Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.
BETTER FRUIT
Volume VI MARCH, 1912 Number 9
Photo by J. Gaijnon, Weiialchee
U. HORAN, WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON, WHO WON THE SWEEPSTAKES FOR THE BEST CARLOAD OF APPLES AT THE rmST NATIONAL APPLE SHOW, SPOKANE, 1908. HUNDREDS OF APPLE GROWERS OWN AUTOMOBILES OF MANY DIFFERENT MAKES, ILLUSTRATING THE PROSPERITY OF THE FRUIT GROWERS OF THE
NORTHWEST
BETTER FRUIT PUBLISHING COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, HOOD RIVER, OREGON
Subscription $1.00 per Year in the United States and Canada; Foreign, Including Postage, $1.50
Single Copy 10 Cents
French Truit Tree Stocks
READY FOR PROMPT SHIPMENT
Apple Seedlings, all grades Pear Seedlings, 5-7 iii.ni. and 3-5 ni.ni. Quince Stocks, 5-7 m.m.
Apple Seedlings,
Small surplus, all grades.
Japan Pear Seedlings,
Number One, Two, Three aud Fowr.
Apple and Pear Grahs
Large General Stock.
Write tor Si>ring Wholesale Trade List.
The Shenandoah Nurseries
1). S. I. A IvK, rioprictoi-
Shenandoah, Iowa
More American Centrifiigals
are used for Irri- — ^ gation Pumping' than any other
The reason is the Ainerican Centrifuga], is the highest development of the most modern type of pump and it is made by pump designers of 43 years' experience, and not merely pump builders,
American Centrifugals are made in over fifty regular styles in any size and equipped with any power.
Catalogue 117, the most complete cen- trifugal pump catalogiie ever issued de- scribes them.
Write for it.
THE AMERICAN WELL WORKS
General Office and Works: Aurora, Illinois. XJ S. A. Chicago Office: First National Bank Building PACIFIC COAST SALES AGENCIES: 70 Fremont Street. San Francisco- 341 S. Los Angeles Street. Los Angeles
ONE HOOD RIVER GROWER SAYS
"I have u.sfd Nl.VdARA Spray lor the past three years and found it .superior to anything I ever used previously." Another sprayed ovei" 7,000 trees with
Niagara Lime Sulphur Spray
both as winter and summer .spray, and his trees now are abso- lutely free from any fungous diseases. Ask for the names of these and othei" usci-s of Niagara exclusively. Niagara is stronger and better. Note this oflicial test in competition with others:
|
Total Lime |
Total Sulpliur |
Winter Strength Dilution |
Gills Dilutcr |
Cost ])er Gal. Diluted |
|
|
Sample No. 1 |
10.73 |
26.63 |
1 to 9.24 |
512 |
17 '/2C |
|
Sample No. 2 |
11.94 |
30.03 |
1 to 10.45 |
572 |
15.7 c |
|
Sample No. 3 |
12.00 |
29.21 |
1 to 10.12 |
556 |
16 c |
|
Sample No. 4 |
12.12 |
23.98 |
1 to 8.38 |
469 |
19 c |
|
SAMPLE OF NIAGARA |
19.65 |
31.44 |
1 TO 11.00 |
600 |
15 c |
|
Niaeara's increased strength makes it b-\' fai WE FURNISH ANALYSIS ON REQUEST. |
• the |
cheapest. |
We are agents for the celebrated Ansbacher's Triangle Arsenate of Lead
99% pure by U. S. Department of Agriculture Analysis There is NO GRIT in TRIANGLE LEAD to clog the spray machine and cut the fruit.
Our distributing agents are Clarke, Woodward Drug Company, Nottingham & Co., Portland; J. F. Spray, Cottage Grove; Thurston County Fruit Growers' Association, Olympia; Tacoma Implement and Seed Company; Walla Walla Fruit and Vegetable Union, Walla Walla; Shields Fruit Company, Freewater; White Salmon Fruit Grower.s' Union, White Salmon; Producers and Consumers' Co-operative Company, Seattle.
Hood River Spray Manufacturing Co., P.0.Box54R, Hood River, Oregon
WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
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BETTER FRUIT
Page 3
To Fruit Growers of the Northwest
The House of Steinhardt & Kelly, New York, take great pleasure in advising the Fruit Growers of the Northwest that they have again acquired on a purchase basis large blocks of their products consisting mainly of Apples and Pears. No concern in the East has so con- sistently used its best efforts on behalf of the Growers of the Northwest, and we herewith desire to thank them for their co-operation in giving us their support by putting up the most magnificent pack of fruit the East has ever seen.
Particularly do we desire to commend the Growers of
The Hood River Valley of Oregon,
The Wenatchee Valley of Washington,
The Bitter Koot Valley of Montana,
The Mosier Valley of Oregon and among the individual packers and shippers
The Wenatchee Produce Company of Wenatchee.
Steinhardt & Kelly
101 PARK PLACE, NEW YORK
The Most Extensive Operators in High Class Fruits in the World Purveyors to the Most Discriminating and Exacting Clientele Direct Connections in all the Leading Markets of United States and Europe
WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
Page 4
BETTER FRUIT
March
IF YOU WANT TO MARKET YOUR
FRUIT
RIGHT
ALWAYS SHIP TO
W. B. GLAFKE CO,
WHOLESALE FRUITS AND PRODUCE
108-110 Front Street PORTLAND, OREGON
The Old Reliable
BELLA CO
Incorporated WHOLESALE
FRUITS AND PRODUCE
112-114 Front Street PORTLAND, OREGON
Mark Levy & Co.
COMMISSION MERCHANTS
Wholesale Fruits
121-123 FRONT AND 200 WASHINGTON ST.
PORTLAND, OREGON
T.O'MALLEYCO.
COMMISSION MERCHANTS Wholesale Fruits and Produce
We make a specialty in Fancy Apples, Pears and Strawberries
130 Front Street, Portland, Oregon
\Y. H. DRYER
W. W. BOLLAM
Dryer, BoUam & Co.
GSNERAL COMMISSION MERCHANTS
128 FRONT STREET
PHONES: MAIN 2348 A 2348
PORTLAND, OREGON
LEVY & SPIEGL
WHOLESALE FRUITS AND PRODUCE Commission Merchants
SOLICIT YOUR CONSIGNMENTS
Top Prices and Prompt Returns PORTLAND, OREGON
Correspondence Solicited
Ryan & Virden Co.
BUTTE, MONTANA
Branch Houses:
Livingston, Bozeman, Billings Montana Pocatello, Idaho Salt Lake City, Utah
Wholesale Fruit and Produce
We Have Modern Cold Storage Facilities Essential for Handling Your Products
A strong house that gives reliable market reports and prompt cash returns
Richey & Gilbert Co.
H. M. Gilbert, President and Manager Growers and Shippers of
YAKIMA VALLEY FRUITS AND PRODUCE
Specialties: Apples, Peaches, Pears and Cantaloupes
TOPPENISH, WASHINGTON
W. F. LARAWAY
DOCTOR OF OPTHALMOLOGY
EYES TESTED
LENSES GROUND
Over 30 Years' Experience
Telescopes, Field Glasses
Magnifiers to examine scale
Hood River
Oregon
and
Glenwood
Iowa
SGOBEL & DAY
ESTABLISHED 1869
235-238 West Street
NEW YORK
Strictly commission house. Specialists in Apples Pears and Prunes. Exporters o£ Kewtown Pippins to their own represen-
tatives in England.
QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY
WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
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BETTER FRUIT
Page 5
No-Rim-Cut Tires
Proved Average Oversize, 16.7%
Goodyear No-Rim-Cut tires are adver- tised as 10 per cent oversize.
We claim that this oversize adds 25 per cent to the tire mileage.
Lately we made a comparison, based on cubic capacity, with five other lead- ing makes of tires.
And No-Rim-Cut tires, on the average, proved 16.7 per cent larger than the other tires of equal rated size.
Only three tires out of 20 comparisons came within 10 per cent of our size.
That means in air capacity, not in
mere outer measurements. It is air that carries the load.
Each one per cent oversize means one per cent extra carrying capacity.
Oversize means to save blowouts — to increase the tire mileage — to cut down tire expense.
And you get this oversize in No-Rim- Cut tires without any extra cost.
That is one of the reasons why these patented tires now far outsell any other type of tire.
Adopted by 127 Leading Makers
For the year 1910, 44 leading motor car makers contracted for Goodyear tires.
For the year 1911, 64 makers came to them.
For this year we have contracts from the makers of 127 leading cars.
That shows how car makers — the men who know best — have come to the Goodyear tires.
tire — 23 per cent of all ruined tires are rim-cut. That is proved by actual statistics.
A punctured tire may be wreck- ed in this way by running 200 feet. A soft tire may be wrecked with- out puncture.
No-Rim-Cut tires save that ruin and worry.
Last year our sales exceeded the sales of the previous 12 years put together.
We sold enough tires in 1911 to completely equip 102,000 cars.
In two years the demand for No- Rim-Cut tires has .multiplied six times over. Now these tires are by far the most popular tires that are made.
Thousands of users told thou- sands of others that these pat- ented tires cut their tire bills in two. The resulting demand now com- pels a capacity of 3,800 tires daily.
Save One-Half
The saving comes here:
No-Rim-Cut tires make rim cutting impossible.
With the old-t3'pe tire — the clincher
Then 10 per cent oversize, under average conditions, adds 25 per cent to the tire mileage.
It means an over-tired car to take care of extra weight. It saves the blowouts due to overloading.
And No-Rim-Cut tires, as told above, average 16.7 per cent over- size.
These two features together — No-Rim-Cut and oversize — under
average conditions cut tire bills in two. Tens of thousands of motor car owners have proved that.
No Extra Cost
These patented tires tised to cost one -fifth more than other stand- ard tires. Now they cost an equal price.
These tires which can't rim-cut cost the same as tires that do. These oversize tires cost the same as skimpy tires_^
You can get them by simply in- sisting on Goodyear No-Rim-Cut tires.
These tires represent the final result of our 13 years spent in tire making.
In every way they are as near perfection as tires can ever get.
They will mean to you an immense reduction on the upkeep of your car.
No-Rim-Cut Tires
With or Without Double-Thick Non-Skid Treads
THE GOODYEAR
Branches eind Agencies in 103 Principal
Our new Tire Book is ready. It is filled with facts you should know. Ask us to mail it to you.
TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, AKRON, OHIO
Cities. We Make All Kinds of Rubber Tires, Tire Accessories and Repeiir Outfits
[461]
W HEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
Page 6
BETTER FRUIT
March
OurUnqualified Statement
is that Hosier raises the veiy best of the world's best apples, and that land may be had here at lower prices than in any other high class, proven apple district in the Northwest.
If you want land in the very best district in the Northwest and among the class of people you know in your city home, and where the very best social, climatic, scenic and transportation conditions are to be found, and DO NOT want to pay the high prices asked in other localities on the Hosier class, you will have to come to Hosier.
We will answer your correspondence promptly and thoroughly, and should you favor us with a visit we will make your stay a pleasant one and you won 't feel under any obligations.
D. D. HAIL CO.
MOSIER, OREGON NO TROUBLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
WE MAKt
CUTS
Jhat print
1^ ^^eJiaveiustalledi' t£0 oaly e/c/un^ machines in i^e/ Sfai& of Ope£oiv
Blast e^c^ied ca/s
^nali^ w£ic££as Jieyepieforeieea cl)^ain3ile wi^fi process en^ places • • . . .
■1^ THEY COST THE SAME g<A5 THE OTHER KIND
i:
mCKS - CHATTEN ENGRAVING CO.
607 BLAKE-M'^FALL BLDO., PORTLAND, OREGON
What Constitutes a Good Spray Pump?
High Pressure - to throw a strong, fine spray. A Pump — of sufficient capacity under slow speed. An Agitator— to keep mixture well stirred so
that it cannot clog pipes and nozzles. Some Method of Cleaning the strainer.
Ask any fruit farmer with experience. He will tell you that the most annoying thing is to find pump, suction or nozzles clogged when he has a tank full of spray mixture in the orchard and must clean out before his sprayer will work.
Here "We Brushes with Mechanical Agitators
" 1, furnished with Empire King Barrel Pump and
UOXne In Watson-Ospraymo Potato Sprayer, also with Leader-Triplex Gasoline Engine Machines of 10 gallons per minute capacity, and capable of a nozzle pressure of 250 to 300 pounds.
These Triplex Pumps are run only 40 to 50 revolutions per min- ute. This slow speed means long life, greater efficiency, less up-keep cost, the weight is not too heavy for two horses — 1550 pounds with 2 H.P. engine and 150 gallon tank, including wag- on with five-inch tires; or with Z^ H.P. engine and 200 gallon tank, 1800 poiinds.
The prices are not too high for efficiency, durability, capacity and satisfaction.
Are you interested? A postal will bring you into touch with our nearest agency.
FIELD FORCE PUMP CO.
Dept. B
Insist on This Trade Mark
Leadei
ELMIRA, N. Y.
NURSERY STOCK OF ABSOLUTE RELIABILITY
That's the only kind to buy. Good trees bring success and poor trees failure. Fruit growers know this. They do not experiment. They buy non-irrigated, whole root, budded trees, and we number scores of them on our list of well pleased customers. We have prepared this sea- son for an immense business. That means trees, trees, trees without limit as to variety and quantity. We also have an immense stock of small fruits and ornamentals. We solicit your confidence, and will take care of the rest. Catalogue on application.
Salem Nursery Company, Salem, Oregon
Reliable and live salesmen wanted
WOULDN'T YOU
Like to move to a new countrv if it was not for the PIONEERING?
OPPORTUNITY
Is a new fruit district (under irrigation five years) but three miles from the City of Spokane in the famous Spokane Valley. All our tracts have electric lights, domestic water, telephones, in fact every modern con- venience. Large profits and an ideal home.
GE3T PARTICULARS FROM
CALLISON & IMUS, Exclusive Agents
326 W. First Avenue, Spokane, Washington
WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
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BETTER FRUIT
Page 2
The HARDIE TRIPLEX
SB The Sprayer with the Trouble Left Out
r n
Each year demonstrates the fact that the Hardie Triplex is best adapted to Northwestern orchard conditions.
This machine is built to work successfully in any kind of an orchard, w hether it is closely set or open, level or hilly.
By using good materials in construction, we give you light weight without sacrifice of strength.
All the liquid you need and at an even continuous high pressure.
A Hardie Triplex means to you Better Spraying in less time and at lowest cost.
A postal card brings you our new 64-page catalog; giving a detailed description of the construction of our Triplex and twenty other hand and power sprayers ; new spraying devices, etc.
Write for it today.
The Hardie Manufacturing Company
Hudson, Michigan 49 North Front Street, Portland, Oregon
WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
Page 8
BETTER FRUIT
March
Thirty-Four Years' Experience
GROWING NURSERY STOCK TRUE-TO-NAME WHICH WON OUR REPUTATION
We Have A Complete Line of Nursery Stock From Which to Choose Our Customers Are GUARANTEED ENTIRE SATISFACTION
Now is the TIME to PLACE your SPRING ORDER with the OLD RELIABLE
MILTON NURSERY COMPANY
Write for Catalog B A. MILLER & SONS, Incorporators MILTON, OREGON
The Tim Kelly Nurseries ™ kelP
WAPATO, WASHINGTON
Two Million Trees for Fall and Spring Planting
I have a splendid stock of APPLES, PEACHES, PEAES, PLUMS, PRUNES,
ORNAMENTAL TREES AND ROSES
For Special Prices write to TIM KELLY, Box 197, Wapato, Washington
IDEAL NURSERY STOCK
We have all of the Standard Varieties for the Northwest and invite inspection of what we have to offer
Our scions are selected with care from Hood River Orchards. Onr stock is grown in Hood River
Reasonable Prices and Special Inducements to Large Planters
We also have a very fine block of Clark Seedling Strawberry Plants to offer Also small fruits for the home garden
IF INTERESTED, WRITE FOR PRICES AND CATALOGUE TO
IDEAL FRUIT AND NURSERY CO., Hood River Oregon
Arcadia Irrigated Orchards
The Largest Irrigated Orchard Project in the Northwest
Arcadia is located twenty-two miles from Spokane. Our soil is rich and deep, entirely free from gravel, rock and alkali. Gravity irrigation, excellent transportation, ideal climate, no dust or sand storms.
OUR PLAN: We plant, cultivate, irrigate, spray, prune and care for the orchard for four years. Water free. Real estate taxes paid for five years. Over 4,000 acres is now planted to winter apples. You may remain at your present occupation while your orchard is brought to bearing, or, if desired, move onto the land at once.
TERMS: $125.00 first payment secures five acres; $250.00 first payment secures ten acres; balance monthly. Eight years in which to pay for your orchard. Write for literature.
ARCADIA ORCHARDS COMPANY, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON
WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
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BETTER FRUIT
Page p
Why Some Arsenates of Lead Burn the Foliage
Fig. 1
Foliage burns are caused principally by water soluble or un- combined arsenic us- ually found in excess in an Acid Arsenate of Lead. In the manu- facture of this material more arsenic is forced into the mixture than can be properly com- bined, resulting in the product being very coarse-grained and con- taining an excess
amount of arsenic not thoroughly combined.
When sprayed on the foliage, it does not cover the surfaces evenly and when exposed to the atmosphere it disintegrates and gives off free arsenic which burns the foliage.
Sherwin - Williams New Process or Neutral is different from the Acid Arsenate of Lead in that all the arsenic it contains is thoroughly combined with the lead. It is very fluffy and finely divided, which makes it light in gravity, and it stays longer in suspension
Fig. 2
A comparison of the Acid and the Neutral (S-W) Arsenates of Lead. Figure 1 shows the coarse character of the Acid Brand which disin- tegrates easily and gives off free arsenic, causing foliage burns. Figure 2 reproduces the Neutral (S -W) Brand which is finely com- posed, spreads over the foliage evenly and does not disintegrate and burn the foliage.
than the coarser, acid- material. On account of its fineness it has greater covering ca- pacity and adhesive- ness. Because it is thoroughly combined with lead, S-W Brand does not change its composition on expo- sure to the weather, and so will not burn the most delicate foli- age. These excep- tional qualities give Sherwin - Williams New Process Arsenate of Lead a place second to none, especially in lo- calities where alkali is prevalent in the water and soil. Write for particulars.
A copy of "Spraying, a Profitable Investment," will be mailed free for the asking.
The Sherwin-Williams Co.
INSECTICIDE AND FUNGICIDE MAKERS 707 CANAL ROAD CLEVELAND, OHIO
BETTER FRUIT
Has no peer in the Northwest
And so we have established
THE FRUIT JOURNAL
along similar lines in behalf of the great irrigated fruit districts of the Rocky Mountain region, a com- panion paper to this, your favorite fruit magazine.
We have made it up-to-date, clean, high class editorially, me- chanically and pictorially.
The subscription rate is $1.00 per year. It is worth it.
THE INTERMOUNTAIN FRUIT JOURNAL
Grand Junction, Colorado
Rogue River Fruit and Produce Association
Packers and Shippers of Rogue River Fruit
Finest flavored — Longest keepers
PEARS Bartlett Howell Bosc Anjou Cornice Winter Nelis
APPLES Newtown
"Autocrat of the Breakfast Table"
Spitzenberg Jonathan Ben Davis
TWELVE SHIPPING STATIONS Modern Economy Code K. S. MILLER, Manager
Stanley- Smith Lumber Co.
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
Lumber
LATH, SHINGLES, WOOD, Etc. HOOD RIVER, OREGON
We are now selling tracts of 5 acres or more in our final and greatest planting at Dufur, Wasco County, Oregon.
5,000 Acres
All in Apples
Over 3,000 acres of it has gone, mostly to Eastern people. The remainder will be gone by spring.
We plant and develop for five years, guaranteeing to turn over to you a full set, perfectly conditioned commercial orchard. After the expiration of the five years we will continue the care of your orchard for you, if desired, for actual cost, plus 10 per cent.
Planting and care is under supervision of the
Churchill-Matthews Company
Spalding Building, Portland, Oregon The largest and most experienced planters in the Pacific Northwest
We will be glad to meet personally, or to hear by mail, from anyone considering the purchase of an apple orchard or apple land. On account of the bigness of the project, everything is done on a wholesale basis and prices for our tracts are proportionately lower. Reasonable terms. All our purchasers are high class people. No others wanted.
