Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1917-08-30
pRuNg ORCHARD INSPECTION.

FHONG OHSF1AhD itNOT Ell 'S'''
A week ago last Friday Fruit In
spector Guy Graham spent the day
in PGyf.te Valley prune orchards noe
ing crop prospects and conditions.
Thai evening he met with about
rs pruna growers and discussed the
crop outlook.
According to Mr.. Graham our
heavy drop is natural result OF
extreme hot weather following late
Frost Here at Payette the prun
Were about the size of peas on
June Attn the date CT our last frost.
Various growers present contrib
utcd to the discussion by giving
their individual observations. Mr.. n,
A. Jacobsen mentioned that he finds
much damaged fruit en- the west
side Oh trees which later drops.
Also that trees having reduced
fcliago area also drop their prunes.
Senator d. Il. Engard stated that
trees having many large leaves did
act necessarily have heavy crops,
nor do trees having light foliage
necessarily contain only light crops,
Much discussion conferred around
the relation of the dark spots OF
prunes and the AXuding gum. Some
believed the two conditions not re-
lated while others were as emphatic
that they were related.
The local conference concurred
with tho statements given out by
Professor S. A. Beach Ct Iowa
State College CAmes, Iowa. who
visited Payettc for few hours
about two weeks ago. Prof. Beach
stated that cells broken down by
frcst would later turn dark and as
tn prune expanded these dead
Drowned cells would be distributed
.ancrg newer growth while the
prune covering Immediately above
would net be normal and thus
might appear as a darker spot from
tie remainder Of the prunc. Prof
Beach stated that We would natur
ally have a heavy drop CT such
prunes and those which would re
main would be normal and up tc
normal quality.
It was brot out at this prune con
ference that the prune tree is
native Of the cooler Baltic area il
Elrcra and has not gully adapted it
self to a hot arid atmosphere sucl
as VIC have here. That it is sub
ject 10 injury in d climate of ex
itrcmn temperatures and that shade
crcrs and plenty of watering seen
advisable for the Payette Valley.
Mr.. Graham was gratified to flint
cur prunes locking so Well as ear
| lier press statements from the Cald
well area indicated that qualit.
had also been impaired Howevc
the Inspector says the reduced GRO
will be quality crop since non'
but Perfect fruits will remain ate
the drop is over.
/ Asked as to crop tonnage the In
| spector stated that young trees has
I but about % per cent remaining o
a normal crop. For older trees Il
found about &C per cent of norma
| conditions. AS to how this woul'
effect prices the Inspector woul'
net commit himse4 but clearly in,
dicated that the demand is certail
end en- the upgrade.
In past years local growers hav
shipped practically all of their prune
fresh packed but indications poin
/ to larger percentage being eva
porated and sold F. o. B. rathel
than being consigned. Shipped fresl
the net returns hardly ever rul
much above 100000 per car whilt
the net returns from a car of eva
p2rI.cl rrunes, costing PRACTICAL!
th5 same for transportation, viii
run from $15CO to $500 according
to size Of car used. And then II
prices arc not attractive enough
any one year the product may safe
ly he kept in ordinary air stor
age and sold without depreciation ;
year later when prices are morr
firm.
The labor question also came III
at this conference and the attitude
taken was for SOC. an hour as gen
oral wage.
Reported by w. r. p.