The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1918-05-02
BROWN TELLS HOW
TO GET BIG APPLES
BY Gordon &. Brown.

All indications thus far point out
clearly the feasibility of prompt ir-
rigation III our orchards with plenty
cl supplementary cultivation. This
is especially SO in older orchards for
obvious reasons 1t is likewise true
with young bearing trees. but rela-
lively less So
The grower this year Of all years
must keep in mind constantly the
pressing demand for large fruit con-
sistent with good color and keeping
quality. With this idea in mind, he
should properly correlate all the fac
tors contributing to this end.
Many have made good start In
this direction by fertilizing their,
trees, either artifcially or by cover
ops, Many have approached the
| solution i'll that heavier pruning has
been done. Many, on the other hand,
are expecting to overcome whatever
| handicaps they may have in attain
Img larger fruit By irrigation and
thinning
All of these influences have their
proper sphere. 1t is scarcely reason.
able to expect that the one practice
rlay entirely overcome the handi-
caps incurred in a failure to proper
IL perform the other. The grower
wants to get all the fruit he can.
Naturally he hesitates in cutting out
ruch fruiting wood in his pruning
and likewise many will hesitate to
remove many fruits in thinning, hop
ing that all will attain good size and
maturity.
This is a year which promises well
We have had a good deal OF grow
ing weather already. Should the
4 growing season be a long one as are
the chances now the prospect OF
growing to maturity a larger number
of fruits than during a short season
should be taken into account. Get
the jump on the season" probably
expresses the idea In mind as well
as in any other way. This year there
seems to be a growing appreciation
of the value of tillage. Many have
cut up their soddy orchards in a
thorough manner and made new ir.
rigation rills But there are many
who have not done So There are
many orchards in the valley which
have been in alfalfa or clover for a
number of years. Many have not
been cultivated for a long time. Re-
suit the alfalfa has largely run
cut" and is replaced by Quack grass
or natural grasses which exert little
beneficial influence. On the other
hand they exert harmful influences
in preventing proper soil aeration
and in utilizing much moisture
which should be available for the
trees. The grower should keep in
mind what a tremendous drain is
4 being put upon his land. True, the
soil has a large total supply Of plant
fcod chiefly potash and phosphoric
acid Nitrogen has been our limit.
ing factor. This has been largely
: supplemented by nitrate OF soda
and shade crops Most plant food
! is however, as yet, unavailable and
, will not become so unless soil prac,
| tees are hastened consistent with
the demand The aim in his paper
l is not to state new principles but 70
: urge the immediate importance OF
2 old ones which 1t is evident many
} have forgotten or consider Of minor
a Importance.
Cultivate or irrigate or both IL
necessary now. When the soil east
II falls apart after having been
q pressed together firmly in the hand
irrigation should start at once
o Where cultivation has conserved
e this moisture the demand Is neces
{ sarily less No one should lose sight
. OF the fact that moisture is now be-
ing dissipated rapidly from our soils
r and that if good percentage of our
e blossoms are to carry their fruits tC
! maturity an ample supply must be
uniformly maintained.