The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-11-12
VAN DEMAN ON
CULTURE Of
APPLES
WELL KNOWN POMOLOGIST LED
IN INTERESTING DISCUSSION
AT CLUB ROOMS ON PLANTING
AND GROWING.

Prof. H. E. Van Deman was given
a rousing welcome last night at the
commercial club rooms. More than
a hundred growers were present and
the meeting is considered one OF the
most successful from horticultural
standpoint that has been held in the
city for a long time. Prof. Van De-
man was introduced by Vice Presi-
dent A. c. Dallach of the commercial
club and made an interesting talk
along the lines of apple planting ana
culture. He brought out a great
many new ideas that should be OF
benefit to those interested In or
charding. In the matter of planting
Prof. Van Deman stated that it was
a common mistake in those doing fall
planting to fail to cut back young
trees until the spring time. The cut
ting back, he said, should be done
Immediately on putting the tree in
the ground, thus leaving smaller
space for the evaporation of the
trees. Another mistake that was
common, said the speaker, was In
trimming the young trees. After the
tree is planted and given the first
cutting back it should not be touched
for a year. All branches, growths
and everything should be left on just
as they are grown. The second year
is the time for cutting back.
Prof. Van Deman is great advo-
cate of thorough cultivation OF the
soil and asserts that Notwithstanding
the plentiful supply of water in this
country the orchards need very ef-
fective cultivating. This should be
done regularly and the top of the
ground kept covered with the dust
mulch or should be planted to a
clover crop which should be gone
over occasionally with disk and the
clover and other crop worked into
the soil. giving the humus. All sage
brush. sandy soils are deficient in
the humus and some artificial means
must be taken to aid this to the
soil.
Prof. Van Deman stated that in his
observations of the orchards of the
northwest the planting is too close
and he advocates the free use of an
Ak. Millions of trees, he stated, neeo
diagonal rows taken out from among
them. He also stated that too much
water was used in the irrigation sec
tions. The irrigation bitches should
be deeper and the watering less fire
ouent. The bitches should be deeper
so that the water would go deeper
towards the tap roots and be more
effective in supplying the nourish
ment to the trees.
Following the talk by Prof. Val
Deman the meeting was thrown ope1
to the growers and various questions
relative to the irrigation and cult
walton of the orchards we're brough
ND. One query especially PROFOUND
ed to Prof. Van Deman created
great deal of discussion. That wa
relative to why the northwest sid
Of the trees in this section we're no
as prolific bearers as the others. w
IT. Clark, E. T. Balch, F. D. Ute
and others spoke on this point AM
II seemed to be the opinion Of thes
growers that the northwest side o
the tree was kept too much shaded
The trees should be opened up so
to let in plenty OF sunlight to de
yelop the buds. The orchards al
over this valley show that the south
east side Of the tree generally ha
more fruit than the northwest an
from the expression Of the grower
at the meeting last night this l
caused by not properly thinning ou
the tree so that the sunlight an
heat may permcate all sections epua
ly.
During the past year certain grow
ers have expressed themselves in fs
vor of deep plowing in the orchards
asserting that the roots of the tree
should be trimmed just the same
the branches. Prof. Van Deman doe
not favor such a process. He advt
Gates blowing six or eight inches Dt
not deep enough to cut the heavie
roots. In the discussion which 10
lowed. Prof. Van Deman strongl
advocated the planting OF cove
crops or even allowing the orchard
to grow up to weeds and then piov