinguishable  from  Late  L.raw- 
f ords,  and  in  addition  to  this  it  is  certainly  tTie  most  sour  peach 
I  ever  ate.  Also  I  would  like  to  know  how  the  report  of  the  origi- 
nator claims  to  have  improved  it  when  he  says  he  found  it  as  a 
chance  seedling.  How  can  one  improve  a  seedling?  He  can 
propagate  it  but  I  should  like  to  know  how  he  could  improve  it 
without  growing  other  seedlings  from  it  and  attempting  to  select 
Ihe  best  of  these.  Personally  I  prefer  the  Late  Crawford  for 
quality  and  of  the  specimens  of  the  Hale  that  I  have  seen  I  can 
also  say  that  the  Crawford  is  fully  as  large  and  as  well  colored. 

p  S  Fenstermacher,  Allcntown.— While  visiting  Hale's  or- 
chards at' Fort  Valley  last  summer,  Mr.  Hale  remarked  that  it  was 
St  t^rer  in  thi  South.  Have  no  definite  informaUon  as  to 
its  bearing  qualities  in  the  North.  I  would  advise  very  light  plant- 
ing if  any  of  this  variety.  Let  the  people  who  have  money  to 
burn  do  the  experimenting. 

Question.— Z)o^.y  Lime-Sulphur  deteriorate  by  standing  or  by 
freezing? 

Prof.  H.  A.  Surface,  Harrisburg.-I  have  kept  lime-sulphur 
solution  for  four  or  five  years  during  winter  and  summer  without 
f  reS  by  standing.  I  made  it  by  boiling  it  in  a  boiling  room 
duringlad  weather^nd  put  it  into  open  barrels  and  cover  these 
w  th  oil  cloth  held  in  place  by  hoops  fitted  over  the  tops  of  he 
barrels  or  by  a  pint  of  common  kerosene  oil  poured  over  the 
Lime  Sutohur  solution.  The  oil  will  do  no  harm  but  it  is  really 
^needed  Even  if  the  Lime-sulphur  Solution  is  not  covered  i 
will  not  deteriorate  much.  It  will  simply  form  a  thin  him  or 
Slicle  over  the  surface  of  the  liquid  where  the  air  comes  in  con- 
tact wltH  which  will  break  up  in  flakes  and  sink  when  d^turbed 
The  onlv  obi~n  to  this  is  that  it  necessitates  straining  the  liquid 
or  the  Httle  solid  particles  are  liable  to  clog  the  nozzles  in  spray- 
°nV  We  hate  advocated  this  method  of  covering  and  pro  ecfng 
Lfme-^rphur  Solution  during  the  past  seven  "T  eight  years  as  ,t 
is  well  known  that  we  were  among  the  very  first  persons  in  the 


132 

eastern  part  of  America  to  use  and  recommend  this  material,  and 
esoecially  to  prove  the  relative  values  of  the  different  brands  of 
commercial  Lime-sulphur  Solution,  and  that  home-made  material 
can  be  made  of  the  same  strength  and  composition  and  also  to 
prove  the  effects  of  carbolic  acid  gas  in  gas  sprayers  disintegrating 
this  material. 

Question.—/^  the  heating  of  Orchards  practicable  in  the  Bast? 

Wm.  Brinton,  Glen  Rose.— To  my  mind  there  is  no  ques- 
tion of  the  practicability ;  it  is  simply  whether  for  the  infrequent 
seasons  when  it  may  be  needed  it  will  pay  in  time,  worry,  and 
money  to  bother  with  it.  The  worry  is  the  largest  item  to  be  con- 
sidered for  unless  vou  have  an  automatic  frost  alarm  you  will 
lose  much   sleep   watching  the  thermometer   frosty  nights   every 

^^^*"fn  the  orchards  here  last  season  we  feel  absolutely  sure  that 
we  saved  a  $3,500-crop  of  peaches  on  8  acres  with  200  Hamilton 
heaters  and  10  or  12  bbls.  of  oil  burning  2  nights.  Temperature 
was  raised  at  least  8  degrees  and  outside  the  heat  zone  there  were 
no  peaches  and  no  other  orchard  in  the  county  so  far  as  I  know 
had  any  peaches  of  any  account. 

Samuel  Swartz,  Spring  Grove.— Though  my  experience  is 
limited  to  one  season  in  orchard  heating,  yet  by  the  following  re- 
port I  believe  it  practicable  in  the  east.  In  the  season  oi  ignj^ 
had  three  acres,  Northwestern  Slope,  trees  three  years  old.  ihe 
temperature  fell  to  26  degrees  F.    Trees  were  in  full  blossom. 

Oil  consumed  cost,   $59-78 

50  per  cent  of  total  cost  of  equipment, 40. 22 

Labor,    ^-5^ 

$112.50 
Crop  Saved,  $275.00. 

Prof.  H.  A.  Surface,  Harrisburg.— As  a  general  rule  I  do 
not  believe  the  heating  of  the  orchards  in  the  east  to  be  practicable 
Growers  are  too  far  apart  and  orchards  are  too  large  or  too  small 
for  the  heat  to  have  beneficial  effect  that  it  has  in  regions  like 
those  of  the  west  where  there  are  many  growers  close  together 
and  their  mutual  efforts  warm  the  air  so  that  each  may  receive 
the  benefit  of  the  other's  heating.  Also,  if  it  is  a  matter  of  heat- 
ing to  increase  the  temperature  for  only  four  or  five  degrees  this 
may  be  done,  but  where  the  temperature  is  liable  to  fall  to  ten  de- 
grees or  more  below  the  safety  point  as  it  is  frequently  liable  to 
in  this  region  we  cannot  expect  the  heat  to  increase  it  enough. 

Instead   of   artificial   orchard-heating   I   much   prefer   to   de- 
pend upon  well-grown,  healthy,  wellfed  and  well  pruned  trees. 

I   know   of   persons  who  have   successfully  heated  their  or- 
chards as  in  the  case  of  C.  S.  Grieb,  of  Mill  Hall  by  burnmg  logs 
brush    and  damp  leaves   in  his   orchard,  thus  both  heating  and 


133 

smudging.  He  saved  a  valuable  crop  of  peaches  and  was  able 
to  sell  them  at  a  fancy  price  because  others  in  that  region  had 
none.  He  and  his  wife  worked  hard  for  three  nights  and  were 
fully  rewarded  for  their  efforts.  This,  however,  is  a  special  case. 
I  know,  also,  of  a  neighbor  in  sight  of  my  own  orchard  who  kept 
up  large  fires  at  considerable  expense  and  produced  no  more  fruit 
than  did  I  who  did  not  heat.  I  also  know  of  others  who  heated 
their  orchards  by  artificial  means.  This  had  no  beneficial  result. 
Some  of  my  correspondents  in  the  western  part  of  the  State  are 
now  purposing  to  heat  by  means  of  natural  gas  conducted  into  the 
orchard  by  pipes  and  this  may  to  some  extent  be  successful.  This 
practice  is  in  its  infancy,  or  rather  experimental  stage  and  should 
not  be  discouraged,  although  beneficial  results  cannot  yet  be  as- 
sured. 

C.  B.  Grieb,  Mill  Hall.— In  regard  to  smudge  fires,  they  are 
all  right.  In  the  spring  when  in  blossom  we  have  saved  our  fruit 
different  times.  It  is  the  smoke  that  eats  up  the  frost.  We  make 
fires  in  different  parts  of  the  orchard  and  when  we  get  a  bed  of 
coals  we  put  on  the  saw-dust  to  smother  the  fire  and  that  will  make 
a  large  smoke  and  will  keep  on  smoking  and  will  eat  up  the  frost. 

QntsXion.— With  ten  acres  or  more  to  spray,  does  it  pay  to 
make  your  own  Lime  and  Sulphur  solution  f 

Howard  A.  Chase,  Mt.  Pocono.— Yes  and  no.  While  the 
trees  are  young  and  one  or  two  barrels  of  concentrated  commercial 
lime-sulphur  is  all  that  may  be  required  I  would  not,  I  think,  take 
the  time  and  bother  with  the  home-made. 

After  that  when  a  larger  quantity  might  be  required  I  would 
make  it,  provided  I  could  give  the  making  my  personal  supervision 
to  insure  it  being  properly  made.  In  many  instances  I  think  the 
commercial  article  will  give  the  best  results. 

John  W  Cox,  New  Wilmington.— In  order  to  answer  the 
question  "does  it  pay,"  one  must  take  into  consideration  the  cost  of 
material,  labor,  fuel,  and  equipment  and  compare  it  with  the  cost 
of  the  commercial  material.  Powdered  commercial  sulphur  can  be 
purchased,  delivered  in  any  section  of  Pennsylvania  for  2  cents 
per'  pound,  or  less.  Lime  will  range  in  price  from  $3.00  per  ton 
at  the  kiln  to  about  one  half  cent  per  pound  by  the  barrel.  One 
hundred  and  twenty  pounds  of  sulphur,  costing  $2.40  and  60  pounds 
of  lime  costing  30  cents  at  highest  quoted  prices  will  make  60 
gallons  of  concentrated  solution  testing  from  1.15  degrees  to  1.24 
degrees  of  density,  equivalent  to  about  i  barrel  of  commercial 
material  that  will  test  1.30  degrees  and  costing  about  $7.oa  De- 
ducting $1.00,  the  value  of  the  barrel  from  the  cost  of  the  com- 
m"  rcia!  solution  we  have  a  difference  of  $3.30  per  barrel  in  favor 
of  the  home  boiled  solution.  . 

On  most  farms  there  is  an  abundance  of  wood,  for  fuel,  that 
will  cost  nothing  but  some  labor  for  preparation  As  this  work 
can  be  done  during  the  winter  season  when  work  is  not  rushing 


134 
and  several  barrels  of  the  solution  can  be  prepared  in  one  day  there 
are  very  few  farmers  or  fruit  growers  who  can  devote  their  time  to 
anything  else  that  will  give  them  as  large  net  returns  I  would 
^ay  that  with  ten  acres,  more  or  less,  of  spraying  it  will  pay  well 
to  make  the  home  boiled  lime-sulphur  solution. 

When  the  commercial  material  is  purchased  in  large  quantities 
and  near  the  place  of  manufacture  there  will  not  be  so  much  dit- 
ference  in  cost. 

P  T.  Barnes,  Harrisburg,  Pa.— Ralph  Trax,  at  Library,  Al- 
leghany County,  has  fifteen  acres  of  fruit  varying  in  age  from  / 4 
years  down  to  trees  planted  last  spring.  This  year  he  has  boiled 
five  barrels  of  concentrated  lime-sulphur  testing  1.250  specific  grav- 
ity, which  cost  him  as  follows: 

500  pounds  ground  sulphur,  at  $2  per  100  pounds, ^^°'2^ 

2  barrels  lime  at  $.91  per  barrel, ^-^^ 

$11.82 

There  was  some  lime  left  over  from  the  second  barrel.  These 
250  gallons  are  about  equal  to  200  gallons  of  the  commercial  con- 
centrated lime-sulphur,  and  the  cheapest  he  could  buy  it  at  in  this 
vicinity  (Pittsburgh)  is  15  cents  a  gallon— $30.00  for  the  lot,  a 
Tving^n  actual  money  of  $18.18.  For  fuel  a  few  old  rails  were 
used  and  a  total  of  ten  hours  was  consumed  in  the  operation  ihese 
two  items  were  not  charged  against  the  lime-sulphur ;  neither  was 
the  kettle  which  is  owned  jointly  with  a  neighbor  and  which  has 
been  used  for  this  purpose  several  years. 

Question.^What  is  the  cost  of  making  a  barrel  of  concen- 
trated Lime  and  Sulphur?  How  do  you  arrive  at  the  cost  and 
what  is  the  degree  of  density? 

P  T.  Barnes,  Harrisburg.— It  costs  about  $2.50  a  barrel  to 
make  a  barrel  of  concentrated  lime-sulphur,  not  including  labor  and 
fuel.  This  year  we  made  100  gallons  using  200  pounds  ground  or 
commercial  sulphur,  costing  2.00  per  100  pounds,  delivered  at  the 
freight  station-Library,  Allegheny  County-and  100  pounds  high 
grade  calcium  lime  costing  91  cents  a  barrel  delivered,  which 
amounted  to  about  60  cents,  making  a  total  of  $4.60  for  100  gallons^ 
A  6c;-gallon  feed  cooker  was  used.  It  took  a  heaping  armful  of 
split  wood— old  oak  rails  dash  to  boil  a  kettleful  and  required  four 
hours  to  boil  the  two  kettlefuls.    It  tested  1.250  specific  gravity. 

