Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-04-15
DESTROYING THE OLD OR.
CHARDS.

Someone, probably a member Of the
state board Of horticulture, writes in
the OregonIan Of Sunday, regarding
the new state law which that board
got up and had passed In the last legis'
Iature. The editorial admits this when
II says:
It's chief sponsor, wac the state board
Of horticulture, and the responsibility
for successful warfare on fruit pests,
IA therefore laid directly at the door Of
that commission. 10 will come In for
blame, and justly, II With law Of it's
own framing, 1t fails to accomplish
good results.
The appropriation is much larger
than before but the Oregonian says:
While new and extended system Of
publication and quarantine is coDtem-
plated, the board has been allowed only
an additional 81 900 year for the pur.
pose, so that a complete exercise OF the
powers conferred might easily be ham.
pared through lack Of funds. YET, in
one particular, the board by It's rules
and regulations just issued, following
out the purpose Of the law, manages 10
escape this difficulty. This is by put
ting upon importers Of nursery stock
the expense Of It's examination. 1t l..
possible, also, for fruit growers to coop
crate with the board In another i'm.
portant matter, which is In reporting
infected stock, fruit and growing trees
and plants.
Every fruitgrower In the state should
consider himself committee of one to
make complaint TO the board of every
infected orchard or small fruits patch
known to him. Obviously, the com
missioners, however earnest IN their
W jrk, cannot, without devoting their
whole time to these duties, and this Is
lmpracticable, inasmuch as they serve
without pay, look up all such places.
A few infected orchards 80 reported
and then vigorously cleaned up by the
board, will serve as a salutary lesson
for farmers miles around.
The point to the above IL that unless
citizens of this state go to reporting
upon their neighbors the board will not
have much to do. There will be no
basis Of action unless citizens turn in
formers against each other to set the
agents OF the state board to work to
destroy orchards that are infested.
A far more sensible way would be to
not destroy the old orchards. The old
trees should be cleaned up, trimmed
dead branches removed, brushy tops
thlnned out, the whole tree pruned and |
Q eaned, 30 that the sun aud air can get |
into 1t, and II 1t does not bear good |
fruit, graft new top OF good stock
upon II. In England, France or Ger.
many no one would think OF doing
otherwise with "A large old fruit tree.
There are thousands OF old neglected
orchards Ia the state and II Is false
elchlng that they should be cut down.
The state board Of horticulture she ould
get the names OF owners Of neglected
and send them circulars aud
Instructions, just what TO do with an
I'D fruit tree instead OF here and there
'utting one down, while three fourths
II the remainder will not be- touched in
Inc whole state and no good will have
been done.
There Is not an old apple or pear Tree
N the state that will not well repry
pruning aud spraying, Above
III, do not get the Idea the state,
through IL board, Is going to get rid Of
II the Insect pests and infected fruit
roes, aud that you viii not have 10
rune, spray, cultivate aud care for
'onF young orchards. That would he a
atal mistake.
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