The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-07-19
NEWS NOTES FROM
WASCO COUNTY AGENT
(By A. r. Chase)

(By A. R. Chase
There was Just one time in the year
when we could see the cherries of
other localities at first hand, that was
just prior to picking. On our trip to
the Yakima Valley we found that even
under irrigated conditions some grow
ers owning orchards with few or no
pollenizers were threatening to pull up
their orchards because of no profits
while others were making net profit
of $500 to $500 per acre per year owing
to better pollenizing conditions.
We visited IL different orchards with
Luke Powell, horticulturist of lower
Yakima, and explained to the growers
our system of getting quick results by
grating over the whole tree. They
will undertake the same process there.
F. DeSellem, horticulturist of the
North Yakima section, was then sent
by the state horticulturist to investi-
gate our results here and we made a
trip of investigation with him to the
surrounding orchards and some in the
Willamette Valley. Mr.. DeSellem
reports many orchards of solid Bings
in the North Yakima section which are
not profitable because of lack of polli-
nation and was greatly pleased with
the progress of the work here. Both
of these men say that this will pave
the way for work of similar nature
in the Yakima Valley.
Willamette Valley Has Same Prob
lem.-The present season there is an
unusually light crop in most sections
owing to poor weather at pollenizing
time. One farmer told us that they
had no sunshiny days during that time.
Even thus some trees have fair crops
and the Waterhouse trees as a general
rule are bearing good loads. VIM.
Allen, of Salem, and other good
authorities, say that the Waterhouse
is an extremely regular bearer and
brings nearly as much as the Royal
Ann on the market. This fact alone
is an added incentive to graft over
more of the orchard to the Water
house.
A Remarkable Example. Near Eu-
gene is two acre, % year old orchard,
about half Royal Ann and half Water
house, which bears from 20 to 40 tons
per year and nets its owner from $1,000
to $500 per year. Just over the fence
about 300 yards away is an eight acre
orchard, % years old, with a scarcity
of pollenizers which does not pay
and taxes. There is no other
possible solution for the difference of
profit except the amount of p0llenizers.
This fact cannot be impressed on the
growers too strongly. There are other
factors to be considered, but this is
first.
Two Kinds of Waterhouse. We Wis.,
tied the old original WaterhOuse tree
which stands near Monmouth. 1t is a
tree probably as or so years old. The
cherry is shaped like Royal Ann,
fedder checked, shorter stemmed, and
about week later. Nothing is known
about it's pollenizing abilities, but it
bears every year without fail. The
Waterhouse we are using here and
which is so successful at Salem and
Eugene in pollenizing the Royal Ann
is long stemmed, pointed cherry,
with large pit and rich flavor. All
Of our CRAFTS bearing this year show
this kind of cherry. 1t is one which
was demonstrated by Professor Gard
ner to be adapted to our conditions.
Effects of Last Years Crafts. Geo.
Webb has a small Waterhouse set in a
Lambert last year which is bearing a
bunch of fruit like cluster of grapes.
The limbs adjacent have fine load of
Lamberts and that particular tree has
more cherries than three or four aver
age trees of the same age. Mr.. Webb
will keep this demonstration for few
lays to show any man who still ques-
lions the fact.
Clubs to Organize Canning Teams
Following out the advice for this year
to grow all you can and can all you
can can" a number of canning teams
are being formed in the various Boys
and Girls Industrial Clubs of the
county. Teams have been organized
or are being organized at Mosier, The
Dalles, Dufur, Rail Hollow, Wamic,
rygh Valley, Maupin, and Wapinitia,
and are fast getting into shape and
1erfecting their team work by prac-
ice canning in preparation for the
county contest some time next month.
These teams, like all the Industrial
Club activities, are organized with the
20 operation of the o. A. c. Extension
service. A full team consists of five
members. Miss Cowgirl, assistant
state leader in the boys and girls
,lub work, will spend few days in
his county the first part of August
and meet with the teams in the fall
contest which will be held among the
various teams at some convenient
place. The teams will be judged upon
he time taken, skill in working, and
quality of product, in canning l6 pints
If some fruit or vegetable. The win
hing team in this contest will be sent
% represent the county at the state
'air.
The work of these canning teams is
yery practical and of course offers a
most excellent opportunity to learn
and become proficient in the best
of canning fruit and vegeta-
oles, to say nothing of the chance to
win trip to the fair at Salem next
,all. Boys as we'll as girls are taking
IN interest in the work and make
equally efficient Gamers. Any boys or
girls who wish to get into this work
should Immediately get in touch with
County Superintendent of Schools
Clyde T. Bonney or Mr.. Chase, county
agricultural agent, who are looking
.fter the work in this county. 1t may
,e possible for these teams for prac-
ice to can free for local people who
would simply furish jars and fruit and
lnyone interested in securing canned
'ruit or vegetables at the minimum
,ost should notify Mr.. Chase or Mr..
3onney.