94 SIXTEENTH BIENNIAL RE PORT 



the trade will reconcile itself to a small Grimes Golden, and at times small Jona- 

 than, it will not accept the following varieties if they are small: Delicious, 

 Winesap, Spitzenburg, