VOL. LXVI
INDIANAPOLIS, NOV. 25, 1911.
NO. 47
ADDRESSES AT THE APPLE SHOW
GROWERS  LEARX  HOW  TO  RAISE
BETTER APPLES—LIST   OF
PREMIUM WIXXERS.
One of the most beneficial features
of the recent Indiana Apple Show was
the interesting and instructive program of lectures on apple growing and
marketing. The visitors could not only
see the splendid fruit and wonder if
it was really possible that it was grown
in this state, and if so why they could
not    raise      apples     	
like those on exhibition, but they
had the opportunity to hear the men
who raised them
tell how the work
was accomplished.
There were three
sessions daily on
the large platform
of the hall, and
all meetings were
well attended, as
was the entire
show.
The opening address was given by
Governor Marshall,
who said he was
glad to sanction
such an enterprise
because interest in
apple raising in the
state would aid
greatly in the
state's welfare. The
raising of apples in
Indiana is not a
new industry, the
governor said; it
had simply been
neglected and he
was glad to see
such  a  revival  of  interest.
Other speakers of the opening evening were Stanley Coulter of Purdue
University and Chas. L. Jewett of New
Albany. Prof. Coulter said that successful apple growing would mean conserving one of Indiana's greatest resources. To grow apples in an unsystematic manner would mean a waste.
A warning was given not to permit this
waste, as was done in the case of the
natural gas supply of Indiana. Mr.
Jewett spoke on apple growing in the
earlie- days.
Apple Growing Undeveloped Industry.
Upon Tuesday morning the educational lectures began. Prof. C. G.
Woodbury of Purdue and secretary of
the Indiana Horticultural Society,
spoke on "Orcharding in Indiana." He
said apple growing was one of the
greatest undeveloped industries in the
State. The quality of well-grown Indiana fruit is of the best. The cost of
production is comparatively low in
many localities, because of the low
price of land and the great markets of
the country are easily and quickly
reached. Other states, he said. are
growing more apples than Indiana, and
the reason is that the growers of this
State are not familiar enough with tl e
scientific knowledge of the industry to
m«ke it pay.
Where Growers Fall.
Benjamin F. Hitz, a commission man
Of this city, who handles a great many-
apples, in his talk said that the three
points on which growers often fail was
in the choice of varieties planted,
method of picking and shipping and
the choice of the market. He recommended the packing of the choicest
fruit in attractive cases and marketing at the nearest markets unless they
were overcrowded. In such case shipments should be made to the larger
markets. He urged the planting of
standard varieties only.
In this connection we give the varieties recommended by Purdue for com-
by a plow. Also, the hole that a tree
is planted in should not be large. Make
it just large enough and deep enough
to contain the roots and then the roots
will do the rest. Fertilizers are unnecessary when the soil is of ordinary
richness. It will do wonderful things,
however, when the soil is below the average." Mr. Burton recommends
Grime's Golden, Winesap, Akin and
Rome Beauty as the four best varieties
for Indiana, and said they are named
in order, beginning with the most valuable.
The Great Indiana Apple Show, held at Indianapolis, November 6 to 11.
mercial planting. For northern Indiana, Baldwin, Grimes, Hubbardston,
Jonathan, Maiden Blush, Northern
Spy, Oldenburg, Rome Beauty, Stay-
man, Wagener, Wealthy and Yellow
Transparent. For southern Indiana,
Akin, Ben Davis, Benoni, Gano, Grimes,
Jonathan, Oldenburg, Rome Beauty,
Stayman, Wealthy, Winesap, Yellow
Transparent and York Imperial.
Ideas From Joe A. Burton.
Joe A. Burton of Mitchell, one of
Indiana's oldest fruit growers, told of
some of his methods. He likes the
idea of letting the hogs run in the orchard where they can root the soil and
thus aid in cultivation. This was in
opposition to the idea of Prof. Richards
of Purdue, for he has traced the spread
of San Jose scale in an orchard to being carried about by hogs. He said in
one case the scale was thickest at the
base of the trunks where the hogs rubbed them off their bodies.
