Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1922-03-17

Owing to the great distance from
the large distributing centers and
freight rate handicaps the larger sizes
Of apples will be for many years to
come contributive factor to good
values 1t is an indisputable fact that
many of the Idaho apples are rapidly
going down in size, due largely to the
fact that many of our orchards are
now in full bearing and the trees show
signs of going into decline. While
possibly not being true with all varie-
ties, the size of which must be upheld
to maintain supremacy in the mar
kets. The varieties in question are
the Jonathan and Winesap, which are
classed as our specially apples. The
Jonathan is the leader of our apples
each season and should be the ad-
vance guard of quality in order to hold
the attraction of trade in the interest
of the later varieties.
With approximately 80 per cent of
our paintings consisting of Jonathan,
and with the constantly growing COM
petitive conditions confronting our
growers, the difficulty of providing the
trade with the class of fruit demand
ed becomes more acute each year. 1t
is evident that in some cases correct
horticultural methods are not being
followed. There should be, therefore,
a complete understanding on the part
of the grower as to the best horticul-
INV oo<i IN oil IN, IN
remedy this condition To endeavor
to show the cause for the trees to pro-
duce preponderance of small fruit
and suggest a remedy is the purpose
of this discussion.
Orchard Soil Management.
A study of the different systems of
soil management practiced in one of
the fruit districts of south Idaho may
throw some light on this question The
common systems followed in many or
chards under eight years of age for a
period of five years are as follows:
Percentage of
System. orchards.
Clean cultivation ............... 26.5
~
Intercrop and alfalfa ............ 1873
Clean cultivation and intercrops 1872
lntercrOpS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 800
Clean cultivation and clover. 500
Alfalfa 800
The leading facts in this case are
% that practically one-half of the or.
chards under s years of age have been
clean cultivated, Intercepted or inter.
cropped and clean cultivated and (2)
the other so per cent have had either
an alfalfa or clover cover crop, part
or all of this period. 1t is evident
then, in this case that the repeated
turning and frequent summer cultiva.
tion of the surface soil has resulted in
the burning out of the humus. When
these orchards came into bearing the
soil was in very poor condition from
mechanical standpoint.
Orchards s years of age and over
for period of five years have been
handled in the following manner:
Percentage
System. of orchards.
Clean cultivation and clover. 81. 4
Clean cultivation and alfalfa. -. 25.2
Clean cultivation .................. 1853
Alfalfa SO
These figures show that approx
mately II per cent of the older or
chards have been clean cultivated DUR
ing this period. Such system of or
chard management leaves the soil in
a very poor physical condition. Or
chards that have been in grass contin-
nally are far more profitable for pas
ture than for the fruit which comes
from them.
Green Manurlng.
The matter of maintaining an ade.
quate supply of nitrogen and organic
matter in the soil is an extremely i'm
portant one and should be given more
general attention. The blowing under
OF green manure crop such as alfalfa
or clover should be practiced more
generally if the organic matter in the
soil is to be maintained. 1t is doubt
fIl1 If II ho int tot, A.