Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/146156
EARLY B Gets the W ird orm! "Cornell had about 60 trees at the Hudson Valley Lab they were going take out," Tim said. "Somebody said, 'Maybe Tim wants them,' and I got them." He, and some help, hand-dug 60 five- and six-year-old trees and moved them to Dressel Farms. French names The varieties have interesting names: Chisel Jersey, Michelin, Brown Snout, Somerset Red Streak, Dabinett, Harry Masters Jersey, Ellis Bitter, Binet Rouge, Tremblett's Bitter, Médaille D'Or—"and some French names I can't pronounce," Tim said. Most trees tolerated the transplanting pretty well, and some produced apples last year. He also planted new Smokehouse, Golden Russet, and Esopus Spitzenburg trees, three heirloom American varieties common in traditional American hard cider. "They bloom so late, they missed the frost," he said about the cider varieties and the conditions that cut the New York apple crop in half last year. Tim tends to prune the cider trees lighter than his other apple trees and doesn't thin the crop as much. Since he's not worried about fruit size, he can afford to hang more apples to increase yield. "If I had more acreage, I'd probably set up a specialized—lighter and cheaper—spray regimen, but with only one acre in production, I just include my trees in the same plan we use for the surrounding dessert eating apples," he explained. "I also plan on basically using the transplanted trees as a source of budwood for grafting. The varieties I'm growing are fairly rare and are not usually propagated by nurseries unless they are specially ordered. Grafting my own will save me some time and aggravation." Besides getting all the licenses to make and sell alcoholic beverages, Tim developed a separate enterprise name: Kettleborough Cider House. Tim doesn't have all the equipment for making hard cider but can press the juice in the farm's cider mill, and from there it's much like making white wine, he said. He takes the juice to a nearby winery, where it is fermented in stainless steel tanks. The fermented product needs to be settled and clarified, and then bottled. So far, Tim has made only one product, a carbonated, champagne-like hard cider, using "the cheap and fast method" of artificial carbonation. Carbon dioxide is dissolved under pressure in the cider, which is then bottled. It bubbles and has the familiar fizz of champagne or any carbonated beverage when opened. Call today f 2014 & 2015or deliveries! Pear Trees on ® 9 7 97 OHxF 6 , 8 , & Rootstocks OHxF® 69, 87, & 97* – Match your specific variety and orchard to one of these rootstocks for maximum results. *OHxF® 69 Rootstock Shown Patent Information Available Call today for more detailed information (800) 675-6075 Does YOUR fan blade cover 15-plus ACRES? DISCOVER THE CHINOOK FAN BLADE ADVANTAGE. • How well do you know Honeycrisp? ANSWERS TO QUIZ ON PAGE 54 Q1. d. For many years, Honeycrisp was thought to be a cross of Macoun and Honeygold. Recent DNA testing showed that its real parents were Keepsake and an unknown apple, possibly a numbered selection that has since been discarded. "Last Bite:The Honeycrisp Explosion," October 2012. Q2. c. Honeycrisp was (probably) bred in 1961, selected in 1974, patented in 1990, introduced in 1991, and named the state fruit of Minnesota in 2006. "Last Bite:The Honeycrisp Explosion," October 2012. Q3. f.The Honeycrisp patent, held by the Regents of the University of Minnesota, expired in 2008. "Honeycrisp patents," March 15, 2008. Q4. k. Although brown rot can infect apple and pear, it rarely causes economic damage in those crops. Source: Compendium of Apple and Pear Diseases, American Phytopathological Society. Q5. e. Researchers in Canada say Honeycrisp is the only variety they have seen in which soluble solids increase after MCP treatment. "Storing Honeycrisp," August 2012. Q6. b."Honeycrisp moves into top six," October 2012. Q7 Six. "5 top ways to ensure apples store well," August 2013. Q8. d. "A redder Honeycrisp," June 2012. www.goodfruit.com # Increased Radius Coverage by 80-150 Feet with Same HP Draw # Air Flow Starts 14'' from Hub # Donier Swept Tip—Reduces Tip Drag # The Only Fan Blade with the "Trailing Edge Wedge" (widens sector angle and increases air velocity) # Advanced Air Foil Design # Increased Air Horsepower # REDUCED FUEL CONSUMPTION # Quality Built, Affordable, Fast Payback Returns # Satisfaction Guaranteed FORD TRITON V-10 or IVECO NEF 6.7 DIESEL Give the CHINOOK BLADE a trial spin, at our expense! Judge for yourself! H.F HAUFF . COMPANY INC. 2921 Sutherland Park Drive Yakima, WA 98903-1891 855-855-0318 TOLL FREE 509-248-0318 FAX 509-248-0914 hfhauff@gmail.com • www.hfhauff.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER AUGUST 2013 41