Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1908-02-13
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
Items Of Interest for the Farmer and Horcuurist Who Believes
In Progress and Improvement.

the part lacking to bring his crops
to maturity. Knowledge of plant
pathology is essential and he must
keep up with the times in order to
be able to defend his trees and
plants against disease, bugs and in
scots. He must read everything
about his favorite fruit and be
quick to discard anything that does
not pay altho it is his favoritc
fruit.
The fruit grower on small place
has the advantage over the man
who attempts to work too large
a place. There are several reasons
for this. Most of the farmers are
able to give but limited amount of
their time and personal attention
to the care of tehir trees. Where
large areas are planted to trees, the
work and care have been to be del
egstcd to hired help and it is rare
that one can hire a hand capable
and thorough enough to be success
ful in the care of trees. With a
small place under the immediate
eye OF the owner, the various oper-
atoms of spraying, pruning and Gull
tivating may De we'll done and done
in time. A few days delay in
spraying may be the caus, of crop
OF wormy apples, or a day or two
delay in narrowing and ultivating
may cause lot of unnecessary
work in getting rid of a crop of
weeds, which if left to grow will
surely cause loss to the crop.
would, therefore, recommend small
orchards and cooperation in our
horticultural work, l. c. that or
chards planted by different farmers
i. should have the same kind of fruit
in order TO be able to compete with
the large modern grower in carload
! lots. The tendency of modern fruit
growers especially in modern fruit
marketing is to produce sufficient
! quantities for carload shipments.
, Assuming that we have a fairly
good location, all things considered
one of the most essential things t
be consider ed is the kind of fruit t.
grow. In my judgement the iona
] than Gano, Black Twig, Northwest
! crn Grcening, Rome Beauty, Grimes
, Golden and hardy old Ben Davi
] are a collection that is hard 4
] beat. While in an orchard of II
- ID II
D ing more than 3 or varieties TO
commercial purposes. | believe tn
. Northern Spy and September
c would grow readily in his reg ion
: phrey last fall and saw as tin
plums apples, pears and prune
y gro wing as any country can Pre-
duce. The trees were in health
d condition although they were ne
k elected and not cared for to brin
: their fruit to as high a quality q
d they could produce.
d Mistakes in planting the wron
kind should be corrected as soon Z
e discovered. Unprofitable tree
IS should be pulled up or the top work
y ed over by grating on some profit
h able kind. This can be done reac
e lily on apples and pears end some
IT times on peaches, plums and chez
Il ries, but whether it would pay .
the latter l am not prepared
say.
The thorough preparation of tt
soil is very necessary and inpor
ant process is planting an orchar
Us In this vicinity think we CO
IL bring our land in condition to S
r. trees easily by grubbing, de-
rs blowing, thin discing, then cult
ly ate and harrow thoroughly. Spre
In all the well-rottci stable manure
e. the land where the rows of trees a
en- to come and work it thoroughly i
A. TO the soil. Then with good ca
.ir and cultivation I believe succe
" will be reasonably sure.
Subsoiling is to be recommend
al on all land that has a stiff cl
lit subsoil. In this locality whcrcv
s, have examined the ground / fl
he very loose and porous soil five
C. twelve feet deep, undcrlaid wi
n coarse sand or gravel. On stiff ci
st soil the subsoiler opens the grou
he SO the roots can easily gain passa
b. and deeply stirs the land in ma
mt ner that can never be done aft
st the trees are planted. The featr
of horticulture is to give the tire
Ig, or plants good care at the start a
be then keep it up continuously, for
ID, takes tree long time to recoS
be from neglect.
in If young tree is healthy a