Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-08-26
Meteorological Condition and Peach
Propagation.

Meteorological Condition and Peach
Propagation.
Prepared by the observer of the Oregon
State Weather Bureau.
Meteorological, that is climatic or
weather conditions must first be
studied and understood ere success
full fruit industries can be obtained.
Soil conditions, may be of tue most
ideal character but without the
proper climatic conditions fruit cul-
ture would be a failure. Expert.
ments in hot houses with an artifi-
cial climate demonstrate just what
heat or cold, moisture or dryness is
necess ary for certain plants, shrubs
trees, etc. On large scale expert
ment must be made with nature
berself to determine what vegeta-
ton is suitable for the various sec
tions of the earth's surface. A suf-
ficient number of years have elapsed
since the Willamette valley has
been cultivated to enable q determi-
nation of its suitable products to be
deduced. Owing to the public spir-
itedness of few citizens, the FEEDER
al and lately the State Weather Bu-
reau sufficient climatic data is avail
able to make comparison of the
various climatic conditions which
prevail and which have vital rela-
tion to the peach growers industry.
Oregon has been looked upon as a
state not capable of producing corn
or peaches, that is, not producing
either or both of them in such guam
titles and of such perfection as is OBJ
tanned in Kansas or Illinois for the
former, or in Delaware for the latter.
This idea is, in the main, correct,
for it is only in favored or
peculiar sections of Oregon
that either can be financially sue
cessfully raised. This is not due to
non-fertility of soil, but to the cold
ness of the night air during the
time ofthe termination and growth.
IN sections, owing to local modify
ing influences, the night is warmer
and in these sections corn and
peaches can be successfully grown.
The Willamette valley cOntaius
some five million acres. For the
most part it is level in the center,
with gradual upward slope to the
east, south and west. Locally there
are hills ana valleys, ranging from
enc to five hundred feet in elevation,
Terrestrial radiation proceeds from
hills, valleys and table lands, just
the same, when under the same
mete geological conditions. Owing
to the radiation the air in contact
with declivities of hills and rising
ground, becomes cooled, it acquires
greater density, hence accummu-
lates on the low lying ground. 1t
follows therefore that peaches on
rising ground are never exposed to
the full intensity of frosts or cooler
air at night; and the higher they
are situated relative to the immedi-
atty surrounding district the less
are they exposed, since their relative
elevation provides n ready escape
downward of the cooler airalmost as
rapidly rs it is produced. On the
other hand, valleys surrounded by
hills and high grounds not only re-
tain their own cold or radiation, but
also serve as reservoirs for the cold
heavy air which pours down upon
them from neighboring heights.
Heavy mist is frequently formed in
low situations, whilst adjoining
enliences are clear.
Two chief causes which tend to
counteract these effects of terrestrial
radition are forests and sheets of
water. Bodies Of water are regarded
as sources of heat, for the radiation
ON land is more rapid than on water,
hence the daily sea breeze, /. e. of
ocean to land during day from land
TO ocean during night, is the natural
sequence of difference in tempera-
ture, for cold air flows to place OF
warmer air.
Frosts are most severely felt In
those localities where the slopes
above them are destitute Of vegeta-
tion II, however the slopes be COW
cred with trees, the temperature is
warmer at the hass and up the sides,
the beneficial influences Of forests
consisting In obstacles they offer TO
the deeending currents OF cold air
and In distributing the cold pro
duoed by terrestrial radiation
through stratum Of the aimos-