The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1910-03-03
UNIVERSITY Toys
DISCUSS APPLES
INTERESTING SMOKER IS HELD
Carter, Porter, Shepard and KAY Talk
en- Various Phases Of Apple
Raising.

Friday afternoon the Commercial
club room was crowded with an en-.
thusiastic crowd OF young men, re-
presenting the membership OF the
University Club and others interested
IN apple growing, who had gathered
for smoker and to exchange ideas
on various phases OF apple culture.
A plumber OF speakers addressed the
orchardists and each talk opened the
way tor lot of questions bringing
forth valuable discussions. The old
and experienced grower was there to
exchange his views, gained by long
years or practical work, with the
young man fresh from the aRrioLl.
tuIal college, where he had learned
OF horticulture by scientific expert
ment. The session was very interest.
Ing and should prove profitable to the
growers.
Murray Kay, who gave a talk on
pruning was the nIst speaker and be
illustrated several of his points with
sketches on the black EoaId. With
regard to making trees better shaped
by planting them leaning In the
direction OF the prevailing winds,
Mr. Kay advanced an opposite idea
and explained that In tree which
was leaning the stongest limbs al
ways came out on the upper side of
the tree, 50 that by planting tree
with the wind the best start Ia made
on the side toward the wind and a
tree two years old may be pulled over
and straightened up. He advocated
a heavy winter pruning 70 young
trees In order to get the maximum OF
wood growth. Then when the tree
is three or four years old according
to its size the pruning should De-done
with an idea OF slowing up the wood
growth and encouraging fruit. After
the trees are large enough the main
idea OF pruning then is for fruit and
not for wood.
Joseph Porter spoke after the dis
cussion had subsidized and the idea
which he sought to impress ON the
young orchardists was that the aat.
ural growth OF the tree should be
allowed as much as possible. He
believed In cutting out only the limbs
which interfered with the bearing
ability Of the tree. lie said that the
entire young tree scould not be
brought into bearing by summer
pruning. 1t is his policy to allow
the limb of a tree Just coming into
Gearing to bear as many apples as 1t
can aud not to thin Ii in order to
have the whole tree bearing the tol.
lowing year.
he said that tfe following year that
particular limb would not Eear any
how and that it was better to encour.
linn Iu nf ha -
alternate years In as even proper.
tion as possible rather than to have
the whole tree bearing alternate years.
j. L.. Carter next spoke to the
college men on the subject of tools
and soils. His remarks brought out
an interesting discussion on the
various ways OF oultivating in order
to conserve the good qualities OF the
soil.
The last speaker was II. Ii. Shepard,
editor OF "Better Fruit" who spoke
with particular reference TO the com.
meroial end of the apple business.
tie ssaid that while there was an OK.
ceedingly large number of apple trees
being planted at present he did not
see the danger OF an oveIguppIy.
Many OF the orchards will never be-
some paying propositions In many
parts OF the country because OF poor
,oils, bad nursery stock or unsuitable
climate. The orchard must be In
hs hands of horticultuTist as the
iiverslfied farmer cannot keep up an
orchard. Many places are not sue
.esstul because a crop cannot be
depended on for every year. MIR.
Shepard said that while there was no
ianger OF an over-production of fruit
here was danger that under con.
nigh. be caused by prohibi-
i've retail prices. lie advocated
which would result In the
owering of the retail price and in
irease consumption i by putting the
'pples in the reach Of all classes.
Much ot the success In the com.
neroial end of the Hood .River apple
BUSINESS has been due to the great CO.
operation among che growers. Mr..
shepard said that Hood River had
10. operation in more complete way
hen any other section he knew OF Hs
lie growers owned their own ware
HOUSES, ice land cold storage plants
md irrigation ditches. He noted
he fact that Hood River had led
III sections on apple prices for the
last ten years and set the pace not
'nly In price but In quality and pack.
'ince the pace has been set Hood
river must keep progressing and it is
p to the growers to put up the best
ossible pack and then improve it the
ext season in order to hold the posi
ion at the bead OF the apple process.
ION