Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-04-04
Council Bluffs
EXPERTS TAKE OYER ORCHARD
Professors from State Schools to Show
Local HortioulturistS.
SAY THEY CAN ASSURE CROPS
Plan To Have Good Yield Of
Apples on KecIine Place, RE-
Eardless OF weather
Conditions.

Orchard cultivation I'm accordance with
the most approved western methods IL TO
be attempted here this season. The ex-
pertinent OF scientific cultivation Is TO be
made for the purpose OF determining
whether the same methods so successful
In the Pacific coast states will not produce
equally satisfactory results in Iowa
The experiment is to he made on the
orchard OF w. S. Keelne two miles east
OF Council Bluffs.
Mr.. Keelne is president OF the National
Horticultural congress. is natural lover
OF the orchard and is a horticultural
scientis who has progressed considerably
beyond the kindergarten period. but he il
going TO relinquish all control Of his fine
orchard, consigning It wholly to the care
of an expert horticulturist For this pur-
pose he has leased Il to s. X. White OF
the horticultural department of the state ,
Agricultural college at Ames. who will
scientifically cultivate II this year, taking
one-half the fruit as his pay. For the last
two years Prof. White has been conducting
horticultural short courses throughout the
state, working with Profs. Greene and
Bliss. He is thoroughly familiar with all
Of the approved methods OF orchard Gull
tivation in the big apple states and has
studied to the point Of mastery all OF the
conditions that make the environment OF
the apple tree in Iowa.
Scientific Work Promised.
Prof. White has been at work for
week or more with skilled assistants plow-
ing up the ground, trimming the trees and
doing all other work required at this sea-
son. The orchard will be cultivated with
greater care than any field OF corn has
ever received in the state The nature and
requirements Of each tree have been
studied and nothing that can be done to
encourage the tree to do its lest will be
omitted.
Fun provision has been made for frosty
weather in blooming time. Firepots have
been purchased and 5000 gallons OF fuel oil
contracted for. Spraying machinery and
insecticide compounds that will do the
business are in storage ready for use at
the proper time Prof. White is Just as
confident that he will have a full crop
OF apples this year regardless of weather
conditions, as he is that the sun will shine
warmly and encouragingly in May and
June He is confident also that the quality
OF the fruit he will produce will be superior
10 the Hood River product. His confidence
Is so great that he has figured a net re-
turn OF about 5000 for his summers work.
after deducting the cost of machinery ana
modern orchard appliances. OF more i'm
portance than all else he figures that the
lesson he will be able to teach Iowa
orchardists will be worth many hundred
thousand dollars.
The horticultural department of the Iowa
college has leased the Roger orchard for
a term of six years, beginning last year,
and Prof. Greene is here directing the sec
ond seasons experimental work that is
being conducted there. Prof. s. A. Beach.
dean Of the college, and Profs. Greene and
Bliss are also cooperating with Prof.
white. The orchards lie close together and
Interchange of assistance is easy.
Two years ago Mr.. Keeline marketed
1900 worth Of apples from his orchard.
Last year he did not have an apple He
has averaged about one good crop in ten
years. Prof. White says he would be
ashamed to have one failure in a dozen
years.