A.G. Hendren Explains What Apple Orchards Need, Feb. 10, 1926

On this page appears a cut of the orchard school held at the Commercial Club Rooms on January 19th-20th. The personnel of this school was high. A number of the leading orchardists from this and surrounding counties attended. These are intelligent and forward looking citizens, capable of bringing fruit-growing into its own in this section.

As was published heretofore in the report of the school, several leading horticulturists of the State were present and made instructive talks. One of the leading things these speakers specially stress was the importance of soil improvement. We must grow a tree before we can grow fruit. It is just as important to have a good healthful tree to bear apples as it is to have a strong stalk to bear an ear of corn. It takes good soil to grow a good tree, therefore if we would have good, healthful, strong apple trees we must build up the soil where they grow. We all have heard it said that certain orchards bear only every other year. The reason for this is that the trees lack plant food supplied by a good soil annually replenished by a good fertilizer. In other words, the soil should be rich enough not only to grow and fully mature the present crop of fruit but to prepare the tree to start the next year’s crop. This is a recent discovery but a valuable one for profitable fruit-growing. The best plant food to prepare the trees for next year’s buds is Nitrate of Soda applied this spring just as the buds begin to swell. The application of Soda will also help this year’s crop.

The proper amount of Nitrate of Soda to use is from one to three pounds per tree, depending on the size and age of the tree.

--A.G. Hendren, County Agent, Wilkes, N.C., February 10, 1926

From the front page of the North Wilkesboro Hustler, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1926

The following link will show the photo of the people who attended the class: newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92072938/1926-02-10/ed-1/seq-1/