J  C  Willson,  Wallisrun.— The  cost  of  labor  and  boiling 
lime-sulphur  may  be  reduced  by  having  a  good  outfit  for  thjs  pur- 
pose, especially  where  a  large  amount  of  concentrate  is  needed 

It  is  as  easv  to  boil  40  gallons  at  one  time  as  it  would  be  a 
less  amount  and  save  in  cost  of  labor  and  fuel  by  not  repeating 

A  number  in  Lycoming  County  are  using  a  sixty-gallon  feed 
cooker  in  which  to  boil  their  lime-sulphur. 


135 

Mr  W.  H.  Banzhaf ,  of  Muncy,  the  president  of  the  Lycoming 
County  Fruit  Growers'  Association,  was  I  believe  first  to  give  it  a 
trial  for  this  purpose  in  this  vicinity.  Mr.  W  G.  Winner,  of 
Calvert,  has  one  in  use  and  I  am  greatly  pleased  with  ours.  We 
do  not  use  it  for  anything  else.  .  ,    ,      .  4.     ^ 

The  cooker  gives  the  maximum  of  heat  with  least  amount  ot 
wood  and  it  is  surprising  how  little  wood  is  required  with  no 
chance  for  waste  by  escaping  heat. 

It  has  a  joint  stovepipe,  a  door  in  front  with  a  slide  damper 
that  aids  in  keeping  uniform  heat.  An  extra  joint  of  stovepipe 
may  be  added  should  a  greater  draft  be  wanted  Wire  screemng 
may  be  used  as  a  safeguard  against  sparks  if  high  winds  or  m 

proximity  to  buildings.  ,      ,  ,  .„ 

The  cost  of  home  boiled  lime  and  sulphur  will  vary  some  as 
cost  of  labor,  materials,  and  fuel  varies.     With  us  fuel  is  not  an 

item  of  cost.  , .  ,       ,      ,.    „  r^i 

The  cost  of  120  gallons  of  concentrate  would  be  about  as  fol- 
lows: 

120  gals,  water,   ^ 

240  pounds   Sulphur,    4- 20 

120  pounds  Lime, -"^ 

Labor,  i  day  (hired), ^'^^ 

$6.30 

If  we  perform  the  labor  ourself  we  save  the  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  as  money  not  really  paid  out.  ^„j;„„ 

The  degree  of  concentrate  will  vary  at  times,  much  depending 
upon  good  lime,  high  in  calcium.  Though  our  test  be  but  25  de- 
grees a  dollar's  worth  of  materials  more,  or  less  water  added  in 
process  of  boiling  would  cover  a  variation  of  five  degrees  to 
stronger. 

Question.— How  often,  when  and  zmth  ivhat  preparation 
should  peaches  he  sprayed  for  brown  rot? 

p  S  Fenstermacher,  AUentown.— As  the  disease  usually  en- 
ters through  injuries  received  from  insects  like  curculio,  spray 
with  8-8-=;o  self-boiled  Lime-Sulphur  and  2  pounds  Arsenate  of 
Uad  as  shucks  fall,  and  again  three  weeks  later^  ^ate  ripenmg 
varieties,  three  or  four  weeks  before  ripening,  omitting  the 
Arsenate  of  Lead. 

Fred  Ruof,  Hummelstown.— For  early  peaches,  two  spray- 
ings are  generally  sufficient,  but  it  will  depend  ^."  f^.Y^f ^^^^^/^ 
thire  is  much  rain  or  damp  weather  more  ^Praymg  w  11  ^e  needed 

For  main  crop  peaches  up  to  the  middle  of  .S^Pi^^^^^^^'^^^he?^^^^^ 
\r^a^  are  iisuallv  sufficient.  For  later  varieties,  where  there  is 
rny/of  peaclr  sS^'three  sprayings  will  ^e  required  In  damp 
seasons,  or  in  low  spots,  it  will  pay  to  give  the  third  spraying,  it 
only  for  scab. 


136 

J.  A.  Runk,  Huntingdon,  Pa. — I  have  seen  brown  rot  effec- 
tively controlled  in  large  peach  orchards  during  the  past  two  years 
by  using  self-boiled  lime  and  sulphur  (eight  pounds  of  lime  and 
eight  pounds  of  sulphur  to  fifty  gallons  of  water),  making  the 
first  application  about  four  weeks  after  the  blossoms  have  fallen 
and  the  second  application  approximately  five  weeks  before  the 
fruit  ripens.  For  late  ripening  varieties,  a  third  application  may 
be  found  necessary. 