Write for booklet, or call on
DUFUR ORCHARD COMPANY
Suite 510 Spalding Bldg., Portland Oregon
Suite 2013 Fisher Bldg., Chicago, Illinois
WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
Page 10
BETTER FRUIT
March
The Quality That Wears Yh Trouble and Repairs
THE ^
KEwanEF
SYSTEM OF ^
WATER SUPPLY
(This Trade-Mark on all genuine Kewanee tanks and machinery protects the public and honest dealer.)
PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY PLANTS
That Equal the Best City Service
Compact Durable Simple Complete
Widely Imitated But Never Equaled
Frost Proof Germ Proof
Dirt Proof Almost Fool Proof
Any power and any capacity of pump from 100 gallons to 12,000 gallons per hour— air tight steel storage tanks from 200 to 20,000 gallons capacity.
Any pressure up to 150 pounds per square inch, equal to a tower over 300 feet high.
The whole system is installed out of sight. Kewanee Pumping Units are tested under your conditions at the fac- tory, and are ready to use when the crate is taken off.
Write for Catalog No. 61, gives full particulars.
Distributors
JOHN DEERE PLOW COMPANY
Kewanee Water Supply Company Ke>var.ee, Illinois
Portland, Oregon
If You Want the Best Orchard Land in Oregon
I have what you want, whether it is five to forty acres for a HOME ORCHARD, or 400 acres for subdivision.
I have land in the Hood River Valley or in the Mount Hood Valley adjoining Dufur.
If you do not want to take possession at once, your land will be planted and cared for, in the best manner, for you for from three to five years, when it will come into bearing.
For further particulars address, P. 0. BOX 86, HOOD RIVER, OREGON
SIMONS, SHUTTLEWORTH & CO., Liverpool and Manchester SIMONS, JACOBS & CO., Glasgow Garcia, Jacobs & Co., London
J. H. LUTTEN & SON, Hamburg OMER DECUGIS ET FILS, Paris
European Receivers of American Fruits
FOR MARKET INFORMATION ADDRESS Simons, Shuttleworth & French Co. Walter Webling John Brown Ira B. Solomon C. W. King D. L. Dick
204 Franklin Street, New York 46 Clinton St., Boston Brighton, Ont. Canning, N. S. Montreal, Que. Portland, Me.
OUR SPECIALTIES ARE APPLES AND PEARS
WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
1^12
BETTER FRUIT
Page II
ORCHAR
ARE WITHIN
300 MILES OF 25,000,000 PEOPLE
VIRGINIA APPLES
are rapidly acquiring a world-wide reputation. They haye sold this year at $2 to $3 per bushel box, and IT ONLY COSTS 10 CENTS PER BOX IN FREIGHT CHARGES TO PUT THEM INTO MARKET.
NO IRRIGATION NECESSARY
Virginia's ayerage rainfall is 45 inches. Our climate is unsurpassed, with no extremes of heat or cold. Streams and springs flow everywhere, and clear, cold, crystal water abounds throughout this section.
CONVENIENCES AND ADVANTAGES
Schools and churches are convenient and well equipped. Our rural agricultural high schools are equal to the best in the Union. Rural mail delivery and telephones serve all country districts. Low taxes, with abundant supplies of building material and labor at rea- sonable prices. Only twelve hours to New York City by fast passenger train service, and we are within three hundred miles of twenty-five million population.
That is the Equal of Higher Priced Land in Every Eespect, WHY PAY MOEE?
We Challenge Your Investigation of This Very Broad Statement
Below are cited a few instances of property now on the market. There are dozens of others similar to them.
When You Can Buy
Apple Land at
$15.00
PER ACRE
No. 306 DEH
203 Acres Shenandoah Valley $2,000
Located in Augusta County, one-half mile from good station on N. & W. Ry. All in young oak timber, lies well, com- paratively smooth and level, fronts on public road at elevation of 1,300 feet above sea level. Fine fruit land, good air and water drainage. Stores, school, church and mill at station, one-half mile. No buildings.
EXCELLENTLY DEVELOPED ORCHARD PROPERTY IN SHENANDOAH VALLEY LM
There are seven hundred peach trees on this property, which consists of 115 acres. Majority of these trees are Elberta and Crawford's Early. These trees are four years old and ought to pay for place easily in two years. They have been properly cared for each year since planting. In addition there are some four-year-old Winesap and York Imperial apple trees and two hundred one-year-old York Imperials, also cherries, plums, pears, good vineyard and twenty-one bearing apple trees. Sixty acres of this land practically level, balance steep. Three-room dwelling house and well of free stone water. Prop- erty located within about four miles of one town of fifteen liundred population and one and one-half miles of another little town on N. & W. Ry. Price $1,500 CASH.
Write for further information and a copy of our Special Bulletin of large undelevoped tracts
suitable for orchard purposes.
WHY NOT INVESTIGATE THE OLD DOMINION?
You will like it here. The delightful atmosphere and the charming social environment that prevails everywhere in this Southern section are particularly noticeable in Virginia. Our good roads, fine schools and churches, congenial neighbors and delightful climate all make life worth living, and we want to have the opportunity of welcoming you here in the Old Dominion.
This opportunity, due to special causes, is rapidly passing by. Prices are rising and it would be well for you to investigate while prices are extremely low.
Write now, while you think of it, for beautifully illustrated Quarterly Magazine, '•THE SOUTHERN HOMESEEKEH," illustrated booklet "Virginia, the Home of the Apple," and a large assortment of other attractive literature, with maps, ^ excursion rates, etc.
Address F. H. LA BAUME, Agricultural and Industrial Agent Norfolk & Western Railway, Box 3,047, Roanoke, Virginia
WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
Page
12
BETTER FRUIT
March
Hood River Nurseries
Have for the coining season a very complete line of
Nursery Stock
Newtown and Spitzenberg propagated from selected bearing trees. Make no mistake, but start your orchard right. Plant gen- eration trees. Hood River (Clark Seed- ling) strawberry plants in quantities to suit
SEND FOR PRICES
RAWSON & STANTON, Hood River, Oregon
If
You like this publication
You tind it helpful
You are in earnest about
"Better Fruit
99
Tell your fruit growing neigh- bors about it. Help us in this way to help you.
This Light Weight Grader
Will Solve Your Irrigation Problems
It is an all-steel one-man machine. It weighs only 600 pounds. It will stir your soil, level your land, cut laterals, pick up dirt and drop it where you want it, and cut ditches 24 to 36 inches deep at a cost of 2 cents a rod. It will do more work than big heavy graders in less time and with less effort. One man with two horses operates it. Ditches cut with the 20th Century Grader are "V" shaped, with firm, solid sides — no fear of their being washed down.
20th Century Grader
is a many purpose, easily operated machine that pays for itself over and over again and puts money into your pocket.
To get big results your work must be right, so you must have the right machine.
Let us tell you what others say about this wonderful machine. We want to prove to your satisfaction that it's a genuine money- maker. There are many uses to which the 20th Century Grader is specially adapted and many ways you can make big money by using it on your own land and on your neighbors'.
Write for our interest- ing and valu- able free book giving full information about this money - mak- ing machine, what it has done for thou- sands and will do for you.
THE BAKER MANUFACTURING CO.
312 Hunter Building
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Millions of Dollars
were lost by the orange and lemon growers of California last Christmas night because they were not equipped with proper heat- ing devices. In some districts temperatures of 18 above were recorded, and a 14-hour burn was necessary. Every user of
The Hamilton Reservoir Heater
made good against these terrific conditions, and the valuable lesson was learned at a tremendous cost that none but a large heater with reservoir capacity and with the REGULATED FIRE provides full protection for such conditions.
The growers of California no longer want inefllcient, small heat- ers, as they will not do for a 14-hour burn against 12 to 14 degrees of frost.
Mr. Fruit Grower, you had better profit by their experience when buying your heaters, and get the most powerful equipment and one that holds several gallons of oil. Write us for the facts about this great frost tight and the only heater that gave every user full satisfaction. The big 6-gallon heater proved the big winning factor. Write us for information.
Hamilton Orchard Heater Co.
GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO
Come to Berlin
Every man who plants an orchard ought to COME TO BERLIN for his trees; we mean this literally — come and visit us. As an inducement, we will pai) your expenses while here.
Should you be unable to visit us. and to see our nurseries for yourself, you should send here for your trees. Our loose silt and sand, our Atlantic air and our scientific care produce trees the like of which seldom are equalled elsewhere. And they are as suitable for planting in the West as in the East.
Our offices and packing force has been reorganized thor- oughly this year, and we are in better shape than ever before to handle your orders by mail. Through the "Harrison Service" idea we are able to make ourselves very useful to growers, even at a great distance from here.
Harrison's 1912 Catalog Sent Free
This book contains the latest information about fruit and ornamental trees. In it you will find the facts about varieties; how to plant and how to order; how to unpack and handle trees so as not to lose or stunt any ; how to trim roots and branches, and all needed details. We have a copy waiting your directions as to where to send it.
"How to Grow and Market Fruit"
A fruit grower's guide book that has met with a warm recep- tion. It has almost 150 pages; there are 24 full pages of pic- tures that help make plain the difficult things. Tells you what to do and when to do it, and why it ought to be done. We want agents- for this book. Write for liberal terms. (See below.)
HARRISON'S NURSERIES, berliSIryIand
Send us 50 cents for copy of "How to Grow and Mar- ket Fruit" and we will forward the book by re- turn mail, with coupon good for the amount on your first order 3f $5.00.
Valuable farms for sale in Mary- land and Dela- ware; the finest soil in the world and 3,000 miles nearer markets than the North- west is. WritCi our Real Estate^ Department for particu- lars.
WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
1^12
BETTER FRUIT
Page 13
Stark Delicious Apple Again
Smashes All Records in 1911
Leads every variety in Wenatchee Fruit Growers' Association List for 1911.— F. S. Burgess of Chelan County, Wash., makes $882.93 net from 36 ten-year-old-trees
Again, yes again. Stark Delicious has proven its claim to the title of "biggest profit-producer among all apples." For in 1911 it has again outclassed every- thing in the apple line by the big prices it brought its growers, just as it did in 1910, 1909, 1908. Spitzenberg, Winesap, Jonathan, Newtown — all of them, and the best ones, too, fell $1.00 per box or more behind this wonder apple in sell- ing price.
And think what that extra dollar
means to the season's profit on the crop.
Tops Wenatchee Ass'n List
Here are the prices made public about January 1st, of the Wenatchee Fruit Growers' Association, one of the strong- est fruit growers' organizations in the West:
stark Delicious. .?2.75 Grimes Golden ..$1.35 Stark Black Ben. 1.24 Winter Banana .. 1.50
Ben Davis 1.00 Stayman Winesap 1.41
Senator 1.35 Jonathan 1.44
Black Twig 1.26 Rome Beauty 1.44
W. W. Pearmain 1.32 Spitzenberg 1.80
Stark King David 1.40 Winesap 1.80
These figures, Mr. Fruit Grower, tell a story of big, vital importance to you. We can't add a word that would make it stronger.
$882.93 Net Profit from 36 Trees
Stark Bro's, Louisiana, Missouri — Dear Sirs:
"On December 18, 1911, you asked me for a report on my crop of Stark Delicious from my 36 trees, 10 years old. It was impossible to make a report at that time, as I did not have full returns until the present date. The report will not be so good as last year, but it is good considering the general short crop in this val- ley this year." — F. S. Burgess, Chelan County, Washington, January 22, 1912.
"Report of crop of Stark Delicious for the year 1911; 36 trees (10 years old) set in square
form, 20 feet apart each way.
263 boxes Extra Fancy, at $2.33 .?612.79
58 boxes Fancy, at $2.08 120.64
87 boxes 'C grade 149.50
$882.93
"These prices are net — all freight, warehouse and marketing charges have been deducted."
(Signed) F. S. Burgess.
Chelan County, Washington.
$1,500.00 Net Profit Last Year
In the fall of 1910, from these same 36 Stark Delicious apple trees (then 9 years old), Mr. Burgess harvested a crop that netted him $1,500.00.
— $2,382.93 net from two successive seasons' crops, or $33.10 net per tree per crop! And these 36 trees occupy only one-third of an acre of ground.
If you are interested in the business of fruit growing for the profit there is in it, we cannot give you better reasons why you should plant Stark Delicious than these true records. We have hun- dreds more of them — they all tell the same story of big profits — bigger profits than any other variety has ever earned.
Our Prices Lowered for 1912
Because our volume of business on Stark Delicious has been tremendous we offer for Spring 1912 trees of this world-famed variety at 10 cents per tree cheaper than last year.
The enormous demand for Stark De- licious trees has made it possible for us to grow them in greater quantitv (more than 3,000,000 propagated for 1912 trade) and better quality than ever before, and thus lower the cost of production. You get the saving.
These low prices are subject to 25% discount for cash with order.
ONE-YEAR TREES
2 to 3 feet—
Each $ .30 I 100 $ 23.00
10 2.70 I 1000 180.00
3 to 5 feet—
Each 40 I 100 32.00
10 3.70 I 1000 205.00
TWO-YEAR TREES
X, 3 to i feet- Each $ .30 I 100 $ 23.00
10 2.70 I 1000 180.00
XX, i to 5 feet- Each 40 I 100 32.00
10 3.70 1 1000 265.00
XXX. 5 to 7 feet- Each 50 I 100 40.00
10 4.50 I 1000 330.00
300 trees or more are sold at the 1000 rate. 30 trees or more are sold at the 100 rate. 10 trees and less than 30 are sold at 10 rate.
Less than 10 are sold at the Each rate.
Don't You Pay Freight
Let us do it. We pay freight on orders of $10.00 net or more. We also box and pack free. The Stark Method of Pack- ing is world-famous — it is so good that we guarantee safe arrival.
Don't Delay Ordering
As mammoth as our stock of Stark De- licious trees is, it is not going to supply the demand. There are bound to be some planters, who delay ordering till the last minute, who will be disappointed. Orders are piling in now every day that keep our great force on the jump. You can't lose anything by ordering imme- diately. On the other hand you gain. Early ordering means perfect trees, carefully selected, carefully packed, and delivered at your station the day you want them.
8 Mammoth Nurseries in 6 Different States
It is a proven scientific fact that no one soil or climate will grow all kinds of trees to the height of perfection, and
STARK BRO'S
Nurseries and Orchard Co.
312 stark Station LOUISIANA, MO.
since the Stark standard of tree quality demands that every tree be as perfect as it can be grown, we have eight great nurseries in six different states.
Eighty-six years of tree-growing know-how is back of every Stark Tree. Four generations of Stark men, scien- tists and expert horticulturists all of them, have devoted their lifetime to this one business. Better trees than Stark trees cannot be grown.
Don't make the fatal mistake of plant- ing trees of questionable quality. Plant Stark Trees, with an 86-year reputation for dependability behind them. Then you can never be disappointed.
Stark Orchard Planting Book
"Master Book of Master Minds'" Trustworthy information written by the great horticulturists of our Special Service Department — given free to the whole world. Not a catalog or piece of advertising, but a well of information; as the authors say:
"The contents is not the result of our own experience alone. It is a collection of the knowledge and experience of many men. Each has spent a large part of his life working with trees. Many have had scientific training. All are rich in that greatest of all knowledge — practical experience." It tells the real secret of success in orchard planting.
Also Free — Stark Condensed Year Book, "A diamond mine of informa- tion." This valuable book makes money for every man lucky enough to send for his copy. Old, experienced orchardists find almost as much helpful informa- tion in this book as do beginners. Our complete catalogue included. Editions are limited — send for your copies today. Use coupon.
FREE BOOK COUPON
STARK BRO'S NURSERIES AND ORCHARDS CO.
Stark Station, Louisiana. Missouri
Send me free books without obligation on my part.
Xame ... Address
Remember, These Are Exclusive Stark Features
— Lower prices for 1912. — 25% discount to mail order buyers. — Freight paid on orders, .?10 net or more. — Free boxing — free packing. — Guaranteed safe arrival of trees. — Special Service Department Advice to Growers.
— Free books.
— Exclusive varieties of prize-winning fruit.
— Three-quarters of a century reputation for square deal behind every Stark product.
— A million-dollar nursery behind every statement made and every Stark tree sold.
— Fast daily refrigerator freight service.
WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
Page 14
BETTER FRUIT
March
REO
Trucks
Wheel base, 90 inches — Horsepower, 10 to 12 — Length behind seat, 6 feet — Capacity, 1,500 pounds. Front seat top, $25 extra
Only $750.00
And Built by R. E. Olds
Please mark that price, and note this truck's capa- city.
Most trucks which do what this truck does, cost from $1,200 up.
We are building trucks on a business basis — at a dray-wagon profit.
They are built in a separate factory, with a capacity of 5,000 trucks per year.
And they are sold through the thousand dealers established on Reo cars.
To pay more than we ask for a truck like this is rewarding inefTiciency.
The Famous Designer
It goes without saying that R. E. Olds knows how to build a truck.
The dean of designers, with 25 years of experience. The builder of myriads of pleasure cars. The creator of Reo the Fifth.
Mr. Olds should be — and he doubtless is — the best qualified man in the business.
Mr. Olds' method of perfecting this truck was to put hundreds of them into use.
They were operated in city and country, on hills and plains, in all sorts of business service.
One loaded truck ran from New York to Oregon. Two carried the baggage in the Glidden Tour, from New York to Jacksonville.
These tests have now covered two years. And never has a truck of this size and capacity shown better records in service.
50 Cents a Day
This truck is built so a 12-year-old boy can drive it. There is nothing to get out of order — nothing to do but steer.
It is immensely economical. On a six months' test, covering 4,553 miles and making 3,773 stops, the cost for gasoline, oil and repairs averaged 50 cents per day.
Price $750 f.o.b. Factory. Top over all, as shown in cut, $50 extra
The average of many accurate tests shows the cost of delivery by Reo truck to be 60 per cent the cost of delivery by horse.
It does five times the work of a one-horse truck, and does it three times as quick.
It is always ready — never gets tired. Nothing can feaze it — heat or cold, rain or snow.
The Reo dealer — right in your town — will demonstrate the truck. He will teach your men to run it. And he is always there to take care of it.
Write us for information.
R.M.Owen&Co.
GENERAL SALES AGENTS FOR
Reo Motor Truck Co.
LANSING, MICHIGAN
WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
BETTER FRUIT
AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE PUBLISHED MONTHLY IN THE INTEREST OF MODERN, PROGRESSIVE FRUIT GROWING AND MARKETING
Northwest Box Apple and New York Land Show
Address of E. F. Benson, at Washington State Horticultural Meeting, Clarkston
THE American Land and Irrigation Exposition, commonly called "The New York Land Show," given at Madison Square Garden, November 3 to 12, 1911, was claimed by many Eastern people to be one of the most interesting and instructive exhibitions ever held in that famous building. It was a "back-to-the-soil" movement, and was fostered chiefly by the railroad interests of the country. The general purpose was to acquaint city people with the resources and advantages of the farming districts and to give the owners of Western railroad securities some idea of the traffic possibilities of the Western country. The attendance after the first few days was more than the capacity of the building and the admission doors were frequently closed until enough people had passed out to justify letting a few more in. The Western and Southern roads were represented by many employes, who talked the resources of their differ- ent districts and distributed immense quantities of literature, which was car- ried away by the armful by many people who would not think of carry- ing home as much as a loaf of bread from a store. This unusual interest in the literature of the West and South was a matter of general comment among all exhibitors and employes. Elaborate silver cups were offered as prizes for the best exhibits of wheat, corn, oats, alfalfa, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, barley and cotton, and President Elliott of the Northern Pacific gave five hundred dollars in gold for the best twenty-five boxes of apples of any variety or varieties, competition open to the world. This prize was supplemented by a silver cup from Mr. A. C. Hanauer of Spo- kane for the best twenty-five boxes grown in the seven Northwestern States. Mr. Elliott afterward gave a silver cup as a second prize.
