The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-12-27
A Great Day for Fruit Growers
Some Lessons Leaned From Agricultural Experts From Wash
gton State College, Who Spent Friday in Kennewck Orchards

After lunch Prof. Thornber con-
tinued his work by giving demon
STATIONS of his methods of pruning
on trees OF from one to four wears
old in orchards near the club house.
His hearers piled him with ques-
lions, so that when the demonsra-
ton was over, there were left very
few points that were not thoroughly
covered.
In the evening the Princess The
atre was filled to listen to the last
lecture and demonstration of the
series.
Prof. Thornber said that we, of
the Kennewick district, ought to
diversity more, grow small fruits.
Strawberries bring an excellent
crop. Kennewick berries now bring
the highest market price and NAV
be made to bring higher. Study
how to get the berries into the mar
ket ten days earlier. This may be
done by using cheap canvas to pro-
tect from early frosts. The canvas
may also be used to prolong the sea-
son of the second crop in the fall.
Do the odd thing.
Force asparagus also in the same
way.
He told of one farmer who mar
keted three crops year from one
tract OF land. He wanted a crop
OF head lettuce in April, crop of
cabbage in the late summer and
another crop of lettuce in the fall.
In fruit trees he recommended
planting only limited number of
standard varieties. In apple, Jona-
than, Winesap, Rome Beauty, Spit
zenberg and Yellow Newtown. He
told us to watch the Arkansas Black
for it was growing in favor.
In pears he said he was pleased
with a pear for the winter market.
He recommended the Keifer and the
Patrick Barry, a California pear
just prime for eating now, a russell
pear much better than the Winter
Nellis. He also recommended the
Bose, a high grade pear that comes
to its best about Thanksgiving.
The speaker then proceed to dis
cuss the apple question, saying that
if we would secure a market the
fruit shipped must be absolutely per-
feet in quality, grade and pack.
There will be no chance for culls.
incidentally he remarked that they
would make good hog feed.
Of a probable production of $4,000
cars of apples in the five Northwest.
ern States in 1915 he though that
probably but 10000 car loads would
meet the necessary conditions and
for these there would be good mar
ket. Of the varieties suited to their
climate. New York and other east
ern states are producing an abun-
dance of as fine fruit as we produce.
But if you confne yourself to the
list recommended above and put up
a perfect product, we shall have a
good field open to us.
At the close of the formal address
Prof. Tnornber asked that the lights
be turhed off, and then used the ex,
cellen facilities of the theatre for
showing on the screen many in
teresting orchard scenes, the results
of correct and incorrect pruning,
irrigation and cultivation, fine
series of clusters of grapes of differ
ent varieties, plates of apples and
pears, boxes of berries, many of
them grown in the orchards of which
he has had charge in Lewiston. Of
course the presentation of these pic
lures was accompanied by run
ming comment of the most interest
ing charactar.
Thus closed what was indeed a
great day for the fruit grower of the
Kennewick valley. The Highlands
Club had given one especial invita-
ton to the Commercial Club of the
city and the members of the Fruit
~ 90 fho