Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1912-06-21
(By F. c. Refinery


prepare a statement regarding the
work and nature OF the Southern
Oregon Experiment Station, located
at Talent. Oregon. have found a
number OF farmers In this section
who are not entirely familiar with
the objects and purposes OF the Sta
tion Therefore, | nave prepared
this statement regarding our work.
This Is a state Experiment Station
maintained by the state OF Oregon.
Il Is not a county Experiment Sta
ton as some have supposed. All
funds for the support and mainte-
nance Of this station are supplied by
the state out OF the general fund,
Jackson county has donated six
teen acres OF land and the buildings
TO the state for the Station This
has been the rule OF the state In 9TH
or counties as well--that the county
IN which the Station Is desired do
nate the land and buildings to the
state for this purpose. The county
is not put to any further expense af-
ter giving the land and buildings.
The state has passed bill giving TO
this station the sum Of Ave thousand
dollars annually; and this Is per-
manent-no further legislation be-
ing required to continue this appro-
priation. While this is a state sta
tion, II is maintained solely for the
fruit and vegetable growers OF
Southern Oregon. The buildings in
clude a modern dwelling house for
the superintendent, and a barn. The
house also contains an up-to-date Of
Ace and a splendid large laboratory.
The equipment for the laboratory
has been purchased and is ready to
be installed 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 f,lts and veget-
ables.
Every phase of fruit growing will
be taken up, and as much work on
vegetables will be done as our time
aud 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. hog raising, etc,
Some OF the problems planned
with fruits are as follows Soil
adaptation for different kinds and
varieties OF fruits; orchard cultIya-
tlon 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 val
ley and II so the best kinds and
proper amounts to apply; orchard
cover-crops the best kinds and
when 20 grow them In the orchards;
orchard drainage, best method Of
treating hardpan In orchards; lrri-
CATION for fruits aud vegetables
as 10 the amount Of water and best
method aud time Of application; In
ter-cropplng ot youn" orchards; pol
lination OF fruits; best stocks for
pears and apples, an elaborate ex-
pertinent on the pruning OF fruit
trees breeding better and more
suitable varieties Of fruits for this
valley; extensive work with all the
small fruits many experiments with
vegetables
A large trial orchard will be main
talned for the testing OF all new and
promising varieties that have not
been grown in this section
This will include a test OF all the
valuable varieties OF pears now
grown in Europe which have never
been planted In this state.
New problems OF fruit and veget-
able growing that may como up at
any time will be taken up at once.
We are prepared to take up any
phase Of work In the various or
chards that any growers may be In
terested in This Ia necessary TO
make the work Of value to every
type Of soil For example, | have al
ready put in extensive experiments
With cover crops In four orchards
elaborate fertilizer experiments In
ak orchards; pruning experiments
in one orchard; and one important
and largo fertilizer experiment on
alfalfa.
furthermore, the station will DO a
large amount OF extension work
..,nna .ha frutt ana Vegetable grow