The notice of these prizes were pub- lished throughout the country during the spring and summer, but little or no interest was aroused among the apple growers. About September 1 I received a letter from Mr. Thomas Cooper, assistant to President Elliott, asking me to undertake the special work of soliciting exhibits from the various apple growing districts along the line of the Northern Pacific and expressing the hope that some grower in this territory might get the prize, but that it was of even more importance that a creditable display be secured. I was afterward authorized to employ an expert packer as an assistant and was
fortunate enough to enlist the services of Mr. Frank S. Kinsey of North Yakima, whose previous experience in apple contests enabled him to be of the greatest assistance to the exhib- itors. After making a very careful canvass of the territory between the Bitter Root Valley, Montana, and the Kittitas Valley, Washington, we suc- ceeded in securing nineteen twenty- five-box exhibits for the contest. Fif- teen of these were from various dis- tricts in the Yakima Valley between Selah and Prosser, one was from
Features of this Issue
THE NORTHWEST BOX APPLE AT THE NEW YORK LAND SHOW
WATSONVILLE APPLE ANNUAL BANQUET
THE ZILLAH, WASHINGTON, APPLE DISTRICT
OPEN-HEAD METHOD OF PRUNING AN OLD ORCHARD
TOP-WORKING OF FRUIT TREES
THE COST OF CLEARING LOGGED-OFF LANDS
EXTENT OF FRUIT GROWING IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
Moses Lake, one from Spokane, one from the Clarks Fork Valley, near Paradise, Montana, and one from the Bitter Root Valley. With an apple crop varying from ten per cent to forty per cent of the normal yield, and with the exposition so far away and open to a world competition, no one seemed to have confidence in winning the prize. With twenty-five boxes, which were required to be grown by the exhibitor on his own place, the expense and trouble was a matter of considerable importance, and the nine- teen exhibitors were actuated more from a sense of duty and loyalty to their district and a desire to show their products in the greatest apple market of the world rather than from any hope of winning prizes. Several (perhaps all) felt it a duty to support President Elliott because they recog- nized the keen interest he has always taken in promoting the horticultural interests of the Northwest.
Although more than fifty entries were made in this apple contest only thirty exhibits appeared, being the
nineteen referred to from along the line of the Northern Pacific and in addition there were three from the Wenatchee Valley, one from British Columbia, two from New York, two from Delaware and three from Vir- ginia. The first prize was won by Mrs. Ella D. Rowland of Zillah, the second by Mr. Robert Johnson of North Yakima; the third, fourth and fifth scores were also taken by Yakima Valley exhibitors; the sixth went to a New York grower living near Syra- cuse, the seventh to a Wenatchee Val- ley exhibitor. Many people have expressed a desire to know what were the ratings of the various exhibits, especially on the New York and Vir- ginia apples — on what points did they score high or low; how did the East- ern apples compare with the Western on all points. For this purpose it may be well to make a comparison of rating on the first, second and sixth highest scores in the apple competition New York Land Show:
|
Item |
Maximum |
First |
Second |
Sixth |
|
Quality . . . |
200 |
200 |
200 |
200 |
|
Color |
, , 200 |
195 |
19.5.4 |
197.33 |
|
Size |
100 |
100 |
98.8 |
96.33 |
|
Uniformity |
... 100 |
98.67 |
97.8 |
97.83 |
|
Condition |
200 |
198.33 |
197.2 |
190.50 |
|
Pack |
200 |
190.83 |
189.5 |
188.05 |
|
Totals |
1000 |
982.83 |
978.7 |
970.04 |
First: Mrs. E. D. Rowland, Zillah, W^ash- ington. Second : Robert .lohnson. North Yak- ima, Washington. Sixth: G. C. Hitchings, Syracuse, New York.
Quality was not considered, because if the United States Pomological Soci- ety ratings should govern, and that is what is understood when quality is counted, then the contest becomes one between Spitzenberg apples only, as no other commercially grown apples are likely to be entered. In this con- test "a variety of exhibits" was espe- cially solicited, hence the score on quality was eliminated and all exhibits were given 200 on that point. All apples being larger than 88 or smaller than 128 to the box were scored off. For size 80 to the box the score was 90 points instead of 100; for size 72 to the box the score was 88 points. Robert Johnson had three boxes out of the twenty-five containing an 80 pack, which reduced his score for size from 100 to 98.8. Mr. Hitchings lost an average of three and two-thirds points on size because he had seven boxes with an 80 pack and two boxes with a 72 pack. Please note that the New York apples excelled on color both the first and second prize win- ning exhibits. On the pack his apples scored especially high on compactness because he shipped them to New York
Page 1 6
BETTER FRUIT
March
Piunc lioc in lull beariiin, Wilhmu'lle Valley
in barrels and packed into boxes in the building where exhibited, while ours were packed several weeks and the shrinkage was somewhat against them. A Western man did the packing for the New York exhibitor.
You would be surprised to know to what extent the progressive Eastern apple growers are looking to this country for education on what they call "up-to-date methods of apple growing." The Hood River man who packed the prize winning car in 1910 at Spokane was employed during last September, October and November to pack apples and conduct packing schools in various parts of New Eng- land and New York state. Many of these Eastern people are very much in earnest about "adopting Western methods," and they believe they can beat us at the business of raising extra fancy apples. From the splendid dis- play made by New York, and also by the New England exhibit, which was not entered for competition, there is no doubt but what they can grow just as good apples as we grow if they will give the necessary care to the work. Their freight rates from most any part of New York state to New York city amount to twenty-five cents per barrel as against $1.50 which it costs us to send three boxes. If ours are iced the cost is thirty cents additional. Their rainy seasons at spraying time,
their numerous old orchards full of fruit pests, their forest trees that harbor many pests injurious to the apples, their erratic seasons that only give them a maximum apple crop about once in six to ten years, their soil and climatic conditions which give the trees a slow growth and many other reasons will operate against their success and competition with our Western orchards. The one main rea- son why our Western apples are being sold so extensively in the East at this time is because of the quality in the box. Nobody pretends to pack apples in barrels and make them as good in the middle as the fancy layer on top. The commission men seem to think it is a hopeless task to ever educate the Eastern grower up to the point where his apples will be packed as well as the Northwestern box apple. New York state claims to grow more com- mercial apples each year than all the rest of the United States lying west of the Mississippi River, yet thousands of carloads of boxed apples from the West are sold every year in New York city at profitable prices. We find the same intense partisanship regarding apple districts of the East as we have out here. Western New York, Massa- chusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, Vir- ginia (especially Shenandoah Valley) each claims to be the best apple grow- ing district in the world.
While it is true that thousands of acres of old orchards have been grubbed out in parts of the country east of the Rocky Mountains it is cer- tainly true that thousands upon thou- sands of acres of apples are now being planted in the states along the Atlantic Coast, and we should not overlook the competition from that country. The splendid appearance and careful pack of our apples secured their introduc- tion into that competitive market. If we are to retain the present hold upon that trade we must keep up the stand- ard of excellence. The striving for perfection by those who enter such ocntests is a great benefit to the apple business, but the winning of highest honors by a few exhibitors does not justify any grower in the prize win- ning district in misrepresenting his commercial output, such, for example, as putting very inferior apples or culls into a box and marking the same "extra fancy." If a full knowledge of the damage done to the community and the individual could be realized, no person would be so dishonest, so foolish or so careless as to do such a thing. Probably some people think this is an over-statement, but it is not. Nothing that I saw or learned at New York was more impressed upon me than an honest pack. A short story illustrates this most forcibly. Mr. Kin- sey and myself visited a number of
igi2
BETTER FRUIT
Page ly
leading wholesale dealers in boxed apples, and one of these stated that his firm bought largely of Hood River apples because he knew what was in each and every box without opening them. He called for a couple of boxes to be brought up to the office, and as he opened them and displayed the pack, uniform size, none of them off- color, all true to type and in perfect condition, his face fairly beamed with pleasure. I asked him why he had never tried to buy any Yakima apples and he said, "Oh, we can't buy every- where. We buy about half the output of Hood River, some from Rogue River and some from Wenatchee." He said they used to buy some in a certain valley which he named, being one of the best known fruit districts in this state, but that a few years ago one prominent grower in that valley sold them a large quantity of apples of such poor quality and so greatly mis- represented as to grade and condition that they lost thousands of dollars. He gave the figures, but I did not at the time think about writing them down. He had been buying several years from a neighbor of this man and was always treated right, but after this disastrous deal his firm would not buy an apple from anyone in that entire valley. I said to him, "Why would you cut out the man that you did know and who had treated you honestly and fairly even though another man had injured you?" He answered, "I wouldn't buy an apple in a community or district that tolerated that kind of pack." Now, as unrea- sonable as that sounds, it seems to be
a condition that in this business as well as in other ways "No man liveth to himself alone."
Why is it that in Tacoma and Seattle as well as among the big New York dealers Wenatchee apples are held in much higher esteem than the Yakima apples? Those fruit growers of Wenat- chee who have come in contact with the principal growers in the Yakima Valley know that neither district can claim any superiority over the other. The difference lies in the integrity of the pack. There are just as good grow- ers and just as careful and conscien- tious packers in the Yakima Valley as in Hood River or in Wenatchee, but the area is so big and the different communities so far apart that the organization has not yet been able to establish and enforce upon everyone the necessary high standard of excel- lence and integrity. A few days ago I stepped into a little grocery store in Tacoma where my family trades and looked at some apples. I always look for the name of the grower, the vari- ety, the number on the box and the quality, although I very seldom find all of this information on every box. There happened to be several boxes from Prosser grown by a man whom I knew very well and whom I knew had raised this year some very high class apples. This box was marked "extra fancy" and had on the end of the box the stamp, "Shipped from Prosser district Fruit Growers' Asso- ciation, packed and shipped for Yakima Valley Fruit Growers' Association." WTien the box was opened there was not one apple in the two top layers
that would honestly grade extra fancy, or even go into the second grade, whatever you please to name that. About half might have gone into the third grade and the rest were culls, wormy, badly bruised and not true to type. The dealer took them back to the wholesaler because he had been deceived by the label on the box, which was the guarantee upon which he relied in purchasing. Instances of this kind reflect discredit upon the entire district as well as upon the grower and the marketing organiza- tion handling the fruit. In justice to those who do put up fruit well the the names ought to be given in cases like this. When the public sentiment shall have become so developed that this kind of a case would be looked upon as a disgrace then the reputa- tion of our fruit will be sustained without any doubt and our distant markets will be safe and profitable. Mr. Elmer Johnson, a near neighbor of this man, sent an exhibit to New New York and one of his boxes scored 994.5 out of a possible 1,000, being the highest score given to any box exam- ined in that contest. Unfortunately for Mr. Johnson the next box exam- ined, being a different variety, scored down on color and uniformity so far as to put him out of the race for high honors. This is mentioned to show that the district was not at fault, but that the blame was entirely on the grower in the instance heretofore given. It is not pleasant to find fault and condemn, but this is not the first, and probably will not be the last, criti- cism of poor packing. Last year, at
Page i8
BETTER FRUIT
March
An alfalfa Gold in the Haystack District near Culver
the Prosser meeting of this associa- tion, Mr. Fred E. Thompson of North Yakima said: "I want to take excep- tion to the Ught and frivolous manner in which growers of the Yakima Val- ley treat the words 'extra fancy.' The growers of Yakima Valley are falling behind our neighbors of Hood River and Wenatchee in the matter of pack- ing apples. This is an admission I dislike to make, but it is a fact never- theless. We have the fruit, but we are shy of growers who know and have the convicitions to put up a first-class pack." This discussion may seem to some a digression from the announced subject, but the contact we had with the biggest dealers in the country made these things seem most vital at this time. May the time come soon when every apple grower will take such pride in the output of his own orchard and the reputation of his dis- trict that such criticisms as these will become unnecessary and be forgotten.
To briefly summarize the apple box situation. We have often heard the idea advanced out here that the Lafean bill, the Porter bill and other agita- tion for a standard box different from ours was traceable to the Eastern fruitgrower and the dealers in Eastern apples in barrels who were anxious to handicap us in the Eastern markets. This does not seem to be the case at all. Mr. Kinsey and myself discussed the box situation with several of the principal apple dealers in New York city, and with only one exception they all favored our standard box, which they called "the chunky box." While the California box, which we call the Northwest special, being lOx 11x20 inches, containing 2,200 cubic inches, or fifty inches more than our standard box, is not looked upon as favorably by the trade in New York. They said with much emphasis that
the dealers were more concerned as to the quality inside the box than they were in a few cubic inches more space. This was especially true where our Northwest box has the number of apples stamped on the end. The one dealer we met who so strongly approved the Lafean bill had to admit finally that there was only one reason for enlarging our box, and that was to make it hold one-third of a barrel. Many of the progressive apple growers in New York, New England, New Jer- sey and Virginia are commencing to use boxes, and they all use our stand- ard box, which, as far as we could learn, is the only one made by the manufacturers of apple packages in the East. One of the most persistent, and because of his official position one of the most dangerous, advocates of the Lafean bill was the commissioner of weights and measures of New York city. An interesting interview with his chief deputy explained the reason, which was that they had determined to clean out all dishonest or "short" measures purporting to contain a bushel or other standard measure. They had recently made one big bon- fire in which over three thousand "short bushel" baskets and other so- called bushel measures were destroyed, and they propose to see to it that no apples should be sold in New York in "short" bushel boxes. The Lafean bill had been defeated in congress through the efforts of our Western men, and he said they proposed to present to their state legislature a bill that would prob- ably be passed, and which in turn would force a national law making a standard box. They consider that the magnitude of their market gives them the opportunity to dictate as to the size of box. When we consider that the price paid for California grapes in the little auction room on pier twenty
fixes each day the price in California for their entire crop output we get some idea of the effect on prices gen- erally of the New York market.
We succeeded, through the help of the president and secretary of the International Commission Merchants' Association, in getting Mr. .John L. Walsh, the commissioner of weights and measures of New York city, and his chief deputy to visit our exhibit at Madison Square Garden. We showed them two of their half-bushel measures heaped up high with the apples taken from one of our packed boxes. These measures bore the commissioner's brand and it took us nearly a day to find them, as New York was very shy on official measures after the bonfire. We then showed them a box heaped up with apples thrown in loosely that had been taken from a box the same size properly packed. We also proved to them that our box was larger than a bushel, at which the commissioner sug- gested that it might be well to cut it down to just an even bushel. Someone suggested that a box ought to be just one-third of a barrel, and that appealed to him very forcibly. Our box demon- stration made quite a hit with him, however, and the next day he sent his deputy down to pier twenty, where most of the boxed apples are handled, and investigations there convinced him that our box demonstration was all right. Something is going to be done soon toward establishing one standard apple box, and since our box is desir- able why not work to have it adopted. It seems to be up to those growers who have used this box, whether they live in the Northwest or the extreme East, to take some action looking to this end, and as this association is the largest organization of growers who use these boxes it is probably up to us to take the initiative. Our box being 10y2xll%xl8
ipi2
BETTER FRUIT
Page ig
inches inside measurement, contains 2,173.5 cubic inches without the bulge, or as the Lafean bill describes it, "with- out distension of its parts." A properly packed box, however, is considered to have a bulge on top and bottom that adds 150 cubic inches to the contents, thus making the total actual capacity 2,323.5 cubic inches. The old Winches- ter bushel, which became the standard in the United States, contains 2,150.42 cubic inches, being 23.08 cubic inches smaller than our box, without the bulge, and 173.08 cubic inches smaller than our box as it is packed with the proper bulge.
In August, 1911, the commissioner of weights and measures of New York city issued the following notice to produce dealers and commission merchants relative to the sale of apples, pears and quinces in the City of New York: "I desire to serve notice upon you that on the first day of November, 1911, and thereafter, I shall enforce section 395A of the sode of ordinances of the City of New York and sections 5 and 9 of chap- ter 20 of the consolidated laws, general business laws of the State of New York, relative to the sale of apples, pears and quinces in the City of New York. Apples, pears and quinces, when sold by the barrel, shall conform in size with the standard barrel as speci- fied, as follows: 'Section 9. Barrels of apples, quinces, pears and potatoes. A barrel of pears, quinces or potatoes shall represent a quantity equal to one hundred quarts of grain or dry meas- ure. A barrel of apples shall be of the following dimensions: Head diameter, seventeen and one-eighth inches; length of stave, twenty-eight and one-half inches; bulge, not less than sixty-four inches outside measurement, to be known as the standard apple barrel. Or where the barrel shall be made straight or without a bulge, it shall con- tain the same number of cubic inches as the standard apple barrel. Every person buying or selling apples, pears, quinces or potatoes in this state by the barrel shall be understood as referring
to the quantity or size of the barrel specified in this section, but when pota- toes are sold by weight the quantity constituting a barrel shall be one hun- dred and seventy-four pounds. No per- son shall make, or cause to be made, barrels holding less than the quantity herein specified, knowing or having reason to believe that the same are to be used for the sale of apples, quinces, pears or potatoes, unless such barrel is plainly marked on the outside thereof with the words 'short barrel' in letters not less than one inch in height. No person in this state shall use barrels hereafter made for the sale of such apples of a size less than the size speci- fied in this section. Every person vio- lating any provision of this section shall forfeit to the people of this state a sum of five dollars for every barrel put up or made or used in violation of such provision. And no barrel marked 'short' will be permitted to be used for the sale of apples, pears or quinces in the City of New York."
The New York law further declares that "the quart shall contain, when even full, 67.2 cubic inches." This would make a bushel 2,105.4 cubic inches, or .02 cubic inch less than the standard Winchester bushel. The wording of the law seems to be very uncertain whether it is intended that the apple barrel shall contain 100 quarts or whether the quarts referred only to "barrels of pears, quinces or potatoes," and the apple barrel pos- sessed the dimensions given in the law. If the 100 quarts does not refer to the apple barrel then they have no stand- ard apple barrel, because no person could figure the cubic contents with- out having a single inside dimension. The Lafean bill was a slight improve- ment over the New York law because it specified that the distance between the heads should be twenty-six inches, and that was the only inside dimension given in that bill. A barrel is no stand- ard of measure anywhere. First, because the laws of different states
have diff"erent sized barrels, and it is not a particularly desirable standard because it is neither square, round or any other shape capable of being easily measured to ascertain its inside dimen- sions and contents. The New York commissioner says, however, that a barrel contains 100 quarts, and while we do not believe any interpretation other than that of the supreme court would settle the question, we will assume for this discussion that he is correct. A barrel of 100 quarts would contain 6,720 cubic inches or three and one-eighth bushels. Three of our standard boxes aggregate 6,970.5 cubic inches, or 250.5 inches more than the New York barrel. If we do not count the bulge, three of our boxes make 6,520.5 cubic inches, or 200 inches less than a barrel, but since the bulge is a part of our box there seems to be no good reason for ignoring it or for say- ing that a properly packed Northwest standard box is not fully one-third of a New York standard barrel. The Lafean bill proposed to fix a box at "2,342 cubic inches without distension of its parts," but did not fix the dimen- sions of such box. In this connection I wish to ask, is it wise to pack apples with cardboard between the layers, especially when the apples are wrapped in paper? The Hood River apples we saw in New York were so packed and the dealer seemed to like it. He didn't object, anyway, and said it gave the appearance of extra care. What it really does, however, is to use up space that would either accommodate eight apples in an ordinary 2x2 pack of four- tier, or at least, apples of a larger size. If three of our boxes are expected to make a barrel they certainly should be full boxes. By having well packed boxes and by using proper efforts our- selves and getting the right help from Easterners who are now friendly to our box, and doing these things now, there seems good reason to believe that our present standard box may become the standard for the United States.
A Sugar Beet crop in Western Oregon
Page 20
BETTER FRUIT
March
Method of Irrigating Without Waste of Water
E. M. Gilbert, in Yakima Morning Herald
THERE is considerable alarm among those inexperienced in irrigation over the suits, court injunctions and threatening notices sent out by various canal companies. I am submitting the accompanying illustrations to suggest to the irrigator how he can greatly lessen, and in many locations entirely stop the running of waste water from his land. The solution to the whole proposition of waste water is: Level contour ditches made with a two-horse plow at the lower end of the irrigation rows. These level contour ditches should be sufficiently near together to irrigate the portion of orchard they cover. Ordinarily they should cover ten to thirty per cent of the orchard, the larger proportion being where the hillsides are steeper or where the irri- gator wants to irrigate hurriedly, and therefore has a large quantity of waste water to care for.
