Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-18
APPLE TREES RESPOND
A1ATk EXPERTS REPORT ON
TREATMENT OF IOWA
ORCHARDS.
EXPERIMENTAL TREES NOT
GROWN FOR REVENUE
Much Valuable Information Devel-
oped as Result Of Seasons Work.
Orchard Treated for Blight and to
Eradicate Insect Pests-Practica In
struetion in Harvesting.

Council Bluffs, Oct. lS.--That Iowa
apple trees Will respond to all Of the
encourag cement developed by modern
scientific horticulture has been demon
strated by the harvesting of fruit
grown this year in the states expert
ment orchard, on the Roger farm east
of Council Bluffs.
With a season that taxed the re-
sources of the soil and the college men
directing the energies Of the trees,
crop has been harvested that has
graded uniformly higher than any
previously yielded by the orchard
The work Of harvesting the 1918 crop
has just been finished Profs. Lorenz
Greene and T. J. Nancy say that more
than 1000 boxes of fine apples have
been packed and gathered as part of
the seasons crop. One-half of these
apples grade up to the highest stand
ard established by the Hood river de-
yelopment and will bring the fancy
prices in whatever market they are
offered. The other half were OF lower
grades, mainly from defects caused by
injuries inflicted by wind storms. Near
ly the entire crop, however. will bring
top-market prices, yielding revenue
that will most likely meet about all OF
the expenses Of the station.
Not Purpose to Make Money.
The purpose OF the states expert
ment orchard is not. however. to make
money or even expenses. but 10 dls-
close the best treatment fer each local
ity and variety. This has involved soil
treatment, pruning experiments. meth
DDS of cultivation and many other
t,r-t no
of horticultural science. Every ex-
pertinent was meant to be an object
lesson. free for all who sought the in
formation revealed. The result Of every
experiment will be put into the form
most easily conprehended. and viii
be disseminated without price.
The orchard WIS not planted for eX-
perimental purposes, but was selected
after it had been in bearing for
number Of years because its owner mad
happily followed plans in planting and
selecting stocks that gave the states
experts the opportunities for the
further experiments sought to be car
ried forward. Only the kind Of work
was undertaken that would be ap-
plicable to other orchards in south
western Iowa.
Treatments for Bliehts.
various treatment were gwen I4AS
trees for blights and insects. and these
involved demonstrations of the sprays
most applicable. The habits of the in
sects and the nature Of the diseases
that attack the trees We're studied and
made clear to all who cared to become
interested.
In this way the experiments were
made to have values that will reach far
into the thousands Of dollars each year
hereafter for fruit men in this vicinity
alone. and Of equal value thruout the
western part Of the state.
The same kind Of practical instruc-
ton was afforded in the harvesting
and packing Of the fruit this autumn.
The sorting and grading machine ap-
proved by the state was fully demon
stated and the growers shown how to
secure the separation Of the high grade
fruit from that OF inferior character
Sorting for color and the best means
for developing the colors sought also
became parts Of the lessons taught by
the college men.
Professor Greene expected to leave
last evening and Professor Nancy. who
IS permanently located here, returned
from the orchard last evening. Mrs.
Greene accompanied her husba1d and
was here during the interesting har-
vest period.