Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-06-10
THE ExPKRINIENT STATION.
Purpose of southern Orcgoa Brsnch
kNpisiusL
tBy T. C. Reiuerl

men : vi llJlH Oh >Na.-NtA Otr-tn ~
prepare a brief statement regarding
the work aUd nature or the southern
Oregon experiment station. located al
Talent, Ore . have found a number
of farmers ia this section who were
not entirely familiar with the objects
and purposes of the station There
fore, ! have prepared this statement
regarding our work:
This is a state experiment station
maintained by the state OF Oregon.
1t is not a county experiment station
as some have supposed. All funds
for the support and maintenance of
this station are supplpied by the state
out of the general fund
Jackson county has donated 16
acres of land and the buildings to
the state for the experiment station.
This has been the rule of the state in
other counties as well-that the
county in which the experiment sta
Iion is desired donate the land and
buildings to the state for this pur-
pose The county is not put to any
further expense after giving the land
and buildings. The state has passed
bill giving 90 the experiment station
tie sum of $1,000 annually and this
is permanent. no further legislation
being required to continue this ap-
propriatiOn While this is state
station. il is maintained solely for
the fruit and vegetable growers Of
southern Oregon.
The buildings include a modern
dwelling house for the supeTinten-
dent, and d barn. The house also
contains an up-tO-date office and a
splendid large laboratory. The equip
ment for the laboratory has been
purchased and is ready to be in
stalled. This will be the finest
equipped scientific laboratory for
horticultural investigation between
Corvallis and Berkeley.
The work of the station will be
confined for the present to problems
connected with fruits and vegetables.
Every phase of fruit growing will be
taken up, and as much work on veg
etables will be done as our time and
money will permit. AS soon as our
funds are increased we will take up
other lines of agriculture, such as
general farm crops, poultry, dairy
ing, nOS raising, etc.
Some of the problems planned with
fruits are as follows Soil adapta-
tion for different kinds and varieties
of fruits; orchard cultivation and
management to determine the best
treatment for the various fruit soils
in the valley; to determine whether
commercial fertilizers are needed for
fruit growing in this valley, and if
so, the best kinds and proper
amounts to apply; orchard cover
Crops-the best kinds and when to
grow them in the orchards; orchard
drainage; best methods of treating
hardpan in orchards; irrigation for
fruits and vegetables-as to the best
amount of water anG best method and
time of application; intercropping of
young orchards; pollinatiOn of
fruits; best stocks for pears and APP
pies; an elaborate experiment on the
pruning of fruit trees; breeding bet
ter and more suitable varieties OF
fruits for this valley; extensive work
with all the small fruits; many eX-
periments with vegetables
A large trial orchard will be main
tanned for the testing of all new and
promising varieties that have never
been grown in this section. This will
include test of all the valuable va
rieties of pears now grown in Europe
which have never been planted in
this state
New problems of fruit and vegeta-
BILE growing that may come up at any
time will be taken up at once. mis-
work will not be confined to the sta
tion grounds. We are prepared to
take up any phase OF work in the
various orchards that any growers
may be interested in. This is neces-
sary 20 make the work of value to
every type Of soil. For example, |
have already put in extensive eXper-
lments with cover crops in four or
chards; elaborate fertilizer expert
ments in six orchards; pruning eX-
periments in one orchard, and one
important and large fertilizer expert
ment on alfalfa.
Furthermore, the station will do
large amount of extension work
among the fruit growers. This is to
carry to them the best results OBJ
tained by this station and other eX-
pertinent stations all over the coun-
try. We want every farmer to feel
that the station is for his benefit.
For example. | have already come in
contact with almost every fruit grow
er in the valley, and in many cases
have rendered valuable assistance.
The superintendent will give fully
half OF his time to this work in the
future.
1t should also be understood that
this station is a division of the ex-
pertinent station located at Corvallis,
Ore, and all work is done in cooper
atom with it. The two stations will
assist each other in every way posi-
BILE. In case any problem OF any sort
arises that is not connected with
fruits or vegetables, an expert in that
particular line can be secured at once
free Of charge from the station or the
college at Corvallis.
The farmers should realize that
these stations are both maintained
for their special benefit and that
the various experts are at their SER
vice at any and all times.
AS soon as results are secured from
our experiments they will be pub
Iished at once in bulletins. circulars
and the various newspapers. They
will also be presented at the various
farmers institutes, horticultural and
agricultural meetings and at the