The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-14
FOR rRuIr GROWERS.


Timely Advice By Secretary Tennsssn
Of the state Board.
TACOMA. Aug. a-TSpecial. l-sscretary
Tonneson. of the state board Of horsicul
ture. finds that mop and apple leaf lice
have been increasing rapidly in Western
Washington during the past few weeks
He says:
Spraying in hop fields must now be
pushed vigorously in order TO save the
crop. If another good spraying 10 given
young apple trees it will perhaps suffice
this season, as the wood should now begin
20 ripen up. The most safe and practical
remedy for these plant lice. in this part OF
the state, is the Quassia chips and whale
oil soan. Soak eight pounds Quassia, al
least twelve hours, in eight gallons 81
water. Dissolve seven pounds of soap by
boiling in sufficient water to cover il
strain aud add the two ingredients to-
gether, stir thoroughly and dilute TO make
100 gallons, used for the hops. For the
apple leaf lice il may be necessary TO di-
lutte only with seventy-hve gallons of
water. as these are more difficult 20 exter-
inmate than the hop lice. Some expert
menting may be necessary to determine
amount of W alter TO be added when spray
Ing young apple trees, as the foliage OF
some varieties is very tender. The solu-
ton must be OF sufficient strength TO kill
X
soap to destroy the leaves"
Commenting on the fruit crop and
markets, Mr.. Tonneson says:
.'rhe large fruit crop of Eastern Wash
ington is now being picked and sent TO
the Sound, also to through markets.
Daily advices from Barnett Bros, Chicago,
show that Pacific coast fruits are holding
MP well In price. Bartlett pears have been
selling from SL50 to 81 per box, and plnms,
pruncs and pears from 81. 40 to 81 per box.
The markets ut st. Paul and Minneapolis
are generally about the same, and the de-
Iaand very good. If the fruits of this
state could reach there in good condition
there should be a good margin for the pro-
Queer, but here is the great difficulty,
fruit growers of Washington must do bet
ter"
Some of his picking and packing Ideas
are a. follows:
"The fruit must be picked before Il 10
fully ripe so il will hold up ten days, then
graded, wrapped and boxes well filed. Sew
eral shipments have come from North
Yakima TO the Sound which will not be-
gin TO compare with fruit Of o like variety
packed further south on this coast. The
fruit was over-ripe. it was not wrapped,
the plums were put into peach boxes and
the boxes were not we'll filed. eonse-
quently while the fruit might 20 OF as
good quality, and the quantity equal, it
sold for only about two-thIrds the price
paid for like fruit where boxes were well
filled. though they were not quite so deep.
The profit or loss OF fruit growers OF East
ern Washington. this season. now depends
on how they pick and pack their fruit.
Cultivation should now cease in the
orchards, and where irrigation is praoticed
the water should be taken of from young
growing trees. If growth is kept up late
in the fall the sap may be caught by early
frosts, causing IL to sour and trees 70 die.
as was the case with many young trees
which were thus affected by the sudden
deep snow and frost two years ago.
Wherever borers are noticed TO be work
ing on the trunks Of young trees thorough
application of the lime OF sulphur and salt
wash should be applied, but care taken
that 1t does not touch the ieave1. Forty
pounds of lime, twenty pounds OF sulphur
and fifteen pounds of salt; these ingred-
tents we'll boiled together. as has been pre-
yiously directed, 10 one of the best washes
yet discovered for the trunks Of fruit trees,
and during the winter season every branch
of all fruit trees should be thoroughly
covered with it."