The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1919-04-03
!EULTS OF BERRY
FERTILIZATION
CBy Gordon G. Brown


During the seasons 1916 TO 1918. in
elusive. the Hood River experiment
station has conducted a series of fertii-
zer tests with Strawberries upon the
80 called red shot soil at Dee. This Is
the character Of s0fi predominatiug
throughout all that PARTON known as
The Upper Valley. Since a very large
percentage of the strawberry acreage
uf the valley is made up Of tbis type
of soil and much further Gevelopn
IF the II rlustry vi'l be made under
similar sOl conditions the Importance
If first hand information regarding its
fertilizer requirements Is apparent.
Although it is recognized that there
ale several different soil types IN the
valley upon which th crop is growing
and that results from these specific
tests may not apply IL all cases, 1t is
believed they viii serve as reliable
guide which the grower may safely
follow.
This SOIL has proved its splendid
adaptability for small fruits. especial
~ the straw berry. Plants make large
ard vigorous growth when given good
care. Its natural tilth is excellent and
perfect drainage is afforded. Its
water holding caPal ity is fair Most of
The acreage upon which this crop is
growing has recently been cleared Of
brush ana stamps II was formerly
covered with a dense forest of excel
lent timber. In some cases growers
have used clover for green manurial
purposes before growing other crops
Evidence is abundant that the practice
mas been u wise one in that Yields of
all crops. especially the strawberry
have been increased thereby. The
prevailing practice is to grow straw
berries between orchard trees. The
use of comercial fetilizers has assumed
considerable proportions. but the prac-
tee s understandardze in that many
different kinds are being used, some
with good and others with indifferent
suce ess. However, this is fact re.
markably true for the United States
as a whole, practices varying widely.
| have prepared a chart which shows
graphically the plan of these expert
ments and results secured. For these
experiments plants bearing their first
crop in 1916 were chosen. They were
vigorous and uniform in size. In both
patches clover was turned under be
fore the plants were set. No other
fertilization was afforded these until
the experiment started The aim was
to find out: Under these conditions
may increased yields be secured by
the use Of a mineral fertilizer carrying
the limiting elements. nitrogen, phos-
phorie acid and potash, alone or iu
combination Keeping in mind that
shipping quality is very important,
since the CLARK Seeding is often mar
keted at great distance, can we hy
such means increase size of berries
Consiste t with the necessary frmness
and keeping quality? What influence
has such fertilization upon the ptoduc-
tive life of the plants and incidentally
upon vigor? The grower Will apprecl-
ate any increase in yields, since this
factor is undoubtedly the limiting fac
tor under local conditions. The varie-
t. is naturally a shy bearer and often,
due to lack of proper management
Yields are SO small as to make the ll-
dustry Improbable. Unoubtedly the
fact that it p, ssesses first class qual.
ity, especially that Of shipping long
distances, has prevented it being re-
placed by some other variety given to
greater yields.
Unfortunately we are unable to an
sWer the question advanced relative to
the number Of years during which the
plants may by such fertilization be ex
pected TO bear proftably. The ravages
of the root weevil (Anthonomus sigma
tus) became so severe at the end of
the third season that it became neces
sary to pillow up both patches, as was
also true of other experiments well
under way but not herein reported
upon.
For these tests nitrate of soda carry.
ing l6 per cent nitrogen, superphos
phate testing l9 per cent phosphoriC
acid and sulphate Of potash containing
so per cent potash were used. First
applications were made in early spring
Just as the plant was starting growth
and later applications We're made just
as the blossoms were opening. Wher
nitrate was used alone a total of 220 OF
440 pounds per ten thousand plants
formed basis Of the application.
(To be continued