The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-08-22

of course, he cannot cultivate so
deeply without injurying too many
roots. 1t IL certainly just as necessary
and important in order to conserve
the moistare to cultivate close to the
trunk OF the tree as 1t is in the mid
die of the rows. We all work on this
plan and although we start and build
low headed tree We endeavor to
train the tree in such a way that with
our extension disks and harrows we
can cultivate close up to the trunk Ut
the tree while the horses are out in
the middle between the rows.
'There is considerable difference Of
opinion as to the porper amount of
cultivation an orchard should receive
during the year, or | might express
myself better by saying there il quite
a difference OF opinion as to now long
an orchard should be cultivated. 1
have given the matter considerable at
tention in my own work in an expert
mental way aud also observed what
other people have done, not only
here, but in other districts. While
do not wish to be quoted as stating a
fact, however, | will state that my
Impression is that an orchard should
not be cultivated too late In the sea-
son. | find that some orchards that
have been cultivated, and most vigor-
ously, seem to bear pretty light every
other year, whereas those orchards
that have been neglected little on
cultivation seem to bear more regu
laFly. Too much cultivation will GER
tainly take the humus out Of the soil
and the soil will begin to get in u
condition where 1t is not fIiable. |
have had good ci op on my orchard
ever since bought the place for four
consecutive years.
"About the time in the fall when
the apples have about reached their
size let up on cultivation. About
the first OF August when 1t begins to
get little dry, 1 water the orchard
once very thoroughly and this wet.
ting is enough after being we'll culti-
vated once to supply the sufficient
moisture Tor growth during the re-
mainder OF the season. In addition
to this irrigation stimulates splendid
growth of different kinds OF weeds
which exist in our valley, and these
permit to continue to grow during
the fall and winter tor the purpose OF
turning under in the spring to supply
humus.
"E. L. Stewart, of ProsseI, gave me
splendid advice on this subject by
telling me his method. He has crop
of alfalfa, which he irrigates during
the season, cuts it and leaves the crop
on the Il ound and he has not failed
to have crop since the orchard has
been planted up to the year 1907. In
word believe toofmuch clean cul
ture will stimulate too much OF a tree
growth and take the humus out of the
soil. ] endeavor to preserve, go far al
am aEte, the equilibrium between
the tree growth and the formation ol
the fruit spur, by cultivating suffic
lent length OF time, watering and al
lowing the weeds to grow, which
turn under the following spring.
"On this land what would you sug-
gest as a tertilizerY"
"You have asked me question that
| cannot reply to In very definite
way for the reason that although re-
suits In my own orchard have pretty
we'll convinced me that the use ol
commercial fertilizers was great
benefit. | have just had bulletin
ii ON the Geneva station In the state
OF New York, written by Prof. He'd
rick, and by the way this is one o.
the best stations in America, and
Iatn 10 nf a "A
men, in which, he states that after /;
years. very thorough work along th'
line of commercial fertilizers they
have concluded that they are OF M
value in an orchard In the way of in
creasing the yield or along adding
color to the fruit | have used about
100 pounds OF sulphate of potash, l0(
pounds of acid phosphate and l0(
pounds of bone meal for several year,
and had about concluded 1t was Civ
ing me splendid results for the reason
that was getting an excellent yield,
particularly Of fine Newtowns, cleal
and OF good color, but this was sim
ply conclusion and had not estaE
lishsd it as fact, for the reason
had made no check plot where l die
not use this fertilizer. Prof. He'd
rick's article put me all at sea. Thil
good crop that have may have beer
iue to other causes.
Chow many times would you spra.
an orchard during the seasonY"
"There are very few districts ant
comparatively few people in the diff
ferent fruit districts that have thor
oughly understood the codling mott
or its habits, consequen .ly most of tn
work by oichardists has been Of me
chanical nature, they simply follow
the rules laid down by some one els
without knowing why or making an
thorough investigation for themselves
Prot. Il. d. Ball, Of Utah, three year
ago in Northwestern Fruit Grow
ers association meeting at Portland
stated that three sprayings were a
that were necessary to raise a clea
crop OF apples, free from worms, IN
der favorable conditions. Everybod
laughed at him for the reason ths
every grower In the northwest ha
sprayed regularly every two weeks.
found that A. l.. Roberts, of Colora
do, was working along the lines {
Prof. Ball, of Utah, and he used thre
sprays, getting practically a clea
crop.
81 firmly believe that from 80 to 8
per cent of he first crop OF worms
killed in the first spray If this
done when the apples are In blossol
and the calyx open so as to receiv
the spray, IL the proper spray is usec
and by the way we use arsenate
lead here, but do not mean to say
is the only spray that is good. Th
spray must be put on in thorouP
and proper manner, that is until e'
cry calyx of every apple is filed wit
the spray. If this is done i beliey
that a man would almost get clea
crop of apples if he did not spra
again. Our first spray was put on {
/ blossom time and the entrance of I'll
, first worms this year in Hood Rive
valley occurred about June 5. The b.
ginning of the second brood woul
naturally occur about 30 days fro
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