The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-07-01
Edited by r. Walden

Some growers have had much success
by spraying with sulphur lime just
as the buds are bursting. Others claim
to have had no success whatever. The
treatment with arsenate of lead given
when apple blossoms are about third
grown, and that followed little later
by a second application has been al
most perfectly effectual in checking
the pest. The second brood of this in
sect does some damage to the fruit
by nibbling the skin at the lower end
of the apple. From what the growers
say this insect never mines into the
apple, but it may disfgure the skin.
AS far as | can learn, this insect has
not been present in Washington more
than a comparatively few years, but in
the meantime has spread from Brit
ish Columbia into Oregon and perhaps
further south. A. l.. MELANDER.
w. L. Blackman, Jr., Hover, Benton
Co., Wash. under date of June Is,
writes as follows: 81 have an orchard
of Bartlett pears one year set and have
set several hundred pear seedlings this
spring. These latter should be budded
next August, | believe. Now, would
other variety? How would Winter
Nellis do? AS the orchard is set, even
if | should work over the seedlings to
another variety than Bartlett, each va
riety would be in block by itself adj
iacent to the other. Prof. WicksOn OF
California has stated in his paper, the
Pacific Rural Press, that the Bartlett
has always proven perfectly seltfer-
Hos, hot n
be the case in Washington? What is
the best method of budding to use?
and the best method of after-treatment
of the tree both this summer and
next?
Is the Jeniton apple grown in this
state? How successful has it proved
as a bearer, and how does it sell? is
there any other better variety aside
from the Rome Beauty, that blooms
as late in spring?
You have told of crimson clover in
your orchard. Have you tried vetch?
Which is the more desirable? Is 1t
possible to get growth enough from
either one of these to pillow under late
in the fall? Our first frost generally
comes about Nov. LIST. | want to plant
early potatoes among my trees next
year and would like to give the sod
chance to rot first Now, our soil
is new here and / don't suppose there
are any of the proper bacteria in 1t.
Can | arrange to have you ship me
some soil from your farm? Is it posi-
BILE to soak the seed in water in which
inoculated soil has been soaked? Are
the bacteria in such cases, injured by
the time the seed is dry enough to
SOW?
I still carry the memory of very
pleasant and profitable afternoon spent
with you last winter when you exhlb-
tied a wonderful amount of patience
under my steady fire of questions. l
absorbed a great deal or information
which l have put to practical use
since"
This is the kind of letter | like to
get. 1t brings out difficulties that
might be overlooked but for such ques-
tions. Send them along, friends, but
please do not ask for private answers
i'm rare cases. | have so much to do
that | can not find time to write to
each person in answer to his questions.
would prefer to bud the seedlings
here mentioned to Bartlett rather than
any other variety. Bartlett is an in
nual bearer and an immense cropper.
know that much attention has been
called to the Comice and the Anjou and
no doubt some persons would recon-
mend one or the other of these in
preference to the Bartlett. But re-
member that the Comice has not been
thoroughly tried in Washington and
especially in the Yakima Valley, and
may prove more of less of disap-
pointment. 1t has been grown in the
Atlantic states for many years but has
never come into much favor. Only in
Southern Oregon, near Medford so far