The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-04-01

the VetcheS are legumeS.
Peas and beans of all kinds are
good legumes and could be used to
advantage in the countries under con-
sideration. l know that field peas
grow we'll in the Puget Sound coun-
try. They make a good hay, but as
to it's value am not as well prepared
to speak as our dairymen. AS soon
as the peas, vetches or winter ANIMALS
are removed l would pillow or disk the
land and pulverize the surface If
the spring crops here mentioned were
grown. then l would pillow again in
the spring, and this is what l call
combining cultivation and the growing
of annual legumes.
If l were orcharding in these Sec
lions 1 should certainly experiment
with these methods and thus gain val
liable information. In this way we
can keep up the supply of nitrogen
and conserve moisture. BY constantly
taking off annual crops the potash
and phosphorus might become ex-
hausted. In that case 1 would supply
these elements of fertility by the use
of commercial fertilizers.
Not long since the papers of the
country had accounts OF what was saNd
to be a new-old apple in this country.
Robert Mccormick, near Zillah, IN
Yakima County, found three trees
among some purchased from some
one, that were unlike the others. Call
ing the attention of an apple buyer
to these apples, he pronounced them
the Kentish FillbaSket. 1t is claimed
that this is an old English variety,
which is correct, and not known in
the Pacific Northwest, which is not
true. One year when I had charge
of the Horticultural Department at
the State Fair at North Yakima, some
one brought in the Kentish Fillbasket.
NV impression now is that Prof. Bal
mer identified the apples and so
named them, but might be mistaken
as to the person who named the ap-
pies. 1t was exhibited at the Lewis
and Clarke Fair at Portland in 1903.
1t is mistake to say that 1t is new
apple in the United States, for it has
been grown here for perhaps hun
dred years or more. 1t is, however,
not very we'll known. Why? The
simple fact is, it is not worth much.
True, it is large and somewhat snowy,
but it has but little merit aside from
it's size and appearance The valuable
book entitled, Apples of New York"
describes it as follows:
Every large, handsome, late autumn
apple, desirable for cooking, but not
for dessert use. Tree strong grower
and a fair cropper Not recommended
for planting in New York. This is an
old English variety. 1t has been spar
ingly cultivated in portions Of New
York State for many years, and has
been grown to some extent also in
Ontario"
From this same book we learn that
this apple was described by Kendrick
in 1892, by Downing in 1845, and by
Thomas in 1849 1t would readily oc-
| cur to anyone that an apple that has
been tried for so long a time and is
but sparingly planted where best
known, can not be an apple of very
great merit. People are easily at
| tracted by any apple that is big and
snowy. At the Lewis and Clarke Fair
there were very fine displays of big
apples. like the Wolf River, Alexander,
Gloria Mundi, Bismarck and the Kent
ish Fillbasket Many inexperienced
persons would come to me and ask
with much interest, after viewing
these big apples, where can | get
trees of these wonderful apples?"
One day a woman happened to make
such an inquiry while H. e. Van De-
man, the horticultural judge, was pres
ent. Van Deman replied: "You don't
want such apple trees-one tree OF
each kind is enough, if not too much"
1t is we'll known among experienced
fruit growers that these big snowy
annles are dixie a WOman'S reticule-