(The  above  treatment  is  the  one  which  has  been  worked  out 
and  used  so  successfully  by  Dr.  Scott  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of 
Agriculture.) 

Question. — Explain  the  making  of  self-boiled  lime-sulphur 
solution. 

Prof.  H.  A.  Surface,  Harrisburg. — I  make  self -boiled  lime- 
sulphur  solution  according  to  Scott's  formula  of  8-8-50.  I  put  eight 
pounds  of  fresh  stone  lime  into  a  barrel  and  stir  eight  pounds  of 
sulphur  in  two  or  three  gallons  of  water  and  pour  this  over  the 
lime  artd  let  it  commence  to  slake.  I  use  just  enough  water  to 
partially  cover  the  mixture  of  lime  and  sulphur  and  by  standing 
a  hoe  in  the  barrel  I  can  stir  it  occasionally.  I  cover  the  barrel 
tightly  with  a  blanket  or  oil  cloth  and  let  it  stand  from  eight  to 
ten  minutes  until  the  red  liquid  is  just  commencing  to  form  in 
spots,  then  I  add  enough  cold  water  to  make  up  fifty  gallons,  stir 
it  well,  strain  it  and  apply  it  thoroughly  as  a  spray  for  brown  rot 
or  ripe  rot. 


REPORT  OF  RESOLUTION  COMMITTEE. 

To  the  officers  and  members  of  the  State  Horticultural  Association 
of  Pennsylvania,  Your  Committee  on  Resolutions  would  re- 
spectfully submit  the  following: 

Resolved,  That  we  heartily  commend  the  important  work  in 
behalf  of  horticulture  that  is  being  done  in  this  State  through  the 
medium  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  by  the  teachings  of  its 
farmers  institute  force  and  the  splendid  results  achieved  by  its 
Division  of  Zoology. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  Pennsylvania  State  College  \ye  have  an 
admirable  institution,  the  operations  of  which  are  proving  a  most 
valuable  aid  in  enlarging  the  scope  of  agricultural  and  horticultural 
research. 

Resolved,  That  we  express  our  disapproval  of  the  Act  of  As- 
sembly which  demands  that  fruits  be  sold  at  a  greater  weight  for 
a  supposed  bushel  than  the  actual  weight  of  a  full  bushel,  and 
that  steps  be  taken  by  our  committee  on  legislation  to  obtain  such 
modification  of  that  law  as  will  be  proper  and  equable. 

Resolved,  That  our  legislative  committee  move  in  the  matter 
of  securing  the  necessary  legislation  for  the  regulation  of  the  com- 
mission business  in   agricultural  produce,  and  the  providing   for 


137 

protection  against  the  unfair  and  dishonest  methods  of  some  com- 
mission men. 

Resolved,  That  the  Department  of  Agriculture  of  Pennsyl- 
vania be  requested  to  prepare  a  bulletin,  to  be  distributed  through- 
out the  State,  suggesting  the  best  methods  of  utilizing  the  waste 
products  of  the  orchard,  and  especially  with  reference  to  the  man- 
ufacture of  vinegar,  with  an  estimate  of  the  cost  of  a  convenient 
building  and  equipment. 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  our  thanks  to  the  York  Chamber 
of  Commerce  for  the  hospitality  extended  to  our  Association  and 
their  excursion  trips  so  delightfully  planned;  to  the  Hon.  John  R. 
Lafean,  Mayor  of  the  city,  for  his  hearty  address  of  welcome,  and 
to  the  newspapers  of  York  for  their  excellent  reports  of  our  pro- 
ceedings. 

F.  H.  Fassett, 
Cyrus  T.  Fox, 
A.  I.  Weidner, 
W.  J.  Lewis, 
Geo.  W.  Bartram, 

Commrittee. 


THE  FRUIT  SHOW. 