Illustration one is for a field where the general slope is in one direction, with low point in or near the middle of low side. Heavy lines indicate large furrows made with two-horse plow on contour levels. These heavy lines rep- resent practically level ditches. Illus- tration two is where the slope is in two directions with low point at one corner. Here, again, the heavy lines indicate large furrows made with two- horse plow. To locate these level con- tour ditches place an instrument at low point, then take stakes numbered one, two, three, etc., and place them on the two boundary lines at elevations six inches, one foot or two feet apart, according to the steepness of the field. Then turn the instrument up the diag- onal row and place another line of stakes numbered one, two, three, etc., on the same levels as those on the boundary. By placing these stakes
Head Ditck
llhitratton'3
R)in+
along the fence row or under the trees they can be left throughout the season. In this way the ditches can be culti- vated over and remade for the aext irrigation without the use of any instrument or running of levels.
Illustration three shows a head ditch running on a ridge diagonally through
the tract, feeding irrigation rows on either side on different slopes. You will note there are two low points on this tract, requiring that there be two sets of contour ditches. The level, how- ever, is set as in illustration numbers one and two, at the lowest point, and the contour levels ascertained in the same manner. Illustration number four shows two sorts oi homemade levels. Either of these will be sufficiently accurate for running these contour lines. Of course, a surveyor's level would be preferable, and an architect's level can be procured at a cost of about fifty dollars. The agricultural papers are also advertising a level for fifteen dollars, which would no doubt be suffi- ciently accurate. In addition to this, any farmer can take a pocket level or
Head Di+ch
t
lUaiTration 2. I ^ " ' LowroinT
a carpenter's level, and with a little ingenuity locate the necessary points sufficiently accurate.
The illustrations here given will not meet the exact situation in many tracts, but any irrigator can make it possible to apply the plan to any tract. The advantages of no waste water are: (1) Freedom from damage suits, court injunctions and attorneys' fees; (2) the saving of water and using it on your own land — better irrigation with the same amount of water; (3) saving soil fertility, not leaching off the best ele- ments and running them off to the ocean; (4) no swampy spots and no drainage necessary on your own land, for you will not run any of your fur- rows to the low points — in fact by keeping up contour furrows at low points, where they cross ravine or swale, you can keep the water out of low points.
Proper arrangement of head ditches will greatly assist. Where there is more than two inches fall to the rod in your head ditch use board flumes, made of one and one-eight-inch or one and one-quarter-inch rough fir. I have used such a flume for thirteen years before it rotted out. Bore holes one inch in diameter to let out water for irrigation furrows. Control size of
opening by galvanized iron slides to be obtained from hardware stores at small cost, as they are made from scraps. Level head ditches where possible are the most economical and efficient.
Almost a million pieces of nursery stock were shipped into Montana to private orders during the nine months ending October 1, 1911, according to
Head Drtch
Head Dilcfi
Illustrotion'X
Low Po I irf
figures compiled by the state board of horticulture. Figuring that Montana nurseries furnished approximately the same number to fruitgrowers, this would make the total of apple and crab trees 574,576, or 4,630 acres of newly planted apple land. This cer- tainly testifies to the rapid expansion of the fruit business in this state. As eighty per cent of the fruit of Montana comes from the Bitter Root Valley it is clearly demonstrated that this favored section is gaining rapidly in horticul- tural resources. Cherries are next on the list, showing an aggregate of 37,392 trees, or 468 acres of newly planted cherries. This fruit is rapidly becom- ing a monetary winner in Western Montana, especially the large, sweet, big, black Bings and Lamberts. Over 20,000 plum trees, 16,000 pears and
Cross Uii-es
Cras Pipe
jUudraticn"'^-
1,000 apricots help swell the new orchard acreage. Other fruits imported total as follows: Peaches, 3,336; quince, 192; grapes, 5,334; strawberries, 520,506; blackberries, 19,020; raspberries, 70,234; dew berries, 5,406; currants, 25,554, and shade and ornamental trees, 297,- 288.— Contributed.
IQI2
BETTER FRUIT
Page 21
Scenes showing towers for high trees and hillside spraying
Watsonville Apple Annual Banquet
THE most enthusiastic meeting of the Apple Annual Association yet held was the annual meeting and banquet which took place last night, and the stockholders of the association placed their stamp of approval on the action of the board of directors by re-electing them for the ensuing year by a unanimous vote. Considerably over half of the stock of the associa- tion was present or represented by proxy, and the business meeting was one of interest to the stockholders. The financial report of the secretary shows the institution to be in a sound financial condition, there being a larger balance in cash now on hand than after the 1910 show, and the value of the association property considerably increased until it now reaches $8,619.61. The increase in property will be of material value to the show in the future, and will be a saving in rent and expense of the show in future years. The cash now on hand is $4,609.11.
The directors re-elected for the ensu- ing year are: O. D. Stoesser, A. W. Cox, J. E. Gardner, H. C. Peckhom, F. A. Hihn, E. Steinhauser, J. H. Thomp- son, J. A. Linscott, George W. Sill, R. H. Goodchild, Luke Scurich, Mateo Lettunich, E. A. Hall, W. R. Porter and C. H. Rogers. The affairs of the asso- ciation have been conducted in a very able manner in the past and an unnec- essary burden has been imposed on the finance committee in having to spend their time in soliciting funds to carry
From the Watsonville (California) Register
on the show, but this has been changed for this year and a number of the rep- resentative citizens, business men, apple growers and packers were called on, and all agreed and expressed a willing- ness to voluntarily contribute their share of what is necessary to carry on the show. C. H. Raker, president of the Earl and Loma Fruit Companies, agreed to subscribe $250 for each of the companies and make an exhibit; D. H. Leddy, for the Knights of the Royal Arch, stated the lodge had sub- scribed for 1,000 shares of stock in the association and would come through with a thousand more; D. J. Daly wants a bill sent to him for his share; T. E. Shoemaker will double his last con- tribution and numerous others are willing to contribute their share. Among them are George Rirl, Senator Holohan, I. H. Tuttle, T. J. Horgan, D. Alexander, P. A. Callaghan, Ed Kelly, Dr. C. C. Rodgers and many who were not given a chance to express their views by the toastmaster on account of lack of time.
Seats were spread in I. 0. O. F. Hall for 150 persons, and they were all filled when the stockholders and vis- itors had seated themselves at the table to enjoy the spread provided by the association. The banquet was an ele- gant simple affair of cold meats in abundance, salads, olives, pickles, bread, butter, cake, coffee and refresh- ments. J. E. Gardner acted as toast- master for the occasion. A number of
distinguished persons were present, and among them were A. A. Dennison, of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce; Charles S. Fee, vice-president of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company; Judge Lucas F. Smith, of Santa Cruz; E. Shillingsberg, district freight and pas- senger agent of the Southern Pacific Company; H. W. Smith, colonization agent of the same company; Robert Newtown Lynch, vice-president of the California Development Roard; Isaiah Hartman, of Boulder Creek; sales man- ager of Blake, Moffit & Towne of San Francisco; Mr. DeLeon, of DeLeon & Boulier of San Francisco; Al Kelly of San Francisco, and others. These gentlemen were called on by the toastmaster and responded in an able manner.
Robert Newtown Lynch of the Cali- fornia development board paid a high tribute of respect to the officers of the apple show, and said the California apple show at Watsonville had con- tributed more than any other single institution to the settlement of Califor- nia. He stated it was almost impossible to realize the tremendous publicity the state had received through the apple show. Mr. Lynch is an authority on things pertaining to the development of the state, and so great is his confidence in the apple show here that he extended to the directors of the association the support of the state development board and promised to send to the next show a delegation from San Francisco equal
Page 22
BETTER FRUIT
March
to the one sent to Los Angeles. Accord- ing to his statement 100,000 people have emigrated to this state for the past ten years and next year would wit- nes the arrival of more. He is thor- oughly in touch with the situation, and recently has returned from Europe, where he went for the development board to study the quantity and quality of immigrants that would come to Cali- fornia after the opening of the great canal in 1915. He advocates the estab- lishment of a state immigration bureau and wants Watsonville to have an exhibit in San Francisco in 1915, and speaks of the great opportunity that would be afforded to get people to come to Watsonville to see the greatest of apple shows. In closing, he pledged the support of the development board to help make the 1912 show the largest ever held in the world.
Mr. Gardner called on Charles S. Fee of the Southern Pacific Company, who pledged the support of his company to the directors of the association for the 1912 show. Mr. Fee related interest- ing statistics showing how his com- pany was distributing data of Califor- nia in the countries of Europe at all seasons and were working for the interests of the state. They delivered at the Chicago land show illustrated lectures on different parts of the state. He told how Forest Crissey had come to Watsonville at his solicitation and the benefit the district had derived from the visit of that noted writer. The sup- port of the Southern Pacific was at the hands of the directors of the associa- tion for the asking.
A. A. Dennison of the Oakland Cham- ber of Commerce made a hit with the audience when, in response to the state- ment bv Mr. Gardner that the Watson-
ville booster crowd had broken win- dows in that city and never had received a bill for them, he said there were more windows in the city unbroken and he hoped the booster train would come there this year and finish the job. He invited them to din- ner in Oakland's new .$1,500,000 hotel. He tendered the support of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, with its 1,800 active members, to make the 1912 apple show a success. His theory is not only "get together" but "grow together," and how Oakland is booming the state with buttons reading, "Boost for all Califor- nia; there is room for millions more."
Great applause met E. Shillingsberg of the Southern Pacific Company, and he responded with a few well chosen words and brought with him the sup- port of the San Jose Chamber of Com- merce. He further said there would be no bill for broken windows from San .lose, but there were a few broken hearts there as a result of the visit of the Lady Hussars band. Al Kelly of San Francisco told how land similar and no better than Pajaro Valley, which is sold at up to -$700 per acre, was held at as high as $2,000 per acre in the Northwest. He is a very able talker and considers himself a Pajaro Valley boy, as he has been making visits here since he was seven years old.
Superior Court Judge Lucas F. Smith of Santa Cruz tendered the support of Santa Cruz to the 1912 apple show, and delivered an address in a very able manner. He suggested the 1915 show be held in San Francisco and stated his intention of becoming a stockholder in the apple association. He also advo- cates a boat landing for Watsonville so apples may be shipped direct to Euro- pean market without change of cars or
a transfer. Mayor Hall tendered the support of the City of Watsonville to the apple show in any other manner than financially and says he is willing to do his part. Steven Scurich spoke for the fruit packers and a number of others presented their views. Rev. F. A. Keast, for the pastors' union, spoke in a few well chosen words and advo- cated the continuation of the apple show, provided the report of the presi- dent for the abandonment of the mid- way was followed. George W. Smith, chairman of the amusement committee, told how he had devoted his time and energy in the midway and stated he was willing to meet the enemy on its own ground and do it again if the directors desired. The meeting was one large outburst of enthusiasm for the apple show and plans soon will be under way for the 1912 show, which will eclipse any former efforts.
Editor Better Fruit:
Below please find crop report of the Pajaro Valley for 1910-1911:
1910
Apples (green), cars 4,023
Apples (evaporated), tons 1,600
Apples (canned), cases 23,000
Berries, chests (holding 48 1-lb. trays) .150,000
Apricots (evaporated), tons 600
Vinegar and Cider, barrels 15,000
1911
Apples (green), cars 4,500
Apples (evaporated), tons 2,000
Apples (canned), cases 25,000
Berries, chests (holding 19 1-lb. trays) .148,000
Apricots (evaporated), tons 600
Vinegar and Cider, barrels 17,000
Very respectfully yours, Apple Annual Association, C. B. Greisen, superintendent of exhibits.
NOTICE
The tenth annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Association of Nurserymen will be held in Salt Lake City in .June, 1912. Every nurseryman between the Missouri Valley and the Pacific Coast should attend. You are urged to be present. It will pay you. P. A. Dix, president Pacific Coast Association.
l^asicrn Triplex in the orchard of Wm. Vandeveer, Benton Harbor, Michigan
One ol llie old type Hardie machines, which has done all the spraying in the lorty-acre oichard of L. f. Sutheiland, Benton Har- bor, Michigan, lor seven years
H. D. Stowell, Luding- ; ton, Michigan, about to start to the orchard with I his power machine :
Spraying scenes Cox Bros', orchard near Proctorville, Ohio
Thcic is nil horticulturist better known in Ohio than W. W. Farns- worth. The above photograph shows his two Hardie sprayers icaily for business
igi2
BETTER FRUIT
Page 23
spray for codling moth cup is nearly closed
First Year's Cost of A 1,000 -Acre Washington Orchard
By W. B. Lanham, Horticulturist, Clarkston, Washington
THIS 1,000-acre orchard is located on Clarkston Heights, adjoining the City of Clarkston, in Asotin County, Washington. The elevation is from 1,200 to 2,000 feet above sea level and about 500 to 600 feet above the valley. The ground is mostly rolling, none is level and some is quite steep. The soil is what is commonly termed volcanic ash. It is light, fertile, easily culti- vated and very retentive of moisture. The lands was practically all wheat stubble and only needed to be broken. It was plowed in the fall and winter ten inches deep. This was done by contract at four dollars per acre. We had inspectors on horseback continu- ally, with the plowmen, to measure the depth of the plowing. The soil was left rough, not harrowed that fall. We started planting the first of December and finished about the first of April — planting whenever the weather would permit. The land is surveyed into blocks and the blocks cut into lots of from two to ten acres each. Each of these lots is planted as a unit or indi- vidual orchard.
The planting method is a permanent apple orchard of thirty-foot squares. The land was staked off before plant- ing, putting a stake where each tree was to stand. All base lines were established by a surveyor with a transit. The cost of staking was eighty-three cents per acre, including the cost of stakes. These were lath cut in two. The planting cost on an average $2.44 per acre, although on some tracts, toward the last, on' excep- tionally good ground, the cost was as low as $1.65 per acre. However, I am convinced it is poor economy to try to do planting too cheaply, believing it better to do that work well and econo- mize somewhere else, if necessary. We planted on an average 48 apple, 10 pear, 20 peach, 10 plum or prune trees per acre. They cost, apple 10, pear 20, peach 12, and plum and prune 12 cents
each. Right here I might add that the time of transplanting appeared to make quite a diff'erence in the growth the trees made this season. The ones first planted made at least twice the growth that those set out last did, with a grad- ual gradation between. Many of the earlier planted ones made a growth of four feet in length, and some even more.
The trees were headed eighteen to twenty inches from the ground, or knee high, at a cost of ten cents per acre. If there were any side branches they were cut off, leaving only one or two buds. This is all the pruning they received this season; all the limbs that formed were allowed to grow in order to make the trunk more stocky and also to protect it from the sun. Culti- vation was begun as soon as the ground was in condition in the spring. The entire orchard was gone over first with an ordinary pegtooth harrow. The few soddy places were thoroughly disked and the entire orchard spring- toothed once. It was then gone over again with the pegtooth harrow; this left the soil in fine condition for the Kimball cultivator. The drivers of these implements were instructed to keep from two and one-half to three feet away from the tree rows, so that we were not troubled with many skinned or barked trees. To get close to the tree an ordinary corn cultivator was used, straddling the tree row as one would a row of corn. In this man- ner every particle of soil was stirred, and yet the tree was not touched. Of course, this required careful driving, but as these were the only riding imple- ments used and the drivers were made to understand that their continuance with them depended on their care, we had little trouble on this score. We tried to get over the entire orchard with some of these implements once every two to three weeks.
I stated before that the orchard was planted thirty-foot square, with a filler in the center of each square. This makes rows only fifteen feet wide, but by running the rows diagonally to the planting we get the greatest width, about twenty-one feet. This is the direction we cultivated. The disking cost from ninety cents to one dollar per acre. An ordinary two-horse disk har- row having eight sixteen-inch disks was used. The work with the spring- tooth cost sixty to sixty-five cents per acre; the implement used was a seven- teen-tooth harrow five feet wide. The pegtooth harrow was a two-horse ten- foot harrow, and the cost of cultivating with it was from thirty to thirty-five cents per acre. This implement cov- ered the space between the rows at one round and then lapped a little in the center. Two sizes of Kimballs were used, a seven and a nine-foot. One of each was used and exactly covered the space between the tree rows, with the exception of the two and one-half to three feet next to the trees. This was the most economical instrument we used, the cost of each cultivation being only twenty-five to thirty cents per acre. It was more economical than the pegtooth harrow; because of the lighter draft, a team could walk along all day and not be dead tired at night. When the ground is in proper condition the Kimball cultivator is the best thing I have found to kill small weeds and pre- serve a dust mulch. The balance of the ground next to the tree rows was covered with the corn cultivator, with a cost of from fourteen to fifteen cents per acre for each cultivation. This was a six-shovel riding cultivator. For the first three cultivations we used the three ordinary shovels that came with it, such as one uses in cultivating corn. Then the two outside shovels on each side were replaced with sweeps; these acted about the same as the blades on the Kimballs, killing all the weeds and
Page 24.
BETTER FRUIT
March
leaving the ground smooth and pre- serving the dust mulch. Our idea was to keep the soil entirely free from weeds, but this was not possible with- out some hand labor, so in August the entire tract was gone over, and any weeds not killed by the cultivator were cut out with hoes. This cost twenty cents per acre.
On Clarkston Heights we had a cen- tral camp, consisting of an oftice with 'phone connection with the Clarkston office, cook and dining tent, sleeping quarters for the men and barns for the horses; also on the south end of the tract was another barn where the teams were fed at the noon hour, so the least amount of time was consumed on the road. A summary of the cost of cultivation is as follows: Disking 200 acres three times at $1 per acre each time, $600; springtoothing 1,000 acres at 65 cents per acre, $650; pegtoothing 1,000 acres twice at 40 cents per acre each time, $800; Kimball cultivating 1,000 acres seven times, each cultivat- ing at 30 cents, $2,100; corn cultivating ten times, 15 cents each time, $1,500; hand cultivating 1,000 acres at 20 cents, $200; making a total of $5,850, or a cost of $5.85 per acre.
Leaving the soil rough, as we did, to catch the winter rains, and then put- ting on a cap consisting of a dust mulch as soon as the soil could be worked in the spring, conserved enough moisture to last the season, so that a general irrigation was unnecessary, although the average yearly rainfall is only three inches. Early in the season we had two pests, one small and one not so small. The smaller was the ordinary pear slug. We go rid of it with a dust spray. We simply picked up a handful of dust and dashed it forcibly over the tree. There was no further trouble from the slug. This was as effective as any spray, and I know of none cheaper. Certainly there was no expense for machinery. The other trouble was the pocket gopher. They not only ate the roots, but even pulled the young tree under the ground and ate it. Poison was the only rem- edy we tried. The bait used was corn
soaked in water in which strychnine had been dissolved, and raisins and pieces of carrots with a crystal of the poison in them. The method was to make a hole with a sharp stick in the burrow, drop a piece of poison bait in and cover the hole, taking care not to fill the burrow. We found the carrot and raisins much the more effective bait. The expense of combating these pests was ten cents per acre. Along in August we made an estimate of the trees that had failed to grow, and it was about three and one-half per cent. There were wheat fields almost sur- rounding the orchards, and after the grain was harvested the rabbits barked some of the trees and increased the percentage somewhat. We tried three methods of protection from the rabbits. First, Yucca palm tree protectors were placed around the trees. The pro- tector itself cost one and one-half cent per tree, and the labor of putting them on increased the cost to one and three- quarter cent per tree. Second, tar building paper was used, cut up into pieces about the size of the wooden tree protector, and fastened with ordi- nary paper clips, such as you use in the office. The cost of this, including labor, was one and one-tenth cent per tree. Third, whitewash, consisting of lime, soap and crude carbolic acid, was applied. This, with the cost of appli- cation, was only one-quarter cent per tree. The best brush I found for apply- ing this was to take about eighteen inches of one-inch or one and one- quarter-inch grass rope, wrap all except about three inches of this with wire, and ravel out this three inches for the brush, using the wrapped part as a handle.
A summary of the entire expenses, including preparation of soil and cost of trees, would be as follows: Plow- ing, $4; staking, 83 cents; planting, $2.44; 48 apple at 10 cents, $4.80; 20 peach at 12 cents, $2.40; 10 plum or prune at 12 cents, $1.20; 10 pear at 20 cents, $2; cultivating ten times, $5.85; pest control, 10 cents; healing trees, 10 cents; horticultural supervision, $4, and office or overhead expenses 10 per cent.
$2.77 per acre; making a grand total of $30.49 per acre.
INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY OF AMERICA (Incorporated)
Chicago, December 12, 1911. Editor Better Fruit:
Under separate cover we are sending you a copy of our 1912 almanac and encyclopedia and a set of our 1912 calendars. The almanac, together with an enclosure entitled "What the Farmer Owes to His Machines," is being sent to all the farmers' names on our mailing list. When the I. H. C. Almanac and Encyclo- pedia was first issued in 1909, the one thought in ovu- minds was to make it a modern alma- nac. With that end in view each year we secured the services of agricultural experts in preparing special articles of value to farm- ers. In the 1912 edition will be found some especially valuable articles: "Some Economic History of the Original Thirteen States," by Cyril G. Hopkins; "Seed Testing," by Stephen D. Van Benthuysen; "Rotation of Crops," by J. E. Waggoner; "Alfalfa," by J. E. Wing; "Up-to-Date Dairying," by W. D. Hoard; "Sanitation in the Country," by Henry Wal- lace, and other excellent articles on "Beauti- fying the Farm," "Irrigation and Drainage," "Fertility," "Crop Production," and so on. A copy of any one of these calendars may be secured by the readers of "Better Fruit" on application to the local I. H. C. dealer. Yours very truly, International Harvester Company of America, by M. R. D. Owens, advertising manager.*
In line with the many other refinements of details and high grade equipment on Reo the Fifth — the last and most popular creation of the genius of R. E. Olds — we have adopted the Goodyear No-Rim-Cut tires as standard equipment, says R. M. Owen & Company, 1759 Broadway, local Reo distributors. These popular tires are ten per cent oversize, which easily adds from twenty to twenty-five per cent to the tire mileage. This oversize is not measured by calipers, but air capacity. As these tires have twenty-five per cent gi-eater air capacity, and hence that much more load- carrying capacity, without additional weight or cost for the tires, it should be plain to all why we find so much enthusiasm over our tire equipment among buyers of Reo the Fifth.*
Editor Better Fruit:
In your very interesting issue for November, 1911, on page 36, article by Professor Howard, there occurs a slight error. The statement is made that the "practice of smudging had its beginning some forty years ago in the vine and citrus region of California." Probably "14" was the word written. The work began, as you know, at Riverside, California, in 1895. Very respectfully, Alexander G. McAdie, San Francisco.
On page 39 of the February edition a mis- take was made in the caption for the illustra- tion on this page. It should have read "Spray- ing in the orchard of .1. A. Wuest."
The Standard is quite different from any other spray pump, being arranged so that it can be used either with a bucket or knapsack, or with a barrel or tank. It is useful for any sized orchard up to a thousand trees. The Standard Stamping Company of Marysville, Ohio, will gladly send full information upon request
Sooty blotch disease on the apple
ip/i- BETTER FRUIT ' P^^gc 25
The Famous Zillah District, Yakima Valley, Washington
THE Zillah district of the Yakima Valley has suddenly come into its own! For fifteen years the ranch- ers of this district have been raising a superlative kind of fruit. Until the past year, however, this fruit has gone under the name of other districts, and it was not until Mrs. Ella B. Rowland of Zillah won the fifteen hundred dol- lar prize at the New York Land Show for the best twenty-fi 'e boxes of apples, in competition with the world, that the attention of people was called to this district. The methods that have led to this remarkable result are of interest to the entire fruit producing world. And how may these results be sum- marized? Surely they are not original with the fruitgrowers of this valley, for after all the production of a superior article must depend upon approxi- mately the same methods the world over. ^Ye use the same spray, we prune in about the same way, we cultivate the soil after the same manner as other dis- tricts and we fertilize the ground after the manner approved of all men. That we take particular pains to do all things well is the largest single factor in what- ever success we have attained. I will leave the scientific discussion of the fight against pests and the best methods of pruning and irrigating to others, and shall confine myself to the more- gen- eral things that the growers of our dis- trict are paying particular attention to. I am going to assume in this that all growers know their business. After a perfect fruit has been grown, then comes the hardest part of all. I say hard, for it is the part of the business that is furtherest removed from a rancher's study, namely, the marketing of his produce to the best advantage. To this end the picking, wiping, sort- ing, packing, shipping, and finally the
By C. G. Waic, President Zillah Commercial Club
market reaching are larger factors than most growers assume.
These ends the growers of the Zillah district have set themselves the task of solving. In picking, the usual methods involving the best care are used. In wiping and sorting, a machine, a local invention, is doing the work better than ever a man with a commercial end in
view has ever done it. In packing, the real test of a man's interest in his busi- ness is made manifest. It used to be thought that the growers of this or that district had a monopoly on the only real and genuine pack, but it is being discovered that a vital interest in fruit growing will inevitably lead a man to the right system. In shipping, we have
discovered that the very best solution of most of the difficulties attending this item is competition in railroads. ^Ve can now get the kind and quantity of cars we need, and these when we want them. Another year and we will be able to get precooled cars for our soft fruits with equal dispatch. In market- ing, the growers of this district have
united with the rest of the growers of the valley. The Yakima Valley Fruit Growers' Association has been formed on the same plan that has made the citrus fruits such a marketable success. By this means the growers have been able to market their fruit more easily and at better prices than they ever experienced before. But few of the growers took advantage of this plan the past year, but, seeing the success attending the plan, enough growers have now joined to give the Zillah branch of the association the largest fruit tonnage of any branch in the Yakima Valley.
Climatically this district is fortunate. The endless days of sunshine and the uniformly mild winters tend to make the growing of good fruit as easy as possible. The light character of the volcanic soil is to be credited with making things still easier. Add to these water, when and where you want it, and the balance is "up to the man." Given a perfect fruit, commercial pro- duction has only begun. From this point the real task is to make a market. The association of growers, looking toward this end, is a most important step. Consumers must be able to get this perfect fruit, and above all must be educated to want it. This is the secret: "To create in the mind of the consumer a desire for the good fruit." As a district, we have in the past few years been more interested in this feature of the business than any
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BETTER FRUIT
March
other. Wherever we have exhibited, for example, we have tried to keep this thouglit in mind. So it happens tliat most of our money for exhibition pur- poses has been spent in the East and Middle West. Tliere live the people who will create a demand for our land, and so raise the price of it; and there live most of our consumers. That this has had a reactive effect upon the character of our production cannot be questioned. As soon as the East began to understand that we were catering to their best trade they began demanding better fruit, and the growers have been more interested in the production of that class of fruit.
There are about four thousand acres of orchard, three years old and upward, in the Zillah district. There have been planted about two thousand acres more in the last three years. Of the old orchards about fifty per cent are seeded down to alfalfa, etc. Of the new orchards, especially those planted dur- ing the past two years, there has been a tendency away from "fillers," and intercropping is becoming less and less each year. How much this has had to do with the production of a class of fruit superlatively fine it would, of course, be hard to say. But there is a growing conviction among the grow- ers that seeding down tends to a more regular production with such varieties as the Spitzenberg, and that infrequent irrigation tends to produce a deeper root growth and preserve from frost. A view of our district as a whole would disclose the following conditions: An earnest desire to know just what is the
WHILE the fruitgrower is a large user of insecticides few are in possession of facts relative to their composition which will enable them to make a wise selection. As arsenic forms the active agent in nearly all insecticides, a few facts concerning it may be of interest. Arsenic as a poison was first recorded in history about the middle of the seventeenth century, when a number of young wives of Rome disposed of their husbands by a secret preparation. Since then its prac- tical uses have materially increased, and it is now an important factor in glass making and in the manufacture of paints, pigments, medicines and insec- ticides. Arsenic, in its natural state, is found in different forms from which is made the commercial or commonly called white arsenic. Government sta- tistics show that in 1907, 1,750 tons of arsenic oxide, having a value of $163,000, were produced in this coun- try, while foreign countries contrib- uted in 1908 some 5,000 tons. This shows conclusively that by far the larger proportion of arsenic comes from abroad.
Paris green is perhaps the most widely used insecticide, having a large percentage of arsenic contents. It is made of boiling verdigris, a baser
best; a determination to produce the best by taking pains in the small details of fruit growing; the intention to reach out as far as possible for the market in order that there may be as much room as possible for the consump- tion of the best; persistent endeavor to educate the prospective market, and such combination of interests as shall make in the largest way possible to the landing of a good fruit in a good way on a good market.
acetate of copper, with white arsenic, which, when strictly pure, makes a composition containing arsenic oxide 58.65 per cent, copper oxide 31.29 per cent and acetic acid 10.6 per cent; total 100 per cent. However, the latest gov- ernment requirement specifies that a paris green must contain not less than 50 per cent of arsenious oxide, com- bined with copper, and not more than three and one-half per cent of water soluble arsenious oxide. Water soluble arsenic, if in excess causes foliage burning, and therefore a paris green containing more than three and one- half per cent should be avoided. Most of the state experiment stations pub- lish, from time to time, an analysis of the standard makes, from which can be gathered information regarding the different brands now on the market.
In 1893 the Massachusetts Gypsy Moth Commission made a thorough test of arsenic of lead combating the gypsy moth, then very prevalent throughout the state. Exceptional results were obtained, which led to the adoption of that material as a per- manent insecticide. There are two separate and distinct forms of arsenate of lead, one known as neutral and the other kind called the acid. Sodium arsenate is used in the making of both
products, but the difference lies in the form of lead used, which may be either acetate or nitrate, the former producing the acid material, while the latter fur- nishes the neutral. An analysis of the two brands in dry form shows that the acid arsenate contains 64.26 per cent lead oxide, 33.15 per cent arsenious oxide and 2.59 per cent water, the neutral containing 74.40 per cent lead oxide and 25.60 per cent arsenious oxide. A comparison reveals the fact that the acid arsenate of lead contains a larger proportion of arsenic than the neutral, but it does not necessarily fol- low that it has greater poisoning effi- ciency. On the other hand, it has been conclusively proven that the ortho or neutral product stays in suspension
Peach tree with top killed by San Jose scale
Insecticide Information of Value to Fruit Growers
By A. J. Howe, Cleveland, Ohio
ipi2
BETTER FRUIT
Page 2/
longer when mixed with water. How- ever, it might be well to mention that no arsenate of lead should be permit- ted to dry out, as it undergoes a certain change in makeup which is detrimental to its suspension qualities. If it is cov- ered with water at all times it will keep in good condition indefinitely. In recent years the combination arsenate of lead and lime-sulphur spray has gained a wide distinction for being especially effective and economical. Test conducted with a neutral and acid arsenate of lead and lime-sulphur of standard strength shows that the neutral arsenate solution contains 24% per cent of arsenious oxide and prac- tically no soluble arsenic, whereas the acid solution contained 1.96 per cent free or soluble arsenic. In the latter case a dangerous amount. Here, again, the government has laid down certain rules governing the sale of arsenate of lead, and in 1910 enacted a law toward the standardizing of such materials. This took effect January 1, 1911, and specifies that an arsenate of lead must contain not less than 12% per cent arsenic oxide and not more than 50 per cent water (unless so stated on the label), nor more than three-quarters of one per cent of soluble arsenic. No doubt this is having its effect, and fruitgrowers can feel well protected in buying the best commercial brands.
The composition of lime-sulphur is not at all complicated and is, as its name implies, a combination of lime and sulphur in liquid form. In cer- tain sections of the country some growers attempt to boil their own, but the commercial preparation has so many advantages over the homemade that it is only a question of time when every grower will find it more con- venient and practical to use the former kind. The dilute homemade lime- sulphur wash is made according to the old formula, which consists of twenty pounds of lime and fifteen pounds of
sulphur, boiled for about one hour in fifty gallons of water. This mixture, however, has many disadvantages. It is not sufficiently strong to be an effective killing agent against scale, must be used with warm water, cor- rodes the apparatus and is particularly mean to handle. The new 55-110-50 formula, while an improvement over the old, has the same defects slightly reduced. It costs considerably more, using these proportions of lime and sulphur, and seldom can be made at a strength over twenty-eight degrees Baume, which is five degrees lower than the standard commercial lime- sulphur. The average boiling plant costs somewhere in the neighborhood of thirty-five dollars, and it is neces- sary that certain parts of the outfit be reinstated frequently, due to the chem- ical action of the solution. The ingre- dients, figuring sulphur at $2.75 per
hundred and lime at sixty cents per hundred, will cost $3.30 for fifty gal- lons of the mixture. The addition of the cost of labor, outfit, fuel, hauling, etc., will easily bring the total cost of the homemade lime-sulphur to approximately $4.50 for fifty gallons of the solution, which is considerably weaker than the commercial product. All considered, the grower who makes his own wash saves less than a cent a gallon, and this is certainly absorbed by the inconvenience in making and handling. The commercial product is very effective against San Jose and other scale, it can be used cold, does not crystallize unless exposed to the atmosphere and can be kept indefi- nitely. The commercial thirty-three degree solution will be found entirely satisfactory.
Editor Better Fruit:
In your last issue appears a copy of the agricultural college pamphlet on "Frost Fighting Studies in the Rogue River Valley." In this is given an account of what I did, or was supposed to have done, in fighting frost last season. As there are several errors in the account given by the college I would appre- ciate it if you would give me space for the following corrections: It was stated that "His trees being small, he found that he was unable to save the entire crop in that way. In fact around the outer edge and across one end of his orchard the fruit was almost entirely killed, and throughout the entire block a great many blossoms were injured. However, on a large per cent of the heated area enough fruit was saved to make a fair crop." This is enitrely wrong, for I had the heaviest crop this year that the orchard has ever known. The Cornice bore heavier and set better than at any time since it commenced to bear. There were about sixty trees in a lower cor- ner, which was not smudged through an over- sight, that lost all its crop; and around two sides which had been imperfectly heated the fruit was damaged, but not entirely killed. In fact my fight against "Jack Frost" was highly successful, and I only hope I never do any worse. Also the firing points of my alarm system are 32 and 30 degrees instead of 33 and 31. I always start to Are at 29 degrees instead of 30. I have taken a great deal of pride in the results of my frost fight, and it takes away a good deal of the "glory" when it is stated I had employed fifteen to eighteen men to handle the fires. The truth is that I had but four men employed, which I found entirely sufficient except on the first night's firing, when the wood was covered with snow and was wet. Then it was difficult to get them started, but on the other nights I had no trouble in keeping things going with only four men. I never employed over two or three in seasons previous to this. Very truly yours, A. C. Allen, Medford, Oregon.
toiirtesy ZillaJj tree fress Five-year-old Winesaps — E. Chenaur
Page 28
BETTER FRUIT
March
Top -Working Fruit Trees to Change to Better Varieties
By Professor \V. H. Hicks, State University, Mosco\v, Idaho
COMMERCIAL fruit growing is attracting attention from parties with more or less capital from all parts of the country. This is espe- cially true in Idaho, where such a large range of apple growing condi- tions are present. Localities that are now famous, or destined to become so, for their superior apples must confine themselves to the growing of a few varieties which are especially suited to local conditions. Each fruit coun- try, then, must go through the neces- sary experimental stage in order to determine what varieties are best adapted to the conditions. Each fruit- grower will have to solve the problem in regard to disposing of his undesir- able varieties. Shall they be removed or top-worked to better varieties'? In some parts of our state can be found orchards of various ages which do not pay, and it is seen that something is wrong. The causes which are respon- sible for an unprofitable orchard may be stated as follows: (1) Unsuitable varieties, (2) poor drainage, (3) unfa- vorable site, (4) poor soil, (5) neglect, (6) unfavorable climatic conditions and old age. The problem or renovat- ing an orchard or changing the vari- ety is sometimes a large one, and often proves to be more or less expensive. The first and most important point to consider in studying an orchard of this kind is whether or not the trees are worth saving. When the trees are oii wet land that cannot be suffici- ently drained they should be removed instead of being top-worked. The fruit tree will not be profitable with excessive moisture about the root sys- tem. If the trees have been badly neglected for years and have gone to decay more or less they should not be top-worked. When environments are favorable and the tree possesses a good root system and trunk it is profitable to top-work to a standard commercial variety. Various systems of grafting a new top on old trees, or cutting them back severely and grow-
ing a new top, has long been prac- ticed, and experience shows that if the work is properly done top- working brings ciuicker returns than replanting of young trees. Usually a fair crop of fruit is borne on a three or four-year-old top of a top- worked tree. It sometimes happens that worked-over trees form a more
Figure 1 — Cleft Graft. This is a simple and effective method to use in top-working fruit trees. After Green, S. B.
Fitiurc ■>. -It is not profitable to start an apple tree with such a high head when top-working. Cut off the original tree closer to the ground and work in lateral stubs
desirable top than the one naturally grown from nursery stock. However, the results secured in this manner are in proportion to the operator's abil- ity as a tree grower. Top-working enables a weak growing variety to be placed on a stronger root system or trunk than its own. This practice is becoming popular in many sections of the United States where certain pecu- liar troubles affect some varieties. For example, the King is worked on North- ern Spy stock in order to prevent col- lar rot and for its aphis resisting qualities. If a valuable tree should meet with an accident whereby part of the main limbs are lost it may be rebuilt by grafting or budding the top. New varieties may be tested by graft- ing or budding into bearing trees. Trees which should not be worked with are those with a high head, par- tially decayed trunk, under adverse environment, and in a general run down condition. The methods em- ployed in renovating old trees are similar to those for the care of the young orchard. See that the trees have a general awakening and are started into growth in both fruit and wood. Probably the first thing to be done is to break up the sod and get the soil under cultivation. Feed the trees by applying barnyard manure or other fertilizers; this is essential for stimulating growth. Begin war on the insects and diseases by buying a good spray outfit with plenty of material
for spraying, and learn thoroughly how and when to use them. It is not a difficult matter at the present stage of our horticultural development to get reliable information on spraying froin your state board of horticulture, expe- riment station or successful practical growers. Every other tree in the row or every other row will probably have to be removed, for most of our orchards are planted too close. A thorough study of your orchard will soon determine which trees can be saved by skillful top-working or reno- vation of the top by severely cutting back and allowing adventitious buds to form a new growth.
In a majority of cases the old tree presents a hard appearance, for at the expiration of twenty years or more the uncared for tree is quite a study. Bear in mind that trees which show a poor growth along with other unde- sirable characters are seldom worth the time it takes to graft them. The yellow transparent stock very seldom grows a profitable tree when top- worked. The same may be said of a number of other varieties. When such unions are made they are not strong, and are easily broken in future years by weight of fruit or wind, or fail to make a satisfactory growth. The weaker and slower growing varieties as a rule are not satisfactory stock upon which to work other kinds. Trees of strong growing varieties in a good state of preservation, under favorable conditions, are worthy of top-working. If a tree is not top- worked prune it properly. Do not make the mistake of pruning too severely the first year, for it will invariably produce a large crop of watersprouts. It is best to prune lightly and regularly for a number of years until the tree is well thinned and well balanced. It may be that
Figure .'! — Note the placing of the scion in a lateral stub which is smaller and makes a better union than the older wood of the main limb. The two limbs on the right are the original
BETTER FRUIT
Page 2C)
Figure 4 — A Beii Davis apple tree successfully top-worked to Rome Beauty. The two large limbs marked 1 and 2 are Ben Davis, but will be removed this spring, as the scions can now take care of the food supply
you do not wish to keep the original varieties. If so, they may be changed by top-working. Only a study of the individual tree can determine the advisability of grafting to a new vari- ety. \Ye must not overlook the fact that it is difficult and expensive to prune, spray, thin and pick the fruit on high trees. To produce choice fruit at the minimum expense we must have conditions so that work can be con- ducted effectively and cheaply. Do not graft limbs that are over three or four inches in diameter, as young wood unites much better and makes superior growth. It may be impossible to find limbs of this size near enough the ground to enable a low-headed tree to be formed. Graft the smaller limbs of the tree in such a manner as to secure a well balanced head.
Some operators remove the entire top the first year and insert scions in all stubs which are favorably located and furnish young wood in which to work. This has proven a bad practice in the Pacific Northwest, where trees grow rapidly. The sap, which has been sent to the large leaf surface for being worked into various elements by the leaves, will collect at the end of each stub to such an extent that fermentation takes nlace, which pre- vents the cambium layer of the scion from uniting with the cambium layer of the stalk. This condition is com- monly spoken of as "flooding the scion." This is especially true on trees ranging from three or four years of age and upward. The first aim of the top-worker in choosing stubs should be a desirable distribution of them which will form a balanced and shapely tree when the scions have grown. He should bear in mind the future tree. The limbs which are poorly distributed and not satisfactory for grafting upon should be left at least during the first growing season to take care of the surplus sap in order to prevent flooding of the scion.
