Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-05-06


freezing temperature occurring at this
late date. Sunday and Monday nights
these pots were used withegreat effect.
The temperature registered on the re-
cording dial at 8 p m. April 30, was
%. Then Mr.. Greene got busy and
with his assistants kept the slaLdge
pots going for three hours. with the
result that they raised the temperature
of the air about degrees. A careful
examination of the buds on most Of the
trees fails to disclose any damage done
by the recent cold snap.
Trees Being "Fej."
Not only are the trees in this or
chard being given all proper care and
attention from the horticulturisis
point Of view. but likewise. their 'fuod"
il being looked after by Prof. w. II.
Stevenson Of the soils and farms crops
department of the college. Professor
Stevenson IL experimenting with "cover
crops" In all sections of the orchard
the soil has been cultivated and part
sown to clover, part to oats and other
crops. These will be allowed 20 grow
to height Of six inches and then
plowed under, observations being taxi
en- later to enable those in charge to
determine what element added to the
soil proves Of greatest benefit 20 the
trees.
Professor Stevenson and Professor
Mcbride. the soil bacteriologist OF the
college, are at present conducting ex-
periments on the soil to determine as
to lts aereation at SIX, twelve and
eighteen inches below the surface. I'M
der different forms or methods of soil
cultivation: az II II Of great value to
the tree growth to have certain
amount Of aereation, this having q d.
rect bearing on the accessibility to the
roots OF bacterial growth 40 well as
food ana moisture.
The work Of spraying the trees for
scab 10 In full operation. the most APP
proved machinery. sprayer. tanks and
solution being employed. In converse
ton with Professor Stevenson 1t was
learned that the soil Of the hills sur
rounding Council Bluffs is practically
the same as the soil in the famous
Rhine valley in Germany one OF tho
greatest grape growing regions IN the
world.
And thus Il, the customary quiet way
common to scientific men who are do
ing practical work, there IL being con-
Quoted in this field or orchard-labora-
tory work Of immense importance ana
value to the orchafdists and farmers
Of Iowa and especially OF this commune
ity. Results are anticipated which viii
give big returns on the time. trouble
and money spent.
knowledge acquired in this expert
mental work. will. when made use OF
by the fruit growers generally. raise
remarkably the sum total OF wealth
produced yearly per acre. When this
knowledge IL moro generally applied by
our fruit growers and results compared
with equal efforts on western fruits
lands, the comparison will leave little
argument in favor OF an exodus from
Iowa.
Complete Transformation.
This is tho beginning Of the second
year in which the college mon have
had charge OF the orchard and 1t re-
quires but glance 70 eco that there
has been worked q complete transfer
nation. The general lappearance Of
the whole orchard 10 neat and thrifty.
The trees have been pruned Of their
brusily and broken branches, scars
have been painted and the ground
cleared Of all rubbish. Tho purpose
in this case IL not to establish q new
hut to rejuvenate an old
one. Some Of the trees do not give evil
dence of disposition to bear but this
condition viii give !the experimenters
an opportunity to try science on these
barren members 40 well as to increase
the yield on those that do bear well
The experiment will be watched with
great interest," by fruit growers all over
the country.
Educational work Of this character
will beyond the shadow OF doubt be Of
inestimable value to the whole country
in the years to come. The demand for
good apples at good prices Is greater
by half than the supply in the entire
country.