No  premiums  could  be  offered  this  year  and  only  first 
and  second  ribbons  were  given  but  the  loyalty  of  the  members  was 
well  displayed  in  the  quantity  and  character  of  the  fruit  displayed. 
There  was  not  quite  so  much  fruit  as  in  the  past  few  years  but 
the  quality  was  quite  up  to  the  mark.  Perry  County  beat  Adams 
to  first  place  in  county  display  with  a  showing  of  decided  merit. 
Some  folks  say  that  Adams  County  was  caught  resting  on  her 
laurels  and  some  say  that  Perry  is  coming  right  to  the  front  in 
apple  growing.  Be  that  as  it  may,  it  will  take  some  good  fruit  to 
win  first  place  in  the  county  display  of  the  191 5  show.  Because — 
and  this  is  a  secret — Adams  County  doesn't  like  second  place  one 
bit,  while  winning  first  suits  Perry  tip-top  and  this  is  not  all :  at 
least  three  other  counties  see  possibilities  in  what  Perry  did  and 
are  inclined  to  take  a  hand.  We  prophesy  that  there  will  be  "some- 
thing doing"  next  year,  and  to  tell  the  truth  we  shall  be  glad  to  see 
it. 

The  judges  were  Prof.  S.  B.  Heiges,  of  Saxe,  Va.,  Mr.  Wal- 
ter Scott  of  Cranbury,  N.  J.,  and  Dr.  J.  P.  Stewart,  of  State  Col- 
lege.    The  following  awards  were  made: 

Awards. 

Class  L — Single  Barrel — Any  Variety. 

Stayman. — (i)  H.  M.  Keller,  Gettysburg,  R.  5. 
York.— (2)  G.  P.  Myers,  Aspers;  (2)  E.  F.  Kauffman  and 
Son,  York. 

Class  II. — Three  Barrels — Three  Varieties. 
No  entry. 


it 


i  ! 


138 
Class  III.— Five  Barrels— Any  One  Variety. 
(i)    (Stayman)  H.  M.  Keller,  Gettysburg,  R.  5- 
Class  l\. —Single  Box— Following  List. 
Baldwin.— (I)  Wm.  Stewart,  Landisburg;   (2)   Sharon  Fruit 

"""'"ien'S-Ci)  Wm.  Stewart,  Landisburg;  (2)  E.  F.  Kauff- 

man  &  Son,  York.  „      ,        t-i        t^  1^ 

Grimes.— (!)  Tyson  Brother,  Flora  Dale. 

K''S7iJi.-0)  WrStewart;  (.)  T.  C.  Foster.  Uwis- 

^"""^'Stayman.-ii)  l>on  Bros..  Flora  Dale;  (2)  Albert  Shorb. 

Hanover.  .   .   «  t>    ^u 

Summer  Rambo.—(i)  Tyson  Brothers. 

Winter  Banana.— (^i)  Wm.  Stewart.  xio.r^^rf 

Yellow  Bellflower.-(i)  Sharon  Fruit  tarni,  Newport 
Forfe  Imperial.-{i)  Tyson  Brothers;  (2)  E.  F.  Kauffman  & 

York  Stripe.— (i)  Wm.  Stewart. 

Class  V.— Single  Box— Any  Variety. 

(1)  (Smith  Cinder)  Sharon  Fruit  Farm. 

(2)  (Black  Gilliflower)  Daniel  Rice,  New  Bloomfield. 
Class  Yl.— Three  Boxes— Any  Three  Varieties. 

(1)  (Grimes,  York  Imp.,  York  Stripe)  Tyson  Brothers. 

(2)  (Ben,  York,  Stark)  E.  F.  Kauffman  &  Son. 

Class  Yll.— Five  Boxes— Any  One  Variety. 
(i)    (Stayman)  Tyson  Brothers. 

Class  VIII.— 5m^/^  Plate— Following  List. 

Arkansas.-(i)  E.  P.  Garrettson   Biglerville.  Catharine 

Baldivin.—{i)  Sharon    Fruit     Farm;     (2)  Miss     Katharine 

^^'^Ben  Davis.-{i)  G.  P.  Myers,  Aspers;   (2)  Miss  Katherine 

^""'^imes.-ii)  Miss  Katherine  Large;  (2)  Fred'k  G.  Satterth- 

write,  Fallsington. 

kubbardston.-(i)  D.  M.  Wertz.  Waynesboro 

Jonathan.— {I)  D.  M.  Wertz,  Waynesboro;  (2)  C.  A.  Wolfe, 

^^P'cL—d)  Fred'k  G.  Satterthwrite.  Fallsington. 

