and discarded about all varieties excepting the above named
on account of being tender and unprofitable. I prefer bottom land,
limestone soil with a gravel subsoil, and a northeast or eastern slope.
I prefer for planting strong, stocky yearlings--never over two years
old--set at the crossing of furrows plowed with a lister. I cultivate my
orchard to potatoes, pumpkins, squashes, melons, or any low hoed crop. I
use an ordinary ten- or twelve-inch plow, and a five-tooth cultivator,
and keep this up until they begin to bear; then seed to clover, mow it,
and let it rot on the ground; then let the clover seed fall under,
harrow, and let come up again. Windbreaks are beneficial; would make
them of ash and Osage orange, by planting a few rows of trees inside of
the hedge. To protect against rabbits, I wrap the trees. I prune with a
saw and knife to remove chafing and dead limbs, and to make the tree
more healthy and vigorous. I think it beneficial. I never thin the fruit
on the trees. I fertilize my orchard with coal and wood ashes; think it
beneficial, and would advise their use on all soils. I do not pasture my
orchard. My trees are troubled with canker-worm, and my apples with
codling-moth. I never have sprayed to any extent. I hand-pick my apples,
in one-half bushel splint baskets; sort into two classes as soon as
picked.

* * * * *

LOW. MILLER, Perry, Jefferson county: Have lived in Kansas thirty years.
Have an apple orchard of 2400 trees from one to fifteen years old. For
commercial purposes I prefer Jonathan, Missouri Pippin, and Ben Davis,
and for family orchard Early Harvest, Red Winter Pearmain, Cooper's
Early White, and Rambo. I prefer bottom land, clay soil and a porous
subsoil, with a north and east slope. I prefer two-year-old, low-headed,
stocky trees, planted twenty-five by thirty feet. I cultivate my orchard
to corn for six years, using a plow, cultivator, and harrow, and cease
cropping after six or seven years. Grow only weeds in a bearing orchard.
Windbreaks are essential; would make them of maples, planted two rods
apart around orchard. For rabbits I keep two hounds and a shot-gun. I
get after the borers with a knife. I prune with a knife to keep out
watersprouts. Never have thinned fruit on the trees. I fertilize my
orchard with stable litter, and think it has proven beneficial, but
would not advise its use on all soils. I pasture my orchard with horses,
but would not advis