Mr. Simmons: The orchard is located at Howard Lake, forty-three miles west of Minneapolis. We grow Duchess, Patten's Greenings, Hibernals and Wealthys.
Mr. Ludlow: What is your average cost per tree for thinning?
Mr. Simmons: We have for years thinned the Wealthy trees and our top-worked varieties, but I never kept any accurate account of the cost of thinning.
Mr. Ludlow: How old are your Wealthys?
Mr. Simmons: Fourteen years old.
Mr. Huestis: Mr. Simmons stated that he used the wire and the ring and the screw-eyes. If he used that, why does he need props? I used the same thing this summer on some Wealthys and thinned them besides, and I didn't need any props because I used the wire from the center ring to the branches.
Mr. Simmons: Well, the wire supports support the main limbs but there are a great many laterals. For instance, you have the main limb going up here at an angle of 90 degrees and the limbs that come out of that are not supported. The props I use are supporting the laterals.
Mr. Anderson: Are your returns satisfactory shipping to the Minneapolis market?
Mr. Simmons: Always have been very satisfactory; that has been my only market.