The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-08-15

We must bear in mind that on the
Pacific Coast and especially the
North Pacific Coast, we are growing
fruit under conditions dissimilar to
those in any other part of the world.
In some respects this is greatly to
our advantage, but we must remember
that under such conditions new prob
lens may arise and we must learn to
solve them. l have repeatedly said
in these columns that some of our
favorable conditions give us an advan-
tage that can no where else be dupli-
Gated. This is a great asset for us,
and we are likely to make all we can
out of this fact. But there are some
things that we must thoroughly under
stand, as far as they can be under
stood, or we are likely to suffer from
our mistakes 1t is a great pleasure
to me to give my declining years to
the study of some of these problems
and trust that the readers of The
Ranch may be profted by my studies.
y X
There are certain things that | want
to call special attention to. One of
these is the many requests to write
personally to those sending in in
quiries. / wish | could, but | can not.
No doubt it seems small thing to
some persons to ask personal reply.
If there were but two or three OF these
in the course of the year, they would
be gladly answered in the manner re-
quested, but they come by dozens, and
| Just can't answer such inquiries, ex-
cept through the columns of The
Ranch. So | trust that those having
inquiries to make will not expect
private answers, but will look for the
answers in the paper. Sometimes
these questions cannot be answered in
The Ranch Immediately. In time such
matters will be attended to.
u
Again, allow me to say that it is
often out of the question for me to
determine what is the matter with
tree by having a few leaves sent me.
Usually these leaves are dry by the
time they reach me. | can in most
cases determine that the disease is
some fungus growth but | am not
specialist in fungi AS general rule,
we may say that spraying with Bor-
deaux mixture is the best way to con-
troll fungous growths. But in many
cases nothing can be done the present
wear to relieve the trees OF the NAL
adv. Sometimes we must spray in the
winter to kill the spores, sometimes IN
the fall after the leaves have fallen,
and sometimes in the early spring.
Several parties lately have sent me
injured leaves, but | am unable to tell
what the nature of the disease is, ex-
cept to say that it is a fungous
growth. Friends, don't expect too
much in such cases. l am very willing
and anxious to help all "The Ranch
family" and will do the best l can
How hard it is for some erroneous
ideas to die. Some years ago the idea
got abroad that the cooling moth
could be caught in traps, and many
were the devices that were offered to
the public to secure this end, but
all were failures. But the thing has
bobbed up again and is going the
rounds Of the papers. Here is sam
pie:
"H. Schwandt, the upper river fruit
raiser, has discovered what he believes
will be a big factor in the extermina-
ton of the codling moth in our or
chards. The continuance is simple
and any fruit-raiser can make one
with little cost. 1t is simply portable
fire box. Mr.. Schwandt took couple
of old wheels of which he made cart
and on the cart built a fire box of
sheet iron He then built fire in it
and on dark, still night run 1t out
under the trees in his orchard. The
moths are attracted by the light, and
dart into the flames by the thousands
and perish. Mr.. Schwandt is enthusi-
astic over the possibilities OF this