d gun. I hunt the borers
and encourage the birds. I prune my trees so as to give air and
sunshine; think it pays. Do not thin the fruit while on the trees. My
apples are in mixed plantings. I fertilize my orchard in the winter with
stable litter fresh from the stable; it appears to do good, and would
advise its use, with judgment, on all soils. I pasture my orchard with
hogs and calves. I do not think it advisable among young trees. My trees
are troubled with leaf-roller, and my fruit with codling-moth. I spray
just after the blossom falls, with Paris green, for the codling-moth.
Prices have been from 25 cents to $1 per bushel. What the future of
apple-growing in northern central Kansas may be, it is of course
impossible to tell, but from the success of the few orchards that have
been planted, and after being planted have received some attention
besides that bestowed by calves and pigs, it would seem well worth a
trial. There are years when the best attention possible cannot prevent
damage and some loss from drought, especially on upland. For this reason
bottom land would seem more suitable for an orchard in this county, even
though subject to some disadvantages. In some orchards on low land only
a few feet above the water-level, where a sandy subsoil admits of a free
natural subirrigation, the thrift and productiveness of the trees have
been unusually good. Cold seems to be dreaded less than hot, dry weather
in the latter part of the summer, although late spring frosts sometimes
do damage. Even the traditional "north slope" might have its advantages
somewhat balanced in this county by the valley lands that retain a large
amount of moisture.

A good soil with a loose subsoil that holds the greatest possible amount
of water are the most important requirements as to location. If the
cultivation is then such as to save the water of early summer rains to
the best advantage until the dry weather of the late summer comes, it
will be drawn upon, and some very dry seasons may be tided over without
much loss. Plowing in the spring and very frequent shallow cultivation
afterwards are, as yet, the best known means to this end; and as a
general rule they are sufficient to answer every purpose as far west as
central Kansas, without artificial watering, as the average rainfall
shows; but if the early rains are allowed to go to waste by falling on
the hard ground and running directly off, or by rapid evaporation from
an undisturbed su