dy, with a
northern aspect. I prefer one-year-old trees planted in rows twenty feet
apart. I cultivate my orchard to vegetables as long and as often as I
can, using a harrow; cultivate after every rain if possible, and the
drier the ground, the oftener the better. Windbreaks are essential;
would make them of cottonwood, as they make the finest growth with us.
For rabbits I wrap the trees with cloth; have not been able to catch or
poison the gophers yet. I prune to maintain low heads and to make
shapely trees without forks, and think it beneficial. I never thin my
fruit. Do not think it makes any difference whether trees are planted in
blocks of one variety, or mixed up. I mulch my orchard to retain
moisture; would not advise it on all soils, as the moles make their home
in it and soon kill the trees. I do not pasture my orchard; do not think
it advisable. The gophers have done more damage by cutting off the roots
than all the other pests. Am also troubled with grasshoppers. Never have
sprayed, but am going to this spring; will use the same chemicals as are
used at the experiment station. I irrigate [sub]; can flood the ground,
but don't need to; it is wet enough without.

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J. W. SOMER, Wilson, Ellsworth county: Have lived in Kansas twenty-two
years; have an apple orchard of seventy-five trees. For all purposes I
prefer Ben Davis, Winesap, and Smith's Cider. Have tried and discarded
Arkansas Black, Lawver, Jonathan, and Rawle's Janet. I prefer limestone
bottom land with southeast slope. I prefer two-year-old trees three to
five feet tall. I cultivate my orchard two or three years with a common
stirring plow and cultivator, and plant nothing. Windbreaks are
essential; would make them of forest-trees, walls, or Osage hedge. They
ought to be planted before starting the orchard. For rabbits I wrap my
trees with corn-stalks. I prune only to make trees symmetrical. Do not
thin my apples. I mulch my trees; think it beneficial, but would not
advise it on all soils. Do not pasture my orchard. Trees are troubled
with twig-borer.

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J. D. GRIFFITHS, Kanopolis, Ellsworth county: Have lived in Kansas
eighteen years; have an apple orchard of thirty trees. Have some trees
planted on bottom land. I cultivate my orchard to sweet corn as long as
the trees will admit, using a plow and a one-horse, five-tooth
cultivator. I prune to give trees good shape. I