The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-08-01

appearance than fruit raised without
irrigation Why is this so? The
simple answer is that the irrigated
tree is fed better. 1t is not allowed to
have it's nourishment for a time and
then be starved for time. If you are
feeding steers, which will make the
better beef-the one fed regularly with
all it can eat or the one which is fed
well for a time and then half starved
for time? So it is true that the
tree that gets it's nOurishment regu-
larly and all it can use will bear big
ger and better appearing fruit than
the tree that is fed well for time and
starved for awhile, which often hap
pens where we depend on rainfall to
prepare the nourishment. But let X
never be forgotten that the nutriment
that comes in through the roots of a
tree gives it it's quality as well as its
size and appearance. So, other things
being equal, the large fine appearing
apple will be higher in quality than
the little half starved one. A runt is
never good.
But there is another factor that
enters into the quality of fruit that
must not be overlooked while we are
considering this question, and that is
sunshine. Nothing helps to make
quality to fruit like sunlight. Other
things being equal, where we have the
most sunshine we will have the best
fruit in quality. But where do we have
the most sunshine? To ask this ques-
ton is to answer it. The simple fact
that we have to irrigate indicates that
there is not much rain fall in the
growing season. But why do we not
have rain there? Simply because we
do not have the clouds that carry the
moisture to be condensed into rain.
Then there is more sunshine in an
irrigated country than in nOn-irri-
gated country and the fruit will be
higher in quality.
What is the function of sunlight in
Tree and fruit growth? The nutriment
that enters the tree through the roots
is not in available form and conse-
quently can do the tree no good either
in it's growth or in it's fruit bearing.
The sap as it enters the tree is crude
and can do no good till it is elaborated.
But where is the laboratory? In the
leaves The crude sap passes up
through the tree without doing it any
good, reaches the leaves where it
comes in contact with the air and
sunlight and is converted into sugar
and starch by chemical process
which is natures own. After this
change in the sap it is in available
form for tree growth and fruit pro-
duction. Then it returns to the body
of the tree to build it up and help it
to grow fruit. In cloudy country
this sap elaboration cannot go on so
rapidly AS where there is much sun
shine So it appears that when we
come to properly understand this mat
ter we can see that the conditions that
prevail in country where irrigation
is necessary are favorable to sap elab-
Grafton and that as a result the trees
grow faster and the fruit grows bigger,
has higher color and the quality is bet
ter than where these conditions do not
prevail. SO we are justified in saying
that irrigated fruit, other things being
equal, is larger, higher in color and
better in quality than non-irrigated
fruit.
Perhaps while you read these lines
you are bothered by the common house
fly. This is especially so If you are