The number of stubs to leave will vary according to the variety and must be determined by the man who is doing the work. A good general plan is to retain from three to five scaffold limbs when the work is being done on very young trees, or to cut away only enough limbs to set scions for a good top on older trees. Future pruning and training of the tree will take care of the limbs which are left. They should be removed. Judgment must be used in regard to the time the work is done and the amount of wood taken out each year. The working of too many stubs results in a dense top, which means more work for the pruner in future years. In our semi- arid districts where the sunlight is intense one must figure on leaving enough limbs and foliage to protect the stubs and trunk from sun-scald. The protection that the remaining limbs afford the scions from wind, sun and mechanical injuries, such as passing teams and machinery, should be considered. We naturally con-
Figure 5 — A satisfactory transformation of a Ben Davis apnle tree to Rome Beauty. This change has been made for meeting the demands of the market
elude, then, that the inside limbs are best protected and make desirable limbs for grafting. One must be care- ful not to form a head too close in his endeavor to secure inside stubs. A large percentage of top-worked trees have a tendency to grow upright and must be watched carefully by the pruner each year in order to correct this. By leaving a scattering lot of limbs, for reasons mentioned above, one sometimes finds them very useful for working the second year in case the first year's work has not been entirely satisfactory or some of the scions met with accident. If the tree to be top-worked does not possess limbs young and small enough for working they can be severely cut back, which will bring forth a great wealth of young growth. This growth can be worked with very satisfac- torily. In rare cases only it is advis- able to work in this manner.
In most all orchard operations it is necessary to have some ideal or goal
for which to work. It is very discour- aging, indeed, to carefully select the stubs and do the grafting, but get nothing for our labor but failure and disappointment. The writer has seen many nice trees carefully top-worked in all respects except the ideal time. One must study the conditions of his trees in early spring and do the work about the time the sap is moving and the buds are beginning to swell. This date cannot be determined by the cal- endar. While earlier setting of the scion may be practiced there is always danger of their drying before the cam- bium layers become united. Uusually somewhere between March first and the first of April is a desirable period for top-working the apple. It is bet- ter to begin late than too early.
The Northwest orchardist has an excellent opportunity for improving the character of his plantation in the choosing of his scions. A few people throughout the country have long real- ized the striking difference and char- acteristics of individual plants. This fact has not been noticed, or at least has not been considered of practical importance, by a large class of fruit- growers and plant propagators. In studying individual trees in most any orchard of any variety in the Pacific Northwest one can usually find one or more trees which show a marked superiority to others in the orchard in growth, productivity, ability to with- stand adverse conditions, size and quality of fruit. These facts are beginning to be noted by the most up-to-date nurserymen and men who are making horticulture their special line of work. We conclude that the most desirable propagating material for scions is to be secured from trees with the most desirable characteris- tics, and from the portion of the tree where the wood and buds have had the most favorable opportunity for development. There is now a com- pany organized at Wenatchee, Wash- ington, to keep a plant register, and its object is to record and keep an accurate pedigree of commercial fruit plants in order to improve the charac- ter of our commercial fruits. In this respect the plant men have been much behind the men in animal improve- ment. The wood used for the scions should be one year old, commonly
Figure (i — A Ben Davis orchards near Mos- cow, Idaho, satisfactorily top-worked to Rome Beauty. This change has been made by the cleft method of grafting
Page 30
BETTER FRUIT
March
The fruit of ;i pioneer
Coiiitesii Ziltali Free Press
expressed as last year's growth. This should be strong and well matured. Do not choose that which is under or overgrown. Always avoid the water- sprouts. Terminal shoots that have made a growth of from twelve to eighteen inches make good scions. The selector of scions should see that the buds are well developed and the inter- nodes are uniform in length. The character of the terminal growth of a fruit bearing tree is indicative of the conditions prevailing throughout the growing period. Good results have been secured in some cases by cutting the scion wood in spring and imme- diately placing the same on the tree. A much better plan, however, is to gather the scion wood in the fall, shortly after the leaves have fallen, and store them over winter in some material like moss or sand. If scions are cut at this time and stored they avoid the fluctuations of temperature which our state experiences almost every year throughout the rest period of the tree. See that they are not kept excessively dry or moist. They should be kept in a dormant condition so they can be placed on the stock in time to unite with the same before drying out. Most any fruitgrower possesses a satisfactory place for stor- ing scions, such as a cool corner of a cellar or in the ground on the north side of some building. Bury them from ten to fifteen inches deep. If the scions are left on the tree until spring and become active there is dan- ger of their drying out when placed on the stock. On the other hand, when the scions have been kept dor- mant a partial union with the stock is effected before the buds are started by the warm weather usually existing at the grafting season. If scions are cut late in spring they sometimes grow leaves which sap their vitality before a sufficient union has been made with
the stock. In some cases this results in exhaustion of the scion and failure.
It may be said that graftage can be divided into three general headings, namely: Budding, scion grafting and in-arching. Each division has its own special advantages to the skilled prop- agator. It should be understood, how- ever, that to draw close decisive lines of separation is somewhat difTicult. Graftage can be performed at a wide range of time when the three forms are considered. For example, budding in early fall, winter grafting of nur- sery stock and spring grafting. There are many forms of uniting the scion or bud with the stock. Only the most practical ways need be considered here. These methods are shield bud- ding and scion grafting. Budding and grafting are employed in practically all propagation of the better classes of tree fruit, as this method is the most satisfactory way to perpetuate the variety true to type.
Shield budding should be done in late summer while the sap is still active. Buds are inserted on well formed young wood which is desirable material for budding upon. In all propagation use only the best material. Having chosen a desirable place for inserting the bud, the operator then makes an incision in the bark at a right angle to the limb upon which he is working. The next cut is made at a right angle to the first. This gives a T-shaped incision. A bud is then inserted directly to the cambium layer of the stock under the bark. It is then tied with some some soft material, such as cloth or woolen string. Minor details differ with nearly all operators and the kind of plant which is being budded. The essential point, however, in all cases is to have the cambium layer of the bark containing the bud in contact with the cambium layer of the stock. Shield budding, like most
other forms of budding, is principally and primarily used for the propagation of nursery stock. It is here mentioned in connection with top-working in case it is desired for establishing a limb at some particular point. After the bud is united, which varies from two to three weeks, the wrapping material should be removed.
Cleft grafting is a very simple and satisfactory method in most cases for top-working the fruit trees. Most orchardists will have their individual methods of removing the top of the tree and other practices of such a nature, but natural laws should be carefully followed for best results. Having chosen the limbs, as recom- mended previously, the operator should saw them off squarely, leaving a smooth, clean wound and stub. This stub is then split down the center from two to three inches with a grafting chisel. This will allow the insertion of two scions, but if the stub is more than three or four inches in diameter and four scions are desired, the cleft will necessarily be made near the mar- gin of the limb and parallel. After the chisel has been removed open the cleft with the wedge on the back of the chisel or one made especially for this purpose. The scion, having been cut to contain three or four buds with as much cambium layer exposed at the base as possible, is then placed in the open cleft and the wedge removed.
Figure 1 — Western Tent Caterpillar: a. Female moth; b, c, males; mm, apple twig with egg masses; /, cocoon; 3, egg masses of American tent caterpillar, life size. Figure 2 — Cottony Maple Scale: a. Scales mostly hidden by secre- tion, life size. Figure 3 — Codling moth: a, Wings closed; b. open, enlarged about one- fourth. Figure 4 — Apple showing white egg of codling moth (under letter f), life size. Figure 5 — Fruit Tree Leaf Roller: a, Moth, wings open; b, closed; c, d, egg patches, hatched; all life size. F'igure 6 — Pear with How ard's Scale : The young appear as minute w hite specks ; life size. Figures from photo- graphs by the author. Photographs by C. P. Gillette, Fort Collins, Colorado
1^12
BETTER FRUIT
Page 31
The Bean Spray Pump Company, San Jose, California, adopted a very novel method of demonstrating their spray outfits by rigging up a complete sprayer on an automobile, which enabled them to go quickly from orchard to orchard and give a practical demonstration — a very original stunt
The lower end of the scion is trimmed in the shape of a wedge, leaving the first bud slightly below the point where the incision begins. The edge of the wedge opposite this bud should be somewhat thinner. In placing the scion in the cleft see that the lower bud is to the outside and slightly below the top of the cleft. The point of vital importance is to get the cam- bium layer of the scion in contact with the cambiimi layer of the stock. This is important, as it is this tissue in both the stock and scion which has the power of uniting. As a general rule only a short practice is necessary to familiarize the operator with the proper location of the scion on the stock. The inexperienced grafter is apt to set the outer bark of the scion flush with the outer bark of the stock. Upon careful examination it is found that the bark of the stock is more or less thick and the small, narrow scion is in contact with barky tissue. The cambium layer is found on the outside of the wood cells and on the extreme inner surface of the bark. This is true of both the stock and the scion. After the scion or scions have been properly set in each cleft remove the wedge. The scion will be held firmly in place. The last operation in cleft grafting is waxing all cut surfaces, including the tip of the scion. The operator should see that the stub is thoroughly covered between the scions and the incision and both sides waxed as far as they extend. This is very important. It prevents the action of the elements from interfering with the union of scion and stock. As the scions unite and continue to grow the orchardist should keep close watch to see that the weaker, undesirable ones are removed before they cause injury to those which are intended to remain. It sometimes happens that when two scions are allowed to grow on a small stub one will split ofl", which will leave
a wound almost impossible to repair and thus undermine the health of the tree. If the most desirable scion is left union will take place so perfectly that, under ordinary conditions, little trouble will be experienced along this line.
Inlaying or kerf grafting: In the Pacific Northwest, where our trees make an exceptionally rapid growth, the wood is more brittle than trees grown in colder climates. Many oper- ators in top-working trees may find this method advantageous. It consists in sawing off the limb in the same manner as for cleft grafting. A V-shaped cut is made in the edge of the stub and a scion cut with the the same shape, so the cambium layer will come in contact on both scion and stub. By this method one can place several more scions around the stub, which increases his chances of success. When this work is properly done the scions unite and make a sat- isfactory union. A little practice will enable one to do this work quite rap- idly. It is thought by some that this method is to be especially used for working stone fruits and trees that grow more rapidly and more brittle than the pear or apple.
Whip or tongue grafting: This method is used much more in top-working young trees where the stubs are very small and not satisfactory for work- ing by the preceding methods. This method is somewhat more difficult for the operator, but gives very satisfac- tory results after the union is per- fected. It consists in making a long slanting cut across the stock. The knife is then used to make a cut down the stock near and parallel with the center. A similar cut and cleft is made on the lower end of the scion, which should carry from two to three buds. It is not necessary to have the scion of the same diameter as the stock — in fact very rarely will such a condition
exist in top-working young trees. The most essential point (the same as that in other methods) is to get the cam- bium layer of the scion in contact with that of the stock. A skillful oper- ator usually has no trouble in securing a large surface of cambium layer for placing in contact by this method. Some growers, however, do not like this method, as the scion is not so securely held and is more liable to be moved or lost by the action of wind and birds. After the scion has been properly placed all cut surfaces should be carefully waxed.
There are several ways of making a good grafting wax. If one is working out doors in early spring while the weather is cold he should not attempt to use those waxes which are applied cold. The writer has found the fol- lowing formula to make a grafting wax quite satisfactory for general use: One-third resin, one-third beeswax, one-third beef tallow. The ingredients are put together in a vessel and thor- oughly heated until all are united. The mixture is then allowed to cool and applied at a temperature which will not injure the plant cells. This wax will harden to such a degree that it cannot be used until reheated. It is then necessary to use a grafting pot. In this case the wax can be made soft and pliable. This wax is very adhe- sive and gives satisfactory results. The only danger is found in applying while too hot. The following waxes are rec- ommended by Professor L. H. Bailey of Cornell University. They have been found to be satisfactory: (1) Resin, four parts by weight; beeswax, two parts; tallow, one part. (2) Resin, sixty-one pounds; beeswax, one pound, and from one-half to one pint linseed oil; melt together gradually and throw into water and pull. The linseed oil should be entirely free from cotton seed oil. This is a hard wax for use in warm weather.
To make wax string and cloth: In a vessel of melted wax place a ball of soft cord, such as number eighteen or twenty knitting cotton. See that these are frequently immersed in the liquid in order to secure thorough saturation. When they have absorbed all the wax possible they are then taken out and laid away for future use. Wax cloth can easily be made by saturating mus- lin or some cheap cloth like calico in melted wax. This can be wrapped on a small board and immersed in the melted liquid or spread out and the wax spread on with a brush. The operator will find it very convenient to keep this wax cloth or string wrapped in balls or on sticks to facili- tate handling.
Almost the whole world knows of Hood River as a place that produces the best fruits, and all of Hood River Valley should know, and could know, that there is one place in Hood River, under the firm name of R. B. Bragg & Co., where the people can depend on getting most reliable dry goods, cloth- ing, shoes and groceries at the most reasonable prices that are possible. Try it.
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March
Figure 1 — Logged-olT land cleared of stumps in winter and sowed to oats in spring. Estimated crop 75 bushels per acre
Wenatchee Valley Where Apple is King
From Wenatchee (Washington) Republic
APPLE is king in the Wenatchee Val- ley, as all the world knows. There was a time when the first settler built his humble cabin in the then sagebrush wilderness. Then it was a problem as to what soil could produce, and the further problem as to what to do with the product if crops were or could be grown. Just why pioneers of the Wenatchee Valley, and in fact of the "Great American Desert," chose to make settlement on the lands is a ques- tion perhaps best answered as the "American Unrest." The earliest set- tlers suffered hardships with a stoicism little short of heroical, and to their early efforts the present day settler is deeply indebted for pointing the way. Primitive agriculture was followed by better development as means was found, and with the coming of the Great Northern Railroad the Wenatchee coun- try received its first great impetus to the development which has followed. Grains, grasses and fruit had been suc- cessfully raised, and there were those among the early settlers who realized the superiority of the soil for advanced culture. Small settlements had sprung up at various favorable points, among which was Wenatchee, an important trading point of several families at the time the railroad was built. The devel- ment of land cultivation had advanced sufficiently to create much discussion of large irrigation works. Of course, some crude ditches had been constructed by ranchers, and the old-fashioned water wheel served to divert the waters of the Columbia as well as tributary streams to small clearings. Market con- ditions improving, stock raising chiefly, the growing of corn, wheat, oats and other grains, the enlargement of hay meadows, the planting of gardens, and incidentally fruit trees and shrubbery, gave the valley an appearance of value for agriculture.
Land values showed little tendency to increase, however, and the ranchers for the most part had to content them- selves with what today would be a meager income for the acres tilled. There were those who, previous to the advent of the railroad, realized the pos- sibilities of the valley for horticulture, but at the time there was no one to
take the initiative, and, indeed, dis- tance and cost of getting to market would have proved almost insurmount- able difficulties. The time came when conditions were ripe and the value of Wenatchee Valley soil and climate for apples and other fruits was heralded to the world. Then commenced an unbroken period of progress. Acre after acre was devoted to fruit — apples, apples everywhere. Mistakes made in the early planting of trees, though costly, were remedied, and as the fruit industry increased in volume better scientific methods of cultivation fol- lowed until today no fruit producing section can be said to be the peer of the Wenatchee district. While apple is king, and will continue to be the chief fruit product of the valley, other fruits, such as pears, cherries, plums, apricots, prunes, strawberries, raspberries, dew- berries, blackberries, loganberries, in fact an almost endless list, thrive and produce abundantly. Recently the Eng- lish walnut has received attention, and the product of young trees shows soil and climate adapted to the industry.
Practically the development of the valley has been accomplished within the past sixteen years, and as before stated, but a small portion has been brought under cultivation. Population has increased enormously, keeping pace with advancing soil cultivation. With each year of progress in the number of acres brought in cultivation has come a more insistent demand for the prod- ucts of the valley, and where a few thousand dollars served to handle the crops fifteen years ago millions of dol- lars were required in 191L Where some years ago a few cars carried market offerings, in 1911 trainload after train- load, until 2,500 cars had been filled, were required to transport the apples and other fruit of the valley to the markets of the world, for so famous for flavor and quality have the fruits of the district become that not only are the nearby markets demanding a por- tion, but the export demand cannot be filled, and fancy prices are gladly paid for the privilege of getting the product. It is not a case of begging a market, but the reverse.
Extraordinary efforts have been put forth in recent years to bring the acre- age in bearing up to somewhere near the demand, but with each year the demand seems to increase so much greater in proportion to production that none are so pessismistic as to believe the demand can be supplied. Quality and flavor, due to favored soil, climatic conditions and scientific care, have to do with the demand, which can never be wrested from the Wenatchee Valley. Therefore, the homeseeker who desires to locate under most favored condi- tions, where climate, soil and market blend to form the ideal, is invited to join the thousands of people already here and happily contented. They do not in any manner feel the pinch of suffering of the crowded center, nor have to risk the contamination of sur- rounding vice.
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Cost of Clearing Logged-OfF Land in the Pacific Northwest
By Harry Thompson, United States Department Agriculture
THE rapid decrease of merchant- able timber and the consequent increasing acreage of logged-off land have brought to the attention of the people of the Pacific Northwest the importance of the agricultural develop- ment of this section of the United States. In order to make this land suitable for agricultural purposes it must be cleared for the plow. To do this the standing timber, the logs, the underbrush and the stumps must be removed. (See Figure 1.) A prelimi- nary investigation of the situation was made during the summer of 1908 to determine the extent of the logged-off land, the methods in use at the present time, and as nearly as possible the cost of clearing by the different methods used. No experiments were under- taken, and consequently no definite figures can be given in regard to the cost of clearing by the different meth- ods in use except as given by con- tractors and owners who had kept the cost of clearing separate from other expenses. The territory covered in this investigation embraces Western Washington, Northern California and Western Oregon.
In the State of Washington the eighteen counties west of the Cascade Mountains have a total area of 8,700,- 000 acres of assessed land, as given by the various assessors of the respective counties. Of this 429,000 acres are in cultivation or improved pasture, 5,034,- 000 acres in standing merchantable timber and 2,352,000 in logged-off land. From this it will be seen that twenty- seven per cent of the total acreage is logged-off land and that the acreage in cultivation, much of which is pasture land from which the large stumps have not been removed (Figure 2), is only five per cent of the whole area. Table I shows the acreages for each of these eighteen counties. The timber lands in Western Oregon and Northern California are not nearly so accessible as are those of Western Washington. Neither is there nearly so much logged-off land, nor is this land so well adapted for agricultural purposes as that in Washington. While the demand for farm land in Oregon and California is well supplied by prairie and easily cleared brush land, the necessity for reclaiming the logged-off land in these states is not pressing. On the other hand. Western Washing- ton has but few valleys that were not heavily timbered at one time, and the demand for agricultural products far exceeds the local supply. Consequently the demand for farm land and the idle wastes of cut-over land has brought the question of clearing this land squarely before the people. The char- acter of the clearing ranges from the heavily timbered spruce and cedar low lands through the benches and side hills covered with fir stumps and a dense growth of underbrush to the more sparsely covered hemlock ridges.
The spruce stump is thought to be the most expensive to remove owing to the fact that it is found only on the deep- est soil, where it roots deeply, often requiring a box (fifty pounds) of stumping powder to loosen a single stump five feet in diameter. The fir stump is the predominating stump of all logged-off lands in Washington and Oregon, and is removed by various methods described below. The cedar grows to some extent wherever the fir is found and predominates on low ground. All of the above trees have lateral root systems and do not root deeply except in loose or sandy soil, where the roots penetrate to a depth of several feet. On flooded or swampy land the roots are often partly above the surface.
In the logged-off lands of the red- wood district of Northern California there has been little effort made to clear the land for agricultural pur- poses, since prairie land is plentiful and the logged-off land is rough and hilly. Some attempts have been made to clear the land of everything but the stumps and then to seed to orchard grass for cattle range. This work of clearing has been done for ten dollars per acre. This method of making range has proved a failure in most cases, as the great ciuantity of brush and the sucker growth of the redwood stumps have almost entirely covered the ground in two or three years. It is estimated that the logged-off land of California can be reclaimed at about the same expense as the fir stump land of Oregon and Washington. Most of the clearing that has been done in
Figure ,'i — Pulling a slump with a donkey engine
Oregon was done by cheap labor until recent years. The donkey-engine method has been used in some sections of the state recently.
