COMMERCIAL APPLE GROWING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3183, 17 March 1915, Page 10

COMMERCIAL APPLE GROWING.

The apple is the most widely-grown of tree fruits, and though not perhaps covering such a wide range of latitude as the

plum, it is more generally known and valued than any other fruit. It is a staple commodity, and has a very long market season; and is capable of manufacture into a great number of secondary products. This fruit, in America, is grown to a marvellous extent. It is worth noting that in the census return of 1900 is given the number of apple trees of the 10 ‘leading States :

The apph thrives on a great variety of soils; but when planted for commercial purposes it is necessary to choose soil and locality which will give the best results. It is necessary that the soil should be deep, as the ” roots extend to considerable depths, and on no account must there be an impervious hard pan, as on land where the water table is near the surface. Good drainage is essential, and the selected area should preferably be naturally deep and well drained. Gravelly soil, or even stony, has been found by experience to be highly satisfactory, provided that there is plenty of plant food available. In gravelly soil the drainage is probably good, and hence the superiority of such soils. Apple trees object to ‘‘wet feet.” A gravelly loam, rich in plant food, is the ideal apple soil. The site being chosen, some protection from wind may be necessary—generally speaking, it has been found in America that ‘‘windbreaks” are required for (1) protection during winter, (2.) summer protection, (3) protection of fruit in picking time. If it is decided to plant for shelter, the trees should be set out at the same time as the fruit trees. Winter protection is not so necessary as in summer time. The strain caused by high winds in exposed situations is a source of much trouble to the orchardist. It is difficult to secure asymmetrical top on rapid-growing trees. Moisture, too, is conserved if the windbreak is in a position to check the sweeping of direct winds across the orchard during the summer. At picking time protection is often invaluable. Of course a wind-break takes up room, and the fruit trees nearest the shelter suffer by the greedy feeding of the trees in the windbreak. All wind-breaks will naturally be planted on that side of the orchard from which the prevailing wind comes. Consideration will be necessary to decide whether it is intended to nrovide winter, summer, or picking time protection, as the prevailing winds are sometimes from one quarter at one season of the year, and from another quarter at another season. Under most circumstances it is necessary to plant artificial timber belts—either evergreen trees, pines, spruces, etc., or of deciduous species. The choice of trees should depend considerably on the .particular kind that do well' in the neighbourhood. No particular species can be chosen as the best. Deciduous trees are easy to establish, and grow quickly. A matter of great importance in starting a new orchard is to have good trees. It is just as important to have good nursery trees as to have good seed, and every farmer considers this one of the first requirements in agriculture. Often large trees are selected regardless of the size of their roots, with the idea that the bigger the top the better the tree; even when the roots are plentiful the principal idea seems to be to get the biggest trees. The trees selected should be free from insects and fungous disease. Thev should be well grown, clean, and straight, with a well formed head. If the £ree is sound, well grown, and free from disease, web kept, and otherwise in good physical condition, it is not very material as to its place of origin. When the nursery stock is grown on the place, as is commonly done when large commercial orchards are projected, there is no trouble, and generally a higher grade of stock is obtained. Nevertheless, in the majority of cases it is more practicable to secure trees from some reliable nurseryman than it is to grow them at home; particularly so if the number to be planted is comparatively small, and the planter is not an expert propagator. As to the age a tree should be planted, some planters prefer one-year-olds, and w r hen it is large and well grown it is perhaps as good as two-year-old stock. Generally speaking, however, two-year-old stock is to be recommended for apples. Anything older than two years is undesirable.

States. Trees. Missouri .. .. 20.040.399 New York .. .. 15,034,832 Illinois .. .... Ohio Kansas /.. .. 11,848,309 Pennsylvania .. Michigan .. .. 10.936,814 Kentucky .. .. ■ .. .. .. 8,329 641 Indiana .. .. 8,439.631 Virginia .. .. 7,723,142