The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-03-15
Edited by F. Walden

ing that common lime will do, for 1t
is carbonate and would only make
the matter worse if it had any effect
at all. And again do not make the
mistake of using burned gypsum, but
used. This is prepared by grinding
it. If you burn gypsum it becomes
plaster of Paris and Immediately sets
in a hard mass when mixed with
water. There are firms which sell
ground gypsum and, of course, they
would not make the mistake of using
the burnt article. How much ground
gypsum must be used will, no doubt,
vary with different soils, but enough
must be used to turn the alkali to
the white kind.
1t may be said in a general way
that where alkali has become source
of damage to the soil it is a safe
thing for all concerned to join in un-
derdraining the low lands where this
condition prevails. After trees are
once established on alkali land they
will not be seriously affected by the
presence of the alkali. There is al
kali in all our volcanic-ash soils, but
there is not enough in one part Of
them to do any harm unless the So
ulum is concentrated on the surface
ny the water bringing it up by reason
of the pressure from the higher lands
as stated above. If the roots of the
trees go below this surface supply
of alkali they will not be seriously af-
fected. Thorough drainage and irri-
cation will correct the evil. The De-
partment of Agriculture is doing some
tnlng to "cure" the ground injured.
But the purpose of the Government is
to demonstrate how to do this and
then leave the interested parties to ap-
ply the remedy.
N. R. Selover, Copeland, Idaho,
; writes under date of March as fol-
lows: Can you, in the near future,
while discussing the habits of different
varieties of apples, state whether the
Rome Beauty is fall or winter apple
anu also when it ripens? In the book,
'Barry,s Fruit Garden by P. Barry,
it is classed as late autumn In clos
ing, | will say that l appreciate the
stand you have always taken against
dishonesty and near dishonesty and
hope you will continue to be associat-
Gu with The Ranch for years to
come"
In the book, "Apples of New York."
which is by far the best work known
to me on apples, the season of Rome
Beauty is classed as November to
April" This statement as to the sea-
son of this fine apple fits it exactly as
grown by me in the Yakima Valley,
Washington. The apple is very little
grown in New York and doubtless
Barry in the work above referred to
spoke of this apple more from hear
say than from actual experience. But
this statement is not far wrong-it
does get good in November, but lasts
All winter. I had some Rome Beau
ties shipped over to my home in Seat
tie last fall at picking time. We
nave been using some of these apples
ever since and now, near the middle
of March, they are just splendid. The
last box l had was opened March 6,
and they are in fine condition. They
have been kept in common cellar
know no apple that will get good
so early and remain good so long.
The statement of Apples of New
ork," November to April" fits the
apple exactly.
1t is no uncommon thing to have
reports conflicting as to the season
of the same apple. 1t is we'll known
to well informed horticulturist that
the same apple may be classed as
late fall in the South or even the
middle States and as winter apple
in the North. The Mcintosh is a fall
apple in the Yakima Valley, and we
pick it and ship it before we begin
on our winter apples, but in Kittitas