Until recent years all clearing was almost wholly done by what is now known as the "by hand" method, where the farmer, equipped with peavey, mattock, shovel and axe, undertook to put under cultivation the logger's stubble field. By this method the standing trees and brush were slashed, generally during the summer months. Then in September or October, after the first rainfall or when there was no danger to neighboring improve- ments or timber, a fire was started and allowed to burn over the entire slashing, when most of the brush and small logs were burned completely. The remaining logs were sawed into convenient lengths, piled and burned. After the rains had softened the ground sufficiently the smaller stumps and roots were grubbed and pulled out. Often a stump puller of the capstan type was used in pulling the smaller stumps after they had been loosened by digging around them. This type of stump puller is often used in clearing small tracts after the stumps have been broken into several pieces and loosened by the use of stumping pow- der, without which no clearing is undertaken in the present day. The stump puller should be of simple con- struction and strongly built. It gen- erally consists of a drum, a wire cable and a sweep to which a team is hitched. Powder has been used in all clearing operations for several years, and all methods, except that of burn- ing the stumps below the plow, are dependent upon it to loosen the stumps so that they may be taken out. It is said that a cheap explosive that would do this work would go a long way toward solving the problem of re- claiming the logged-off land.
Some six or seven years ago, when logs were down in the market and many logging outfits were idle, an enterprising logger took a contract for pulling the stumps from a meadow. He conceived the idea of using his donkey engine with its outfit of blocks and cables to pull and pile the stumps for burning (See Figure 3). Since that time many such outfits have been engaged with varying success in clearing land. The usual method is to slash and burn over the tract to be cleared, in order to burn all the underbrush and as many small logs as possible. Then all the stumps more than one foot in diameter are split and loosened by a
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BETTER FRUIT
March
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Figure 4 — Elevation showing methods of setting donkey engine and gin pole in clearing land |
charge of stumping powder of from five to twenty sticks, according to size of the stump. A charge of twenty one and one-half-inch by eight-inch sticks will generally split a five-foot stump into five pieces and loosen it so that an engine can pull the pieces from the ground. A gin pole is now set in the center of a tract of eight or ten acres and held in place by four guy lines from the top. (See Figure 4.) This pole should be sixty feet or more above the ground. A block is fixed securely near the top of the gin pole, through which is passed the main cable from the engine. This cable has the usual hook, ring and swivels at the end, and is usually one inch or one and one-eight-inch in diameter. The haul-back cable, which is usually five- eights-inch in diameter, is now taken to a lead block and passed around three sides of one-fourth of the tract to be cleared at this setting of the gin pole (see Figure 5) and the end hooked into the ring of the main cable, thus forming an endless cable with the engine — one that will run in either direction to or from the gin pole. In some cases, where the engine is built with the haul-back cable drum above the main cable drum, it is better to fasten the block for the main cable about five feet from the top of the pole and run the haul-back cable through a block on top of the pole. The haul-back drum is usually geared to run much faster than the main cable drum. Each outfit should have on hand at least four chokers and a supply of lead lines and extra blocks. A choker is a section of cable from twenty to thirty feet in length with a loop in one end and a choker hook on the other. The choker is passed around the stump and hooked upon itself. The loop is then caught in the hook of the main cable and the load is ready to go to the pile. While this load is going to the pile another is made ready, so that there is no time lost. When the cable returns with the empty choker it is loosened and another hooked into its place. As the loads come to the gin pole they are piled around it as closely as possible (Figure 6) by a man on the pile. This method, while an economic success in the hands of a few, has proved a costly method of clearing as handled by many others. If everything is han- dled to advantage by capable, expe- rienced men this method has many
points to its credit over any other method of clearing now in use, the greatest of which is the saving of time. It is also cheaper than the "by hand" methods on large tracts of heavy clearing. The question of using a large or small donkey engine has been dis- cussed, but those who have been most successful in clearing are generally in favor of an engine with sufficient power to take all roots out with a straight pull, avoiding the use of blocks. A nine by ten-inch compound gear or ten by twelve-inch single gear are said to be the best sizes for this work.
The first method of burning out fir stumps described below has been used by almost all farmers and others who have done any clearing in a small way. This method consists of boring two intersecting holes (see Figure 7) in the stump and starting a fire at the point of intersection by putting coals of fire or a piece or iron heated to a
white heat into the upper auger hole. A window weight with a wire fast- ened in the eye makes a good iron for this purpose, as it can be taken out and used again and again. After firing the stump will not require any atten- tion until the portion shown in Figure 7A is burned out, as the pitch in the stump and the draft of the air through the holes will keep the fire burning. After the upper portion of the stump has been burned away the fire may be kept up by throwing in the bark and litter that are always to be found near by. By this means the main part of the stump is burned away, leaving the stringers with their small roots. These may be pulled out by a team or with a stump puller, or they may be entirely burned by digging away the earth and rolling a small log along- side of the root. This leaves but few small roots to be grubbed out by hand. By this method the soil is but little disturbed, the sub-soil is not scattered over the surface and the ashes are left where most needed. This method requires less leveling than where holes are made by the use of powder. It is said that one man can burn out thirty large stumps a week by this method, and can cut up and pile the logs near by at the same time. Aonther method of burning out stumps is to split the stump with a small charge of powder, which nearly always makes a large hole underneath and around the stump. This hole is then filled with kindling and other wood and fired. Of the remaining roots
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BETTER FRUIT
Pag(^ 35
Figure 6 — Stumps piled around gin pole in clearing with donkey engine
those that he near the surface are grubbed out, while the others are cut off to a depth of from twelve to eighteen inches below the surface.
Charcoaling or pitting stumps, as it is called, is a method of burning out stumps that has been little used, but where tried has proved very efficient. The bark should be removed from the stumps in the spring or early summer to allow the outside of the stump to become thoroughly dry. Often it is well to dig a trench around, or to level the ground near the stump; then a ring of wood is stood or piled closely about the stump to a height of two feet and one foot thick (see Figure 8). Dry rotten wood or bark, such as is found in abundance on any new land, will answer the purpose. This is then completely covered with sod to a depth of several inches, except a small space on the side the wind is blowing against. "Where no sod is to be found the wood can first be covered with a layer of bark, small brush or ferns to keep the loose earth from sifting through. Fine kindling is placed in the open space and fire started and allowed to burn openly until the ring of wood is well afire, then a piece of bark or a bunch of ferns or grass is thrown over the hole and the sod cov- ering completed. The stump must now be closely watched and the fire not allowed to burn through the covering, more sod being added as needed. The whole secret of burning the stump completely is to keep the covering intact. If the roots are kept well cov- ered and are re-covered as soon as the earth caves, exposing them to the air, they will burn out completely. This method is very economical for large stumps. Small stumps can be grubbed or pulled out to better advantage. After ten days it will be found that the stumps require very little attention. The cost of this method of removing stumps is said to be two dollars each. The disadavantage of using this method is the time it takes, as it requires sev-
eral weeks for a large stump to burn out completely.
The treatment of stumps by boring holes into the top and filling them with a strong solution of saltpeter and after six months or a year saturating the stump with coal oil and setting fire to it, when it is supposed to burn to the smallest root, has never been tried to any extent. Mr. K. 0. Walders of Hamilton, Washington, writes of this method, but does not say to what extent he has used it. He also recom- mends the use of a strong solution of vitriol to deaden cottonwood, maple and alder stumps and prevent sprout- ing. On large fir, spruce and hemlock stumps, Mr. Walder's method is to bore four deep holes and pour an equal amount of nitric and of sulphuric acid into each hole. The holes are then tightly plugged. In a year the stump is permeated with the acids and can be fired in the dry season. No results obtained from the use of this method are given.
A machine used for burning stumps consists of a gasoline engine, a blower, a distributor and several lengths of hose with short lengths of pipe on one end. The air from the blower is divided into twelve or sixteen equal parts by the distributor, to which are connected the several lengths of hose, some of which are long and some
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Figure 7 — Diagram
showing method for burning
preparing a stump
short. A hole is bored in the stump at the ground line or, better still, the earth is dug away and the hole bored from six to twelve inches below the surface. A piece of iron heated to a white heat is then dropped into the hole and a blast of air turned upon it by inserting a pipe attached to the end of the hose, which is of less diameter than the hole bored in the stump. The large diameter of the hole permits the gases to escape. As many stumps can be burned at the same time as there are lengths of hose, or two or more lines of hose can be used on the same stump. This machine is still in the experimental stage. A few have been successful in operating it, while others have pronounced it a failure. It is thought that if this machine is per- fected it will be a cheap and econom- ical method of destroying stumps. Mr. F. I. Mead of Tacoma, Washington, says that by using this machine he has been able to do heavy clearing for .$50 per acre. Mr. J. H. Davis of Georgetown, Washington, has used this machine in the clearing forty-six acres that averaged forty stumps per acre at a cost of $65 per acre.
At the present time few undertake to clear even a small tract of land without the use of powder, and in the hands of an experienced man powder can be made to do a large amount of work at comparatively small expense. The powder in general use at the present time is known as stumping powder and is put up in sticks of one and one-half by eight inches, about sixty-five of which come in a box of fifty pounds. This powder costs at the present retail price $6.25 a box; in ton lots $5.25 a box. The charge of pow- der is placed as nearly as possible beneath the center of the stump. The powder should be placed on the hard- pan if the soil is not too deep, other- wise it is placed from two to three feet below the surface. To get the best results the sticks are removed from the paper wrappers and packed closely together in the hole beneath the stump. This cannot be done in wet places. The powder works best when the temperature is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This powder has more effect when the soil is saturated with water. The wrappers are allowed to remain upon the sticks in wet places. The following charges will be found effective under average ground con- ditions and where using stump pullers or blocks and teams: Stumps of a diameter of 18 inches, 5 sticks; 24 inches, 7 sticks; 30 inches, 10 sticks; 36 inches, 20 sticks; 48 inches, 35 sticks; 60 inches, 50 sticks; 72 inches, 65 sticks. Where the soil is sandy and loose it will require one-half more powder for the same size stump. As this powder does not work well at a temperature below 70 degrees Fahrenheit it is neces- sary when using it in cold weather to keep it warm by some method. Some bury the
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BETTER FRUIT
March
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Figure 8 — Diagram showing method of charcoaling or ])itting stumps
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Figure 9 — Box lor keeping powder warm
boxes in a manure pile, others lay it upon a perforated rack over boiling water. As in either of these methods the powder becomes more or less damp from the vapor it is thought that when dry heat is applied better results are obtained. Charles Shirk of Bel- lingham, Washington, has used a box similar to the one shown in the illus- tration (Figure 9) for heating powder and thinks his is the best method to use for this purpose. This box is built upon a sled and has a tin partition, on one side of which is placed a small air-tight heating stove, while on the other are shelves of wire screen on which the sticks of powder are loosely laid. The box shown in the illustra- tion will hold 100 pounds of powder, and it may be kept at the desired tem- perature in the coldest weather. It is well to employ a powder man who has had experience in blowing out stumps, as the saving in powder alone will more than pay his wages.
Table 11, a statement of stumping done by the Narrows Land Company of Tacoma, Washington, for six months in 1907 will give an idea of the cost of the different items of material used and the labor in blasting stumps. The average cost of the removal of each stump was powder, 49.76 cents; fuse, 2.37 cents; caps, 0.87 cents; labor, 30.66 cents; total, 83.66 cents. The average cost of the materials used was as fol- lows: Powder, per pound, 8 cents; fuse, per 100 feet, 43 cents; caps, per 100, 65 cents.
It has been a difficult matter to get definite figures on the cost of clearing land by the different methods in use, chiefly because the farmers or those
who have cleared land have not kept detailed records. Often the cost can- not be determined because included with other work. Table III shows the cost given by the owner or contractor of clearing land by the various meth- ods described; also the quantity of pawder used and the kind of land cleared. From this table of the cost of clearing land it will be seen that it is only very rich land, or that which is near the centers of population that will at the present time pay interest on the capital invested to put it under cul- tivation. Better returns from other forms of investment have kept capital- ists from forming companies to clear these logged-off lands. It will readily be seen that this would require a large capitalization, as the average farmer could only pay for the clearing of his land in small installments. It has been suggested that the state or county working under a law similar to the one under which bonds are issued for draining land, whereby a part of the bonds and the interest are paid each year by the small annual payments of the owners benefited, might aid in this work of reclaiming these wastes. Where there are several owners of land in the same vicinity who desire to clear land they could do much by forming a co-operative company to buy machinery and powder and hire the experienced help needed. All those who have cleared logged-off land are united in saying that there is a great deal learned in connection with the first tract of land cleared and are con- vinced that they could clear the sec- ond tract very much cheaper.
TABLE III.— COST OF CLEARING LAND BY VARIOUS METHODS
Owner
N. E. Ryther
Chas. Rheinhart
Seaboard Sec. Co
J. Burg
A. J. Erickson
A. J. Erickson
B. F. Allison
Far West Lumber Co.
Narrow s Land Co
Arcadia Irrig. Assn. . .
J. E. Larkin.
Otto Wood
C. H. Quast
I. Johnson
Mr. Colvin
Mr. Willis
M. Doran
M. Doran
L. Eckman
B. B. 1. Co
B. B. I. Co
Lake Whatcom Logging Co,
Ed. Bardon
Peterson Bros
R. Kinnear
R. Kinnear
Robert Chabot
C. Mankow ski
W. G. Hopkins
W. G. Hopkins
E. S. Avev
E. S. Avey
F. C. Dunham
F. C. Dunham
William Harding
George Simpson
A. S. Caton.
George Uhler
H. H. Tilley
J. H. Davis
W. B. Alderman . . Chrintensen & Co. Bagley & Streets. .
M. Harvey
M. Harvey
Address
Method
Riverton, Wash. Seattle, Wash. . . Seattle, Wash. . . Foster, Wash. . . F'oster, Wash. . . Tacoma, W^ash. . Midland, Wash. Tacoma, W'ash. . Tacoma, Wash. . Spokane, Wash.
Lake Bay, Wash.
Marysville, Wash..
Getchell, W'ash
Stanw ood, V ash. . . Mt. Vernon, Wash. "Sit. Vernon, Wash.
Bow, Wash
Bow, W^ash
Mt. Vernon, Wash. Bellingham, Wash. Bellingham, Wash. Bellingham, W^ash. Bellingham, Wash. Kenmore, Wash. . . Fall City, W^ash. . . F^all City, Wash. . . Moclins, Wash. . . . Aberdeen, Wash. . . Aberdeen, W'ash. . . Aberdeen, Wash. . .
Elma, Wash
Elma, W'ash
Elma, Wash
Elma, Wash
Elma, Wash
Elma, Wash
Olympia, W^ash. . . . Olympia, Wash. . . . Centralla, W^ash. . . Georgetown, Wash.
Tillamook, Oregon Tillamook, Oregon Woodville, Oregon Charleston, Wash. . Charleston, Wash..
Powder, stump puller Powder, stump puller Powder, stump puller
Powder and team
Powder and burning. . Powder and grubbing
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine and
stump puller Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Powder and team
Powder and grubbing Powder and grubbing
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Powder and grubbing Powder and grubbing Powder and grubbing Powder and grubbing
Grubbing
Grubbing and team. . .
Donkey engine
Powder, stump puller Powder, stump puller Stump burning ma- chine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Donkey engine
Powder and team
Powder and team
|
Num- |
|
|
ber of |
Kind of Land |
|
Acres |
|
|
2 |
Bench land |
|
2 |
Low land |
|
35 |
Bench land |
|
10 |
High land |
|
2 |
High land |
|
2 |
High land |
|
40 |
High land |
|
100 |
High land |
|
5 |
High land |
|
1,000 |
High land |
|
50 |
High and low |
|
land |
|
|
5 |
High land |
|
7 |
Low land |
|
12 |
Low land |
|
23 |
Valley land |
|
20 |
Valley land |
|
12 |
Valley land |
|
24 |
Valley land |
|
12 |
Valley land |
|
20 |
High land |
|
67 |
High land |
|
10 |
Bench land |
|
20 |
Valley land |
|
40 |
Bench land |
|
10 |
Bench land |
|
4 |
Bench clay |
|
10 |
Bench clay |
|
1.4 |
Low bench |
|
700 |
Valley land |
|
300 |
Bench land |
|
11 |
Valley land |
|
4 |
High land |
|
5 |
Bench land |
|
1 |
Bench land |
|
5 |
Bench land |
|
25 |
Valley land |
|
35 |
High land |
|
6 |
Bench land |
|
13.5 |
High land |
|
46.7 |
High land |
|
9 |
Valley land |
|
1 |
Valley land |
|
80 |
Bench land |
|
2 |
Bench land |
|
17 |
Bench land |
ipi2
BETTER FRUIT
Page
6/
Owner
N. E. Ryther
Charles Rheinhai t . . .
Seaboard Sec. Co
J. Burg
A. J. Erickson
A. J. Erickson
B. F. Allison
Far West Lumber Co.
Narrows Land Co. Arcadia Irrig. Co.
J. E. Larkin
Otto Wood
Pounds
of Powder
350
2,000 50
7,500
1,200
1,000
1,700 '4,550
C. H. Quast
I. Johnson
Mr. Colvin
Mr. Willis
M. Doran
M. Doran ,
L. Eckman ' 1,450
B. B. 1. Co
B. B. I. Co
Lake Whatcom Logging Co. ' 900
Ed. Bardon 3,800
Peterson Bros
R. Kinnear 500
R. Kinnear
Robert Chabot
C. Mankowski
W. G. Hopkins
W. G. Hopkins
E. S. Avey
E. S. Avey
F. C. Dunham
F. C. Dunham 400
William Harding None
George Simpson
A. S. Caton 10,000
George Uhler 900
H. H. Tilley 4,000
J. H. Davis None
W. B. Alderman 2,300
Chrintensen & Co 300
Bagley & Streets 2,500
M. Harvey '
M. Harvey 4,000
Cost of Labor
$479.32
1,600.00
1,010.30
80.00
205.00
60.00
Cost per Acre
$200.00 200.00 125.00 120.00 100.00 112.00 218.00 105.00
116.60 75 to 125 100 to 150 90.00
120.00 84.00 26.00 105.00 36.00 40.00 100.00 55.00 68.00 123.00 100.00 115.00 100.00 130.00 ^ 150.00 357.00 30.00 100.00 43.00 100.00 100.00 138.00 125.00 40.00 125.00 50.00 90.00 65.00 125.00 100.00 * 20.00
150.00 105.00
Remarks
Many large cedar stumps Contract
Own time estimated Contract
All grubbing and leveling included
80 acres cleared for plow; 80 cleared for
pasture ; stumps not removed 48 stumps per acre Light clearing In small tracts
Stumps only; other tracts from $100 to
$150 per acre Heavy clearing
Meadow; 15 stumps per acre
Cleared of stumps only
Cleared of stumps only
Approximated; spruce stumps
28% days' time; cleared of stumps only
Light clearing
Heavy clearing
Approximated
Contract
Approximated
Approximated
Green timber — hemlock, fir, spruce Brush; few stumps
Vine maple and Cottonwood
Second growth fir, 1 to 3 feet
Large fir stumps
Approximated
Large stumps not taken out
Heavy clearing
Meadow; cedar and fir stumps only 40 stumps per acre
Spruce stumps; some work done before Spruce stumps only; other work done Wood and lumber sold from this tract; 630 cords wood, 80M ft. b. m. lumber
U. S. magazine site — 18" below surface
* Net. TABLE I.-
-COUNTIES OF WESTERN WASHINGTON, SHOWING ACREAGE IN CULTIVATION, IN TIMBER, AND IN LOGGED-OFF LAND
County Chehalis . . . Clallam . . . Clarke . . . .
Cowlitz
Island
.Jefferson
King
Kitsap
Lewis
Mason
Pacific
Pierce
San Juan . . .