Rome  BJauty.-{i)  W.  W.  Brunner,  Paxtonv.Ue;  (2)  T.  C. 

^''''fn^:H::i-ir)  Tyson  Brothers;  (2)  Fred'k  G.  Satterth- 

^''%ayman.-{i)    E.    P.    Garrettson.    Biglerville;    {2)     Tyson 

^'"'^iummer  Rambo.-{i)  Tyson  Brothers;    (2)  Miss  Katherine 
Large. 


% 


139 

Wagener. — (i)  Tyson  Brothers. 
Yellow  Bellflower.—(i)  Fred'k  G.  Satterthwrite. 
York     Imperial. — (i)  Miss     Katherine     Large;     (2)  Tyson 
Brothers. 

York  Stripe.— (i)  H.  M.  Keller;  (2)  Wm.  Stewart. 

Class  IX. — Three  Plates — Any  Three  Varieties. 

(i)    (Stayman,  Grimes,  Y.  Stripe),  Tyson  Brothers. 

(2)   (York,  Famense,  Flory  Bellflower)  Miss  Katherine  Large. 

Class  X. — Five  Plates — Any  One  Variety. 

(i)   (Rome  Beauty)  Sunnyside  Orchard  Co.,  Tyrone. 
(2)    (York  Imperial)    Boyer  Brothers,  Arendtsville. 

Class  XI. — Large  Number  Varieties. 

(i)   (Twenty-one  Varieties)  E.  P.  Garrettson. 
(2)   (Seventeen  Varieties)  E.  H.  Snyder  &  Sons,  Jacks  Moun- 
tain. 

Class  XII. — Best  Collection  Pears. 
No  Entry. 

Class  Xlll.— Single  Plate. 

(i)    (Clairgeau)  Miss  Katherine  Large. 

Class  XIW.— Display. 

No  Entry. 

Class  XV.— Nuts. 

Black   Walnuts.— (i)  L.   C.  Hall,  Avonia. 
Native  Chestnuts.— (i)  L.  C.  Hall,  Avonia. 

Class  XVI. — County  Exhibit. 

(i)  Perry  County. 
(2)  Adams  County. 


140 


TREASURERS'  REPORT. 

DISBURSEMENTS. 

2-3-1913,  to  C.  G.  Woodbury, $  ^^■^^ 

2-3-1913,  to  Pub.  House  United  Evangelical  Church,  12.83 

2-3-1913,  to  Samuel  Fraser,  51-55 

2-20-1913,  to  John  D.  Herr 38.oo 

2-20-1913,  to  Times  and  News  Pub.  Co.,  20.50 

2-20-1913,  to  Paul  Work,    ^8-44 

2-20-1913,  to  Whitehead  and  Hoag  Co ^3-«> 

2-20- 1913,  to  H.  B.  Fullerton,   25.00 

3-22-1913,  to  Harrisburg  Board  of  Trade 60.00 

5-2-1913,  to  Whitehead  and  Hoag  Co.,  7- 17 

5-5-1913,  to  Times  and  News  Pub.  Co.,  24. 50 

5-5-1913.  to  The  Gettysburg  Compiler ^^.oo 

5-5-1913,  to  Times  and  News  Pub.  Co 4-75 

5-5-1913,  to  Wayen  Title  and  Trust  Co 2.50 

1-T9-1914,  to  Balance,  Cash  on  Hand,  '"4-75 

$528.76 


RECEIPTS. 

Cash  Balance  ist  mo.,  21st.,  1913 ^  ^^'"^^ 

2-1-1913,  from  Chester  J.  Tyson,  annual  dues,  175 -oo 

2-19-1913,  from  Chester  J.  Tyson,  annual  dues,  45-00 

3-1S-1913,  from  interest  on  life-membership  fund 13-09 

3-22-1913,  from  Chester  J.  Tyson,  annual  dues 70.oo 

5-5-1913,  ^rom  Chester  J.  Tyson,  annual  dues 50.oo 

1-15-1914,   from  interest  on  life-membership   fund i8-93 

1-19-1914,  from  Chester  J.  Tyson,  annual  dues,  I'Xi.QO 

$528.76 

AUDITORS'  REPORT. 

York,  Pa.,  January  21,  1914- 
We,  the  undersigned  have  examined  the  above  account  and  find  the 

same  to  be  correct. 

We  also  f^nd  the  sum  of  $700.00,  the  life-membership  fund. 

Wm.  T.   Creasy, 
Wm.  Stewart, 
RoBT.  M.  Eldon, 

Auditors. 


INDEX 


Addresses — 

President's  Address — Wm.  T.  Creasy 16 

Fruit  Conditions  in  Pennsylvania — D.  E.  Murray,   19 

The  Culture  of  B-ish  Fruits— Prof.  W.  B.  Nissley 25 

Ornamental  Plantmg  for  the  Farm  Home — Wm.  H.  Moon 30 

Better  Fruit  at  Less  Cost — Prof.  H.  A.  Surface 33 

State  Fruit  Growers  See  the  San  Jose  Scale  Parasites — Prof.  H. 

A.  Surface 39 

How  I  Would  Start  an  Apple  Orchard — Howard  A.  Chase, 40 

Some  Orchard  Diseases  and  Their  Treatment — Prof.  C.  R.  Orton,  43 

Planting  and  Care  of  a  Young  Peach  Orchard — C.  A.  Greist 56 

Peaches  for  the  Home  Market — H.  F.  Hershey,  58 

Phases  of  Management  in  the  Commercial  Apple  Plantation — J. 

A.   Runk,    64 

Marketing  Fruit — A  Family  Package — Howard  A.  Chase,  68 

A  Satisfactory  Home  Apple  Storage — H.  C.  Brinton,   69 

Agricultural  Education — Dean  R.  L.  Watts,   71 

Cover  Crops  for  the  Orchard — F.  H.  Fassett,  83 

Cold  Storage — A  Vital  Aid  to  the  'Apple  Industry — D.  N.  Minnick,  86 
Some  Points  on  the  General  Care  of  Apple  Orchards — Dr.  J.  P. 

Stewartt 89 

Selecting  Fruit  for  Exhibition — Prof.  F.  N.  Fagan,  95 

Strawberries — F.  H,   Fassett,    97 

Vegetable  section,   100 

Some  Special  Problems — Prof.  W.  B.  Nissley,  100 

Granding  and  Packing  Vegetables — H.  C.  Thompson 104 

Irrigation  as  a  Factor  in  Vegetable  Growing — A.  M.  Seabrook,  107 

Round  Table  Discussion 109 

A  Closer  Union  Between  Grower  and  Dealer — R.  G.  Phillips,  ....  11 1 

Advertising  the  Apple — U.  Grant  Border,    119 

Cross  Pollination  of  Apples — Charles  Bouton 123 

Question   Box,    127 

Amendments,    82 

Auditors'   Report 140 

Border,   U.   Grant • 119 

Bouton,  Charles,    123 

Brinton,   H.   C,    69 

Business   Session 82 

By-laws, 12 

Chase,  Howard  A 40, 68 

Constitution,    1 1 

Creasy,  Wm.  T 16 

Election   of  Officers,    82 

Fagan,   Prof.   F.   N., 95 

Fassett.    F.    H 83,97 

Fruit    Show    Report,    137 

General  Fruit  Committee,  Report  of 19 

Greist,  C.  A 56 

Kains,  Prof.  M.  G 88 

Hershey.  H.  F 58 

Membership 4 

Minnick.  D.  N.,   86 

Moon,   Wm.    H 30 

Murray,   D.   E • 19 

Nissley,  Prof.  W.  B.,  25,  100 

Officers,    3 


142 

Orton,  Prof.  C.  R ^^\ 

Phillips,   P.   G.,    

Question  Box, S 

Resolutions,  Commitee  on,    *g 

Runk,  J.  A jQ_ 

Seabrook,  A.  M.,  JL 

Stewart,  Dr.  J.  P.,  ,.  ?^ 

Surface,  Prof.  H.  A.,   33,^^^ 

Summer    Meeting • ^ 

Thompson,   H.   C, "T 

Treasurer's   Report,    TI 

Watts,  Dean  R.  L.,  ' 


FRUIT  SHOW-IREiM  TEMPLE,  WJLKES-BARRE 


VliVlT  SHOW     IRKM  TKMPLr:,  WILKKS-IiAKKK. 


END  OF  YEAR