Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-10-15

grown in any apple section in the
United States
Experience is good teacher, 10
and 10 years ago the apple growers
of Rogue river planted from 20 TO %
feet apart. Now they see that dis
tance is too close and many of them
will take up alternate rows to give
the trees necessary room.
In most of the apple soil of Rogue
river SO feet apart should be the mini
mum distance, and in the strongest
and best soils, As feet apart is much
better. To see the utility of this ad-
vice, one should visit the orchards
in this valley at apple gathering that
are 90 to % feet apart and then visit
Mr.. NJ. S. Pelett's orchard of Talent
which is planted 36 feet apart. Mr..
Pellett has 1870 acres in orchard-l0
acres in apples and 10 acres in pears
His orchard is 10 years old, i. O.. the
bearing trees; 5000 boxes of Yellow
Newtons would run from three to
four tier, while all of his Wine Saps,
never are very large apples) would |
all go four tier. The apples in this
orchard were all gilt edged stock |
and are already contracted at 81. 90 |
per box f. o. b. The soil is ideal
apple soil, being deep black loan
with sand and gravel sub-soil and has
the distance and room to grow, which
facilitates cultivation.
Spraying last spring for scale was
better and more thorough than in the
past, although the scale has not been
exterminated, yet its destructive
effects are being lessened. During
the summer months, spraying. for the
apple worm was thorough and in most
orchards the loss from this pest will
be small. Thanks to Prof A. b.
Cordley of Oregon Agricultural Col
lege at Corvallis, through his study
and observations of the apple an
thracnose, we find, by following his
advise, this fungus which threatened
the apple industry with obstruction
two and three years ago, yields read
lily by spraying early in the fall with
bordeaux.
In the fore part of September |
was with Profs Cordley and Lake
when they established small
colony of the Asiatic Lady Bugs
(sent them by Secretary Wilson of
Washington, d. @. in scale infested
orchard near Jacksonville. This
species is said to be predacious and
preys upon the San Jose scale. There
has been observed in this valley for
several years what we call the two,
spotted lady bug, supposed to be a
native. The lady bug feeds on the
scale, and in an old orchard Of very
large trees near where / live, which
was badly infected with scale, these
supposed native lady bugs were first
q noticed in 1901. In 1907 they greatly
| increased in numbers and | observed
them both in the bottle and larvae
e feeding on the scale. Last spring
I these lady bugs became very numerous
t in this old orchard. The orchard
o bloomed heavily and the trees showed
marked viRor and vitality and during
e the growing period. set heavy crol
of apples In August spent the mos
@ of the day at this orchard examininl
e the trees and fruit for scale, but wa
= unable to find a single live scale il
- the orchard, although the old she'll
of tho scale were very plentiful on al
n Of the trees. The apples were cleal
& and all free of the marks Of the scale
b / found at that date plenty Of the lad
It bugs. That this lady bug extermi
G mated the scale in this orchard can no
IS be questioned. With a strong glass
It have noted them feeding on the scale
j. both the adult beetle and larvae.
It In appearance this lady bug we sur
n pose to bo native Oregonian,
rs identical with the Asiatic species sen
Profs. Cordley and Lake by Secretra
2 Wilson. II is a domed shaped boetl
,- one eighth Of an inch in diameter
N color glossy or metallic black, with
J. deep red spot about the size Of m,
10 dium pin head on each wing coyel
IF Since seeing Prof. Cordley at Jacl
ID sonyille, have tried to procul
g specimens from this orchard, ht
ir could find none, as they seem TO ha'
" deserted this orchard and gone 10 ne
I'd pastures. do not think this lad
s, bug | have described can DO the Pen
es tilia Misella as its size Is 10 great fC
er the Pentilia / am not familiar wit
" the Pentilia, but understand it is
be very small black beetle without Il
ty two rcdsspots and about l.lG Of O
is inch In diameter
i'd Now the question will arise 'Wi
this lady bug or any productions inse
m which preys on the scale, keep II
a. check 30 that we can relieve GU
Of selves Of the hbors aud expense
I'D spraying annually for the scalc?"
~, ! think It would be unwise, al
d, might cost Us dearly 10 depend on al
la predacious insect 70 destroy the sea
m aud abandon the spray pump. Uni
We we know, let M spray.
dc A. H. CARSON,
sh Com. Third Distri,