Skagit
Snohomish Thurston . . Wahkiakum Whatcom . .
|
Per cent |
||||
|
Acreage in |
suitable |
|||
|
merchant- |
Acreage |
Acreage in |
Total |
for agri- |
|
able timber |
logged off |
cultivation |
acreage |
culture |
|
583,200 |
112,748 |
11,216 |
807,432 |
90 |
|
296,611 |
195,933 |
11,784 |
504,329 |
75 |
|
190,000 |
108,661 |
51,570 |
350,231 |
|
|
500,000 |
25,000 |
20,000 |
704,000 |
7.5 |
|
8,013 |
99,866 |
9,317 |
117,196 |
75 |
|
186,647 |
59,427 |
4,657 |
254,385 |
50 |
|
640,000 |
110,000 |
74,857 |
1,243,000 |
|
|
45,429 |
171,364 |
7,978 |
224,771 |
|
|
543,995 |
160,425 |
47,059 |
884,050 |
65 |
|
240,211 |
150,430 |
7,540 |
398,181 |
|
|
367,827 |
62,720 |
£3,042 |
453,139 |
|
|
413,044 |
150,000 |
27,915 |
658,052 |
7.5 |
|
10,000 |
80,000 |
4,000 |
95,684 |
|
|
306,759 |
149,923 |
45,605 |
502,287 |
2.5 |
|
258,005 |
270,422 |
29,908 |
558,336 |
|
|
291,200 |
120,000 |
13,680 |
428,005 |
|
|
74,564 |
67,337 |
3,642 |
145,544 |
50 |
|
78,405 |
258,302 |
35,059 |
371,766 |
|
|
5,033,911 |
2,352,109 |
428,829 |
8,700,388 |
Totals 5,033,911
TABLE II.— COST OF REMOVING FIR STUMPS FROM ONE TO FOUR FEET IN DIAMETER FROM 120 ACRES OF LAND IN 1907
Month
July
August . . September October . . November
Average per stump . . . . Average cost in cents.
|
Powder |
Fuse |
Caps |
Stumps |
, — Labor — , |
|
|
Pounds |
Feet |
Number |
Number |
Hours |
Dollars |
|
13,700 |
10,100 |
2,400 |
2,135 |
2,380 |
650.00 |
|
1,750 |
2,050 |
400 |
239 |
260 |
87.00 |
|
2,750 |
2,700 |
700 |
445 |
324 |
114.90 |
|
1,950 |
2,150 |
500 |
383 |
.324 |
126,37 |
|
1,250 |
1,000 |
300 |
238 |
198 |
77.53 |
|
2,350 |
3,100 |
800 |
378 |
283 |
114.97 |
|
23,750 |
21,100 |
5,100 |
3,818 |
3,769 |
1,170.77 |
|
6.22 |
5.52 |
1.33 |
0.987 |
0.3066 |
|
|
19.76 |
2.37 |
.87 |
MAXWELL AUTOMOBILES
SUPPLIES A^TD ACCESSOEIES GOODYEAE AXD MICHELIN TIEES
Up-to-Date Garage and Machinery Shop
Tip Top Auto Company
Columbia Avenue
HOOD RIVER, OREGON
BUY AND TRY
White River Flour
MAKES
Whiter, Lighter Bread
WANTED
Practical orchard man; one who de- sires to become financially interested, and be sole manager. On a good salary as well as sharing the profits. Write for particulars to DR. M. E. EASTMAN, Alturas, California.
ITALIAN PRUNE TREES
We have a few thousand in surplus. RUSH IN ORDERS. We have the only prunes. Save one year. HURRY UP! Don't be disappointed. We have a full line of all other stocks.
CARLTON NURSERY CO. Carlton, Oregon
FRUIT
Western Soft Pine
Light, Strong and Durable
"Better Fruit" sub- scribers (lemaml the "Bettek Box"
BOXES
TWE CARLOADS DAILY
DISTRIBUTORS FOR
Save Time Hallocks
Tliebest, most satisfactory fold- ing berry box on the market. Get our prices on the Hallocks and crates complete to your station.
Washington Mill Co.
Wholesale Manufacturers Spokane, Washington
WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT
Page 38
BETTER FRUIT
March
BETTER FRUIT
HOOD RIVER, OREGON
Official Organ of The Northwest Fruit Growers' Association A Monthly Illustrated Magazine Published in the Interest of Modern Fruit Growing and Marketing All Communications Should Be Addressed and Remittances Made Payable to
Better Fruit Publishing Comi)any
E. H. SHEPARD Editor and Publisher H. E. Van Deman, Contributing Editor State Associate Editors
OREGON
' A. B. CoRDLEY, Entomologist, Corvallis C. I. Lewis, Horticulturist, Corvallis P. J. O'Gara, Pathologist and Entomologist, Medford
WASHINGTON
A. L. Melander, Entomologist, Pullman
COLORADO
C. p. Gillette, Director and Entomologist, Fort Collins E. B. House, Chief of Department of Ciuil and Irrigation Engineering. State Agiicultural College, F^ort Collins E. P. Taylor, Horticulturist, Grand Junction
IDAHO
W. H. Wicks, Horticulturist, Moscow W. S. Thornber, Horticulturist, Lewiston
UTAH
Dr. E. D. Ball, Director and Entomologist, Logan
Leon D. Batchelor, Horticulturist, Logan
MONTANA
0. B. Whipple, Horticulturist, Bozeman
CALIFORNIA
C. W. WooDAvoRTH, Entomologist, Berkeley W. H. VoLCK, Entomologist, Watsonville
BRITISH COLUMBIA
R. M. WiNSLow, Provincial Horticulturist, Victoria
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $1.00 PER YEAR In Advance in United States and Canada Foreign Subscriptions, Including Postage, $1.50
Advertising Rates on Application Entered as second-class matter December 27, 1906. at the PostofTice at Hood River, Oregon, under Act of Congress of March 3. 1819.
Over-Production. — This feature of the
fruit business seems to be a favorite and continued theme for a great many newspapers and a great many people who are not engaged in the orcharding business. Many articles have been writ- ten upon this subject by various people. Even now many newspapers continue to think it a sensational feature or a scoop. The average mode of procedure in arriving at a conclusion that there is going to be an over-production is for the writer to take whatever statistics he may obtain in reference to the num- ber of trees planted in any particular state or in the United States and to figure that they will all make commer- cial orchards, and then to multiply the number of trees by an exaggerated yield per tree and deduce the fact accordingly that in ten years from now we will have so many million bushels of apples, which, according to their way of figuring, is simply enormous!
While it is true there has been a large setting in the Northwest, in the Middle West it has been comparatively small, and many orchards have been dug up for reasons well known to the owner. In the East there is considerable setting going on in the State of Virginia and some of the New England States and New York, but in the two latter sec- tions only a moderate amount. Grant that a large acreage has been set. This does not mean that they will all come into bearing. There are many causes, any one of which will prevent an orchard from becoming a commercial proposition. Poor land, lack of rainfall, too severe winters, and perhaps greater than all these, general neglect. All of which means that a large percentage of the trees set throughout the United Stales will never make commercial orchards.
In 1890 there were 120,152,795 apple trees of bearing age in the United States. The production in the year 1889, one year previous, was 143,1 05,(i89 bushels. In 1900 the number of apple trees of bearing age in the United States was 201,794,(542. The production in 1899 was 175,397,600 bushels. The number of bearing trees probably increased from 1900 to 1911 more than they did from 1890 to 1900. If such is the case we will probably have in the United States today (i!)ll) 300,000,000 bearing apple trees, yet the crop was only about 75,000,000 bushels. In other words, two and one-half times as many apple trees in the year 1911 as we had in the year 1890 only produced about one-half the quantity of apples in 1899. This cer- tainly seems very convincing, because the crop was considered large in the East last year.
If you ask the government oflicials connected with the Horticultural De- partment of the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture, at Washington, they will probably tell you that only ten to twenty per cent of the fruit trees that are set in the United States ever make commercial orchards. If you ask the same question of nurserymen who have been in the business for a lifetime, or of horticulturists connected with the experiment stations, who have been in service for the last twenty or thirty years, you will probably get the same answer. By this it is not intended that everyone should go into the apple busi- ness or fruit business, but on the other hand it must seem clear to the men who will take the trouble to investigate gov- ernment statistics that it is evident that a large part of the land set to fruit trees throughout the United States will not make commercial propositions, and it must also be admitted by the men who will investigate thoroughly that such is a matter of record and past -history, and while there are many reasons that investigators can find out if they care to go to the trouble, they will find a great many orchards are not set on suitable soil, some on soil that is too shallow, some where the rainfall is not sufficient, and some where the weather conditions are too severe in winter.
It begins to look as if the fruit grow- ers all over the whole country were waking up, and not only the fruit grow- ers, but the fruit dealers are giving thought and study to the marketing problem. Anyone who is familiar with the marketing of apples is aware of the fact that the marketing systems in the past have not been what they should be and consequently can be greatly im- proved. A greater and wider and more thorough distribution has become nec- essary. Everyone realizes and admits this. All the manufactured goods are widely and wisely advertised. But little attention has been given to wise mar- keting, intelligent distribution and the right kind of advertising for the apple in the past. That the trade realizes this is evident from an article entitled "Advertising the Apple — Suggestions and Comment," by U. Grant Border, Baltimore, Maryland, published in The Spy, the ofiicial organ of the Inter- national Apple Shippers' Association, which reads as follows: "So far as properly advertising the apple is con- cerned, we growers and dealers are all sound asleep. We've got to wake up. What, think you, would be the outcome if positions were reversed and the great advertising captains who are now ex- ploiting breakfast 'woods,' rubber heels and scouring soap, took possession of our apples and we their spearmints, powders and pink pills? I venture to say the new apple ownei's would waste no time in teaching that it's held 'bad form' to start the day without eating a baked apple, that the school children should eat more apples and less glucose, that pork eaten without apples is dan- gerous. In fact, we would then learn a hundred uses for apples never dreamed of before, and that it is better to have no money in bank than no apples in the pantry. The consumer would be taught the varieties and their various good qualities; taught that buying apples is buying bright cheeks, happy smiles, sparkling eyes and elastic step. Who would set a limit to the possibilities of such a campaign? On the other hand, what of our soap, soup and sawdust? Well, you know what would happen if we used no more sense in exploiting their uses than we do our apples, and, mind you, apples don't require half the boost that some things do, which I might mention, that are making mill- ions for their owners. Now, we are all agreed on two essentials: First, we have a commodity worthy of highest praise; second, the need of a judicious, effective and persistent advertising campaign. How is this to be brought about? I make the following suggestion, which,
KUMAUN GOVERNMENT GARDENS UNITED PROVINCES, INDIA From the Superintendent to the Manager Schmidt Lihtograph Company, Portland, Oregon :
Dated Jeolikote, the 30th Nov., 1911. No. 511
Dear Sir: Kindly send samples and prices of your fruit box and other labels and oblige.
Yours faithfully,
NORMAN PI, Supt. Kuniaun Government Gardens.
KUMAVN GOVERNMENT GARDENS UNITED PROVINCES, INDIA From the Superintendent to the Palmer Bucket Co., Hood River Oregon:
Dated Jeolikote, the 30th Nov., 1911. No. 515
Dear Sir: Will you kindly arrange to send us one of your fruit picking buckets, as advertised in "Better Fruit." Its cost and forwarding charges will be paid on receipt of your bill.
Yours faithfully,
NORMANPI, Supt. Kumaun Government Gardens.
igi2
BETTER FRUIT
Page SQ
THE HOOD RIVER APPLE
Is no secret. It's an unanswerable argu- ment In favor of thorough and consistani Spraying. Neither is it a secret that
Myer^s Spray Pumps
Are the most efficient and improved of ail Spray Pumps. You can't afford to use a poor pump when a genuine MYERS, the pump of service, costs but little more.
48-PAGE SPRAY PUMP BOOK FREE.
Drop US a card mcntioninsr this paper and we will send you one of these hooks
PORTLAND- BOISE- SPOKANE
if found inexpedient or impracticable, will at least, I hope, lead to something worthy our great and growing business, worthy of the capital, brains and energy being expended in raising, perfecting and packing apples. An effective adver- tising campaign cannot be conducted without a liberal money expenditure. The whole plan should be conducted through some great and representative body like the International Apple Ship- pers' Association. A general committee of fifty, selected from all apple produc- ing sections, should be appointed, and they in turn select five of their own number as a special committee to take specific charge, employ advertising agents, etc. Every apple association and individual shipper or grower should be brought to realize the great importance of contributing to a general fund, in proportion to the volume of their shipments. To raise this fund stamps should be issued, similar to the Red Cross stamps, to be sold in quanti- ties as desired, and each shipper place a stamp on each package. At one dollar per hundred a quarter of a million dol- lars could be realized on a crop the size of the present one, after allowing for any not willing to help the cause. I think very few shippers would wish dealers throughout the country to know they were satisfied to reap propor- tionate benefits and let others pay the expense; consequently a very general use of the stamp would follow. Jobbers and retailers in all markets would give preference to stamped packages, all other things being equal, for they real- ize that advertising helped them, too. We must create a sentiment in favor of some plan, and if the above suggestion is not a good one, give us your ideas. Keep up the agitation until we hit the trail. Under normal conditions the value of the crop of 1912 will be -$100,- 000,000. A judicious use of $250,000 will help us to realize every dollar of the crop's value, while a supine neglect may result in obtaining five, ten or pos-
sibly twenty-five per cent less. Figure a little! The advertising plan means a steady, insistent demand from the first apple picked until the last is withdrawn from storage."
Poultry in the Orchard. — After the
young orchard is set it is several years before it comes into bearing, according to the kinds of fruit and the different varieties. During this period there is the expense of caring for the place and one's living in addition. Those who go into the orchard business without suffi- cient funds to meet these two expenses until their orchard comes into bearing must either earn something outside or grow something between the trees. Strawberries and various kinds of vegetables are frequently set between the tree rows, but when this is done sufficient space should be left on each
side of the tree rows to allow a good, thorough cultivation of the trees.
There are many ways in which the fruit grower who has not the means to carry him through until his orchard comes into bearing can earn enough money to get along nicely. A good income can be obtained from poultry if the business is conducted in an intel- ligent way, according to the most approved plans, and on a businesslike basis. The suggestion made by Lewis A. Hills of Salt Lake City that the orchardists raise poultry seems worthy of the consideration of every fruit grower who needs some extra money during the time his trees are young, and even after the trees begin to bear this business can be conducted and made to bring in quite an income to the orchardist. Anyone who knows any- thing about poultry understands that chickens must have proper care if they are expected to produce results. The old-fashioned stationary chicken house is a thing of the past among up-to-date poultry raisers. Mr. Hills' plans pro- vide a means for the orchardist to engage in the poultry business at the lowest possible expense and for this reason ought to meet with approval. Mr. Hills has designed and constructed portable poultry houses and in order that the grower may obtain them at the least possible expense he offers to sell a set of blueprint plans showing how to make these poultry houses at the very reasonable figure of .?2.50 for the plans, including a complimentary copy of his feeding chart, which retails for fifty cents. With these plans the grower can construct his own poultry houses at a great deal less expense than he can buy them from some distant market, with freight charges added. Further par- ticulars may be obtained by writing Mr. Lewis A. Hills, whose advertisement appears elsewhere in this edition.
!
f
Page 40
BETTER FRUIT
BETTER FRUIT
Page 41
30-35 Horsepower
Wheel Base — 112 Inches
Wheels— 34 Inches
Demountable Rims
Speed — 45 Miles per Hour
Made with 2, 4 and 5 Pas- senger Bodies
. arive shaft I use Nickel m« ax'"^ I, Steel for connections. ^'Vlls^^^TT^tTmosi perfect alloy The Ion;
for ever To
I use
test
this purpose. „enrs which others test these =e ^^.^^ ^ crushing
. ham-ner. I ^^.^^ ^^ere I sub- ^ a crushing test, to measure will stand.
the gears ;actly The J
" necessary.
than
, 1 isteel axles are Nickel Stee^^^_^^ ^^^^ ^ ^^^^ j,^,^
Now my margin of safety
the"". ='taf part is 00
in this
n'sidered extreme by
f.^rines on axles and on the . ' T use Timken Roller and Hyatt Lesser bearings haye led to
„.ost m;
For the iransni:
I™"''"'' fnund that magnetos differ I have louuu _ ^ _ ^^^^ ^^ .^
incnsely.
So i devised a test where, for ten the magneto must act under
day
Top and windshield not included In price. We equip this car with mohair top, side curtains and slip. cove windshield, gas tank and speedometer — all for $100 extra. '' SELF STARTER, IF WANTED, $20 EXTRA
Reo the Fifth-$1,055 The Car That Marks My Liniil
compression.
I have found only
hours a
;^-:Se^ w^i^'e^- to a
r h^'c mmon est grades. And I doubly » j^itlwith hot air and hot water-to facilitate evaporation.
I add about one-fifth to the power of my engine by putting intake valves on top.
stroke motor, the cylinders in pairs, the dust-proof transmission, the sys- tem of oiling, all simply accord with the best modern practice.
I carry inspection to the farthest extremes Every part is inspected— every vital part tested. That is essential. Without it, flaws will creep in which only use can discover.
Good Measure
Another thing I have learned is that buyers enjoy good measure.
My wheel base is long, my wheels extra large, my tonneau is roomy. The car is over-tired. The springs are much stronger than necessary.
The design of the car, as each can see for himself, has the last touch of up-to-date- ness.
The upholstering is deep, the filling is hair, the covering is genuine leather. I avoid all the petty economies.
The body finish consists of 17 coats. The lamps are enameled, as per the latest vogue. Even the engine is nickel trimmed.
The most perfect car will fail to satisfy buyers unless its appearance is perfect.
Exclusive Features
In addition to all this. Roe the Fifth has two or three features found in no other car.
One is the center cane-handle control. See the picture. All the gear shifting is done by moving this handle not more than three inches. It moves in four directions— for low speed, intermediate, high speed and reverse.
Another unique feature is the absence o£ brake levers. Both of the brakes operate by foot pedals. One of the pedals operates the clutch and the service brake as well.
So the front of the car is clear. The driver dismounts on either side as easily as you dismount from the tonneau.
This arrangement permits of the left side drive. The driver sits, as lie should sit, close to the cars which he passes. He sits where he can look back in making a turn. He is on the up side of the road. This has only been possible heretofore in electrics.
These are features to which other cars must come. But you find them today only in Reo the Fifth.
Price-the Only Sensation
By R. E. Olds, Designer
I have no quarrel with men who ask more for their cars— none with the men who ask less. I have only to say that, after 25 years —after creating 24 models and building tens of thousands of cars— here's the best I Mow. I call it My Farewell Car.
I don't wish to surround this new car of mine with any intangible glamour.
Glamour is always expensive.
I am simply a shop man, engineer and designer. In my earliest memories I was puttering around my father's engine works.
On leaving school I began engine build- ing. And the Olds Gas Engines — famous half the world over — gained their place by actual merit.
For 2.5 years I have built automobiles. I began with single-cylinder, six-horse- power machines. And I've run the whole gamut to six-cylinder sixties.
Tens of thousands of men, in those 25 years, have used cars of my designing. Just because they relied on me, year after year, to build the best of the current cars.
I recite this to .show that I am essentially practical. I shall never attempt to create any illusions. So what I say here about Reo the Fifth will be simple, plain, every- day fact.
No Sensations
Reo the Fifth is no great innovation. The time has gone by for that.
Thousands of good men, for two decades, have worked at perfecting cars. Together they have brought the modern automobile pretty close to perfection.
I believe that this new car embodies the best that all these men have accomplished. I searched the whole world for ideas for it.
It represents, in addition, the best I have learned through 25 years of continuous stiiving. So it comes, I believe, pretty close to finality.
The worth of a car, in these days, depends on no exclusive devices. It depends on facilities, on experience, on honesty of pur- pose, on the genius for taking pains.
Here I offer you all those — each in the extreme. And no motor car maker, what- ever his price, knows how to offer more.
The Lessons Taught by Tests
My chief advantage lies here:
I was among the first to start leai ningthe needs of automobiles. And I learned faster than others, because I had more cars out.
Experience is our grealest teacher. The inexperienced designer, however well-mean-
ing, is bound to make countless mi* One learns only through errors the iwii infinite pains. , One cannot anticipate every pi-; M'eakness. He must watch how caru some conditions, fall down. Tlienin* fault forever impossible,
learn to niultipD rn the need for Bacp
for careful inspection l^'^^^;. What once seemed sufticieni lessness later. .. . t; ve"
Thus I have been lea™ through the myriads otcai .^.-... And the flawless const, uc 10. Fifth is