The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-03-06
THE INSTITUTE.
An Interesting Gathering OF
Fruit Growers in Hood River


The farmers institute held under the
auspices of the Oregon Agricultural
college and the citizens Of Hood River
met inan interesting session Monday,
March 2, in A. o. U. w. hall. The
meeting was called to order at |: 80 by
Hon. +. l.. Smith, chairman. There
were present from Corvallis, A. b.
Cordley, state entomologist, and of the
faculty of the college, Dr. James Witty
combe, and Professors A. L. Knisely
and j Il. Kent. OF our citizens there
were in attendance about100, principally
prominent fruit growers OF the valley
with some representatives from White
Salmon and Mosier. Mayor Coon gave
an address OF welcome to our visitors
to which Dr. Jas. Withycombe replied
as follows:
| desire in behalf of my colleagues to
express our appreciation of the very
cordial welcome which has been ac-
corded us. 1t is profoundly gratifying
to meet so many who are doubly inter-
ested in horticultural pursuits. A well
conducted days interchanging of ideas
is equally beneficial to the experiment
station worker and his actual fellow
worker. The Agricultural College has
done much to stimulate the horticultu-
tai and agricultural interests of our
state. IL has also done much for the
young men of our state to equip them
for more active services in life. The
Agricultural College offers liberal edu-
cation for the young farmer among all
scientilielines relating to his occupation.
But the great mass cannot avail them
selves of the college, hence the insti-
tute takes the place OF the college,
and thus practically brings the college
to your door. Farming is "A science; it
is a master science; it is the science of
sciences, the art Of arts. Yet this
wonderful art and science is not yet
developed TO its utmost limit. The
hope of our state rests upon pros
porous populations; the hope of our
nation rests upon the intelligent, pro-
gressive, honest tillers of the soil. The
state of Oregon owes a great debt of
gratitude to Hood River for demons
trating to the world that unity
means the fullillnlent of definite
purpose. You market to the best
advantage because you have impressed
upon your minds the advantages to be
derived from unity of methods in plant
ing, growing, and marketing. Hood
River is known far and near for what
it has accomplished. We come TO you
not merely as instructors, but simply
to mingle with you and exchange
thoughts that are mutually helpful.
The experiment station wants to know
your troubles; We are here to assist you,
aud hope our coming here will be of
some benefit to you. We hope that
YOU will avail yourselves of this oppor-
tunity; that you will not be backward
in asking questions. We want to dis
cuss all papers thoroughly.
PLANT FOOD FOR THE ORCHARD.
Prof. A l.. Knisely--I wish to discuss
in general way something about plant
food for the orchard. | will endeavor
to 90 into it in general way and give
YOU something about the elements of
plant food. We have among the ele-
ments of plaut food, which are about 20,
only twelve or fourteen which are
well known to horticulturists. 0fthese
12or Il, we pay attention only TO three
or four. We give no thought 10 the
carbon, the oxygen, the sulphur, etc,
etc, tut We must ut Oh Aut aiVit iHA
certain elements which after years of
use gradually become deficient. There
are about three of these which the
fertilizer man is interested In, that Is,
ihe nitrogen. potash, and phosphoric
acid, sometimes lime, but not very
often. We will suppose we have a ton
of apples. A ton Of apples contains ?. 8
pounds of nitrogen, about , pounds
of phosphorie acid and pounds pot
ash. There are only five or six pounds
of actual plant food In a ton Of apples;
the rsst is mostly water. The water,
sugar aud starch, the cell structure,
contains mostly hydrogen, oxygen, and
carbon.
In a ton Of strawberries We have
about pounds Of nitrogen, 2.S pounds