The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-04-23
WINTER CULTIVATION OF
ORCHARDS STUDIED
BY STEPHENS

1t is interesting during the bloom
ing period TO note the time Of bloom
ing for apple and other fruits. | had
wondered if early cultivation of young
orchards to conserve the winter mois-
ture would bring orchards into bear
ing earlier. Cultivation in 1918 be-
gan March 10th, following a wet and
snowy winter.
In 1914 we started cultivation on
March 10th, following very dry win
ter, we started cultivation March 4th
and have cultivated 3S5 acres of or
chard four times.
Bloom comes later on five year old
apple trees under cultivation than in
twelve to fifteen year orchards over
the fence. Apparently the cultivated
orchard warns up faster and earlier
than the orchard standing grass or
weeds
Apr:cots this season, bloomcd dur
ing the late days of March. At En-
NETT. 80 miles away, sheltered peach
district, commercial peach orchards
were in full bloom the first week in
April About NamPa this 10th day Of
April, peach trees are coming into
full bloom.
The Jonathan apple, just common
cling to show a little bloom i'll five
year old orchards, will be in full
bloom about the 23d to 25th The
Winesap four to five days behind. The
Rome Beauty not likely to be in full
bloom for ten to twelve days. Pear
trees at this time are in full bloom.
Temperature.
March has been warmer than usual
with very little wind, making an ideal
H. Ill
has been very favorable. The lowest
temperature any one night register
ed by weather service minimum Their
nometer was 80.
The ground dry and warm. with
thcr, leads to the expectation that a
full crop of fruits of all varities will
set. Even the sweet cherries now in
full bloom promise full crop.
Summary: Orchards in clover or
dense weeds bloom a little later than
the cultivated orchards of the same
age Cultivated orchards. aged four
to six years, bloom later than old or
chards not cultivated.
Mr.. B. f. Hurst. near Boise, demon
strated in 1914 that 200 inches of wa
ter used on 20 acres OF orchard dur
ing cold waves, two to ten degrees
below freezing, saved the apple crop
through three periods of cold. That
copious water flooding during the
cold waves is superior to smudge and
heaters which have been tested for
three years by Mr.. Hurst.
Mr.. |. N. Yost of Meridian has test
ed to his satisfaction copious wa
tering before and during bloom as a
preventative of frost damage. This
enabled him to grow IS packed boxes
of Rome Beauties on one tree not yet
eight years old in 1914, part OF crop
on 900 trees.
A corious supply of water in the
soil at the time of the frost periods
assists in free circulation of sap. Il
frosted bloom is thawed from within
by sap circulation before the warmth
of the morning sun thaws from with
out the bud or bloom is saved.
In commercial orchard districts Wa
ter should be in all our bitches a:
early as the first of April. The or
chadist should water freely as early
as possible and maintain irrigation
throughout the blooming period. HI
should be careful, however, not tC
over-water and mire his spray out
fits which should be in service at tlm'
for Calyx spray. -
E. F. STEPHENS,
| Mamma Idaho