Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-03-26
ALEX LA TOILETTE POINTS THE
WAY TO SUCCESSFUL GROW
ING OF PEACHES BASED ON
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
WAS THOROUGHLY PRACTICAL
Pruning and Spraying Most Essential;
Cultivation Also Necessary; Gives
Practical Demonstration; o. A. G..
Expert Gives Views on Growing
Strawberries; Well Attended.

Maintaining that the whole secret
in the successful cultivation of the
peach crop in the Willamette valley is
proper spraying and pruning of the
trees, and the intelligent cultivation
of the orchards, Alex LaFollette, an
acknowledged authority in this indus
try. and known as the peach king
of the Willamette valley" gave an
interesting talk on Saturday after
noon in the court house in this city,
under the auspices of the Dallas Fruit
Growers association. There was a
fair attendance and much interest
was manifested in the meeting.
MIR. LaFollette went into the culti-
vation and care of the peach tree in
detail and explained many things
heretofore unknown to the ordinary
grower He showed by practical
demonstration the proper manner to
prune a tree, and told when to do 1t.
He carried with him several branch
es taken from trees in bloom, or
about ready to do so, and made his
points so simple that all could readily
understand.
Peach Is Hardy Fruit.
According to Mr.. LaFollette, many
of the instances of what is often re-
garded as the effect of frost on the
peach blossoms, is really but the ef-
feet of the sickly condition of the
tree He cuts off the longer growths
that appear on his trees after the
spring pruning, and from these prun-
ed branches, come the laterals that
produce next years fruit. He claims
that this summer pruning, which is
done in August, renders the laterals
more hardy and, at the same time
II extends the blooming period fully
is DAYS. He sprays in the fall after
the tree has become dormant, with
a solution of lime and sulphur, and
again in the spring with blue vitriol
and lime. Thorough cultivation ot
the trees is necessary, and a vigor-
Gus cutting back is absolutely essen
tial for the first three years.
Early in the day Mr.. LaFollette
visited c. G. Coad's peach orchard
and in the presence Of a number OF
fruit growers. gave a practical dem
onstration Of proper pruning.
Proper strawberry Culture.
According TO Prof V. r. Gardner,
Of the oregon Agricultural college
who addressed the meeting on the
proper cultivation and propagation
Of the strawberry. said that a light
porous soil is best for cultivation
Of this fruit. This may be found
/ either on the bottom lands or on the
hills hut bottom land usually gives
the hest results. Shallow cultivation
is needful. in fact the cultivation oi
the reach tree and the strawberry
plsnt are almost identical Nnei
cutting on the runners for propaga'
ton according TO Prof Gardner, th'
first and second plants on each runnei
s-. the only ones suitable for thi'
purpose. as the others are usualll
too lacking in vitality TO secure th'
Iba-t results When used FOR bearinl
/ purposes plants should be kept fre'
| from an runners. but should neFe'
b. used for more than three year
lane- which they should be ploWe'
under and younger plants used
prof Gardner told q the variouI
I ~arietiss and said that while the
I we're an good. different varieties wer'
adaptable to different uses one va
r'.tv wouid be useful for eanninl
rurpo.es while another was bes
I ssauted for immediate consumpuoi
Il aftsr ripeninE-
me meeting vas q very successiu ?
o-e and those present received man
vsiusbie hints a. % the proper prep
ar.sion and cultiTHticn o. the frniu