The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1904-06-01

and tries to work out a system of his own.
To a greater or less extent this is true of
every fruit growing region There is spe-
cial need that the fact of the individuality
of farms be more generally recognized in
the east well as in the west.
ca 1t is reaching out for the markets of
the world. Northwestern fruit growers are
selling their fine Italian prunes in Europe
right under the noses of unwilling French
men, who have prunes of their own to sell.
They shipping apples to Hamburg and
to Hongkong They are bidding for the fruit
trade of the four hundred million Chinese
the forty million Japanese and the eleven
million Filipinos This broad outlook on the
markets of the world is one of the most
striking features of northwestern fruit grow
ing.
(5) 1t is full of enthusiasm and agrees
siveness. The special difficulties and uncer-
tainties in marketing their fruit has made
northwestern fruit growers keen business
we'll skillful cultivators. Lack
Of business fo Is f fr
growing lack of skill in culture. The
horticultural meetings of the northwest are
full of snap and vim; every man seems to
have a lot of questions which he wants
answered right away. The eagerness of
these men to learn. to find a better way
than the old, is very apparent
Generally speaking, this broad outlook,
this aggressiveness and constant reaching
out Tor the new ARE frit growinr cer
tainy these are the things which make the
deepest impression on one who has received
most of his horticultural training in the
more conservative east. Eastern fruit grow
ers have their own special difficulties. They
have merits as well as shortcomings when
western fruit growers have not. Perhaps 1T
is not fair to compare the two classes 1t is
no captious critical spirit which leads me
to wish that our Atlantic coast fruit grow
ing might catch a little more of the enthu,
sasm, the aggressiveness and the open mind
which characterzes the fruit growing of the
Pacific northwest. 1t is but the unbiased
comment of one who has observed both, and
who believes that each can learn from the
ether.
w. P. Parker of Mt. Vernon, Wash,
under date of May 8, writes as fol-
lows: "F. Walden, Horticultural Edi-
tor of The Ranch: I have read your
editorials with much interest. If not
out of place, would like to have ans
wers to some questions: First, when
is the best time to graft or bud cherry
trees? When should scions or buds
be chosen? Is there any special Sc
cret in this kind of work? I have
tried to get information from local
sources with Indifferent success. If
I am out of order no harm will be
done, I hope" I give this letter to
the readers of The Ranch because 1t
gives me an opportunity to say
number of things that l want under
stood 1t is never out of order to
ask questions about anything pertain
ing to fruit growing. To give informa-
ton in such matters is what | am
here for. This is equally true of the
de partment so ably conducted by Mr..
Blanchard. Send up your queries per-
tanning to any department covered
by The Ranch and they will be ans
wered. If none of us can answer
them, we will get the answers from
competent men if We have to write
across the continent.
Stone fruits are not usually grated.
Crafts may be made to grow but 1T
is done with difficulty and the success
is doubtful. BY stone fruits are meant
cherries, peaches, plums, aprlcots,
nectarines and the like. They are
propagated by what is called budding.
Budding is divided into two classes,
viz, June budding and summer or fall
budding. June budding is done by
using scions that are cut in the win
ter and kept on ice so that they will
not start to grow. In June these
buds are placed in the living trees,
usually in the new growth. In this
way a great many peach trees are
grown and the work is quite sue
cessful Cherries are not usually prop
agated in that way. They are budded
T. TIL <N1f