Prof. Richards also recommended
plowing in an orchard. This, too, Mr.
Hurton disagreed with. He favored
the harrow instead, saying that this
tool did not disturb the growth of grass
and leaves on the surface, while the
plow turns them under. In this connection he said:
"The whole purpose of cultivation is
to prepare the surface so that lt will
best gather and hold moisture. In this
connection I want to explain the kind
of soil that is best adapted to trees. It
is a compact soil, not one that is stirred
Work in  Old Orchards.
Prof. Richards gave an interesting
talk on the renewal of old orchards in
which he advised plowing each spring.
He said: "The university has found
the following method to be practical:
Plow deep midway between the rows of
trees and shallower up within three
feet of the tree. Then use the disc and
harrow until there is a dust blanket
that will retain moisture. On this sow
a cover crop of cow peas, soy beans or
some such legume, that will add nitrogen, and humus is necessary for it aids
in the growth of new wood which is
necessary on old trees."
In speaking of fertilizers, he said,
"use barn yard manure at the rate of
ten tons per acre to stimulate old unproductive trees. If commercial fertilizers are to be used apply fertilizer
containing 2 per cent nitrogen, 8 per
cent phosphorus and 10 per cent potash the first year, but after the legumes have been grown a year the nitrogen may be left out.''
Prof. Richards said that pruning
should not all be done at once. He said:
"I would advise a program of pruning to extend over four years. The
first year, cut out all the dead and dying wood and the water sprout. Next
year cut out all the water sprouts again
and then remove all limbs that interfere with the best shape of the tree.
The third year open up the top of the
tree. This is necessary because if the
top is bushy, air and light can not get
to the middle of the tree to ripen the
apples. The fourth year the sprouts
■hould be cut again and the tree should
be shaped up. This program should be
repeated as needed. By doing a little
each year the entire strength of the
tree is not needed to grow wood. By
all means remove the sprouts each
year. Keep the branches low for it
permits ease in spraying and harvesting. Open up the tops so the sunlight
and air is admitted, which prevents
mold, scab and blotch in the center of
the tree. The best' time to prune is
in   early   spring,   for   then   the  wounds
       heal     readily.    Cut
the branches off
snug and parallel
to the main trunk
or to the limb from
which it was growing. Such cuts will
heal  over  best."
Essentials in
Spraying.
Spraying was the
subject of a talk by
H. J. Reed of
Purdue. Punctuality .and thoroughness were the twn
essentials of successful spraying.
The speaker outlined spraying as
follows: Spray the
chewing insects in
the spring and
summer with arsenate of lead, using two or three
pounds to 50 gallons of water, the
first time when the
leaf buds begin to
burst, the second
when     about    two-
—       thirds of the petals
have fallen this is for the codlin moth
and a high pressure should be used. The
third spraying, for the brown rot, leaf
spots, molds, etc., should come 4 weeks
later. All blight should be cut out. Spray
for fungus diseases with the spring and
summer spraying, using the first three
times a diluted solution of lime sulphur, 1 •_ gallons of the commercial
concentrated form to 50 gallons of the
arsenate of lead mixture. Bordeaux
mixture may be used the second week
in July if needed for fungus troubles.
For San Jose scale early spring spraying is more effective than late fall.
Grading and Packing.
Miss Cunningham, an expert apple
sorter of Mitchell, gave a demonstration in the selection of apples for fancy
packing.
Carl E. Byers, an expert packer gave
several demonstrations in packing
which were greatly appreciated. The
boxes used were 10% by 11% by 18
inches, inside measurement. The ends
were made of one-half inch material,
the sides of three-eights inch and the
top and bottom three-sixteenth inch
material. He recommended the diagonal pack rather than the square pack
because the apples were less apt to be
bruised.
Dr. Reeder of Laporte, spoke on cooperation in fruit growing. In his locality such an association has been
formed and he said they saved $600
ir. their buying of material last spring
by buying in large amounts. He urged that a man be employed by the as-