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SAMUEL H. BERT, Moonlight, Dickinson county: Have been in Kansas
nineteen years; have 500 apple trees from four to twenty-two years
planted; the oldest are twelve inches in diameter. For commercial
purposes use Winesap, Missouri Pippin, and Janet, and for family use
would add Red June and Maiden's Blush. Have tried and discarded Red
Streak, Romanite, Rambo, and Bellflower. I prefer bottom in this
locality with a northeast slope. I plant twenty-eight or thirty feet
apart. I plant two-year-old trees; rather plant a yearling than
three-year-olds. Have never tried root grafts or seedlings. I cultivate
even my oldest trees, using a plow and harrow; it pays. I grow corn in
young orchard until too large; then nothing, just cultivate. Windbreaks
are essential, and should be made of Osage orange or mulberries; but not
too close to the orchard. I tie corn-stalks around the trees to protect
from rabbits, and keep the trees low, to shade the trunks to protect
against borers. I prune to prevent forks, to keep from splitting. I thin
apples when necessary; this should be done when they are about half
grown. I prefer to plant my trees in blocks. An orchard should be
fertilized with fine stable litter. I would advise the use of it,
especially on upland soil. Never pasture my orchard. My trees are
troubled with flathead borers. Never sprayed much, but think it would be
beneficial. I pick in sack hung over shoulder. We make three classes of
our apples--large, small, and specked. Have no particular way to market;
sell any way I can, but never in the orchard. We make cider, boiled
cider and apple-butter of the culls. Never have tried distant markets.
Never dry any. Store some for winter in bulk and in barrels in cellar;
am successful; find that the Winesaps keep best. Have never tried
artificial cold storage. We have to repack stored apples before
marketing; lost very few this winter, as I kept them out of the cellar
until December; then they kept well. I do not irrigate. Prices have been
from 60 cents to $1.50 per barrel.

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G. E. SPOHR, Manhattan, Riley county: Have resided in Kansas twenty-six
years. Have an orchard of 3000 trees, nineteen years planted. Originator
of the Spohr apple (described elsewhere). Plants for commerce Winesap,
Missouri Pippin, and Ben Davis; for family orchard, Winesap, Missouri
Pippin, Maiden's Blush, and Early Harvest. Have tried fifty varieties