The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-02-08

try is now passing from the green to
the dry stage, the market for the
green prune is not unlimited but there
seems to be an excellent outlet for
the dry prune. Mr. McBurney discuss
ed different methods of drying, COM
mending that established by Miles
Cannon of Weiser. A plant costing
81 500 was large enough to handle 1000
tons of fruit Mr.. McBurney report
ed that usually one hundred pounds of
green prunes would develop 33 to 80
pounds of the dried product. On the
present market developing value of
above $500 per ton for the green
prune Comparing the cost of eva
porating the Italian prune with coal
as compared with the California me-
thod of drying by. sun heat since the
cost of coal is only One-fOurth cent per
pound for fruit the Idaho method was
preferable. Prunes for evaporation
are allowed to remain on the tree un-
til quite ripe and are then gathered
from the ground as they fall, making
frequent picking from time to time.
The Italian prune with its large
sugar content rapidly eXhausts the
fertility of the soil, orchards Is to 20
years of age showing decay and ex-
haustion simply require cultivation anc
heavy application of such fertilizers
r as can be secured. One of their 40
acre orchards of prunes was fortu
nately located along side of stocl
p feeding plant from which they have
been able to secure year after year {
; large amount of excellent manure. APP
plications of ten loads per acre for F.;
series of years had maintained the fer
= tility of the soil and the orchard wa
l now in the best possible condition ant
3 very productive at the age of 81 years
Mr.. McBurney mentioned an Italian
r prune orchard purchased 13 years age
- In 10 crops taken from this tract the,
$ had secured a yield that had return
e ed them S25O0 per acre over expenses
e The McBurney family have 400 acre
= in Italian prunes and 200 acres \
4 apple orchards.
= Discussing methods of planting, MI
= McBurney in light soil where vigorou
b growth was not expected would plan
10 Is feet apart, 1874 per acre; on stron
o soils 20 feet apart, 10S trees per acre
= Discussions by prominent fruit grow
d ers indicated the preference for larg
t establishments operated with ampl
q capital, where these we're not avail
g able the orchardists should prepar
very soon a plant that could handl
2 its own product. A sufficient numbe
: of trees have been planted in soutf
n western Idaho to develop more tina
e 900 cars of prunes, 1000 cars OF gree
II lprunes were probably all that coul
- be marketed from southern Idaho
It the green state at a profit Silas WI
t son of Nampa, with 80 acres of tn
e Italian prune, heartily favored an
5 method which would give slap
d price for prunes for a term of year
is In the discussion on the marketin
It of by-products. G. ]. Sinsel stated thi
d the product must have quality, quaint
d and be able to supply the demar
p from the wholesale trade as called 10
: This thought favored the large esta
If Ilishment in preference to the sma
re individual plant.
v Joel Priest of the o. S. L., discuss'
lie freight rates. There seemed to be
o impression current that those wi
1 marketed the citrus products had
a better freight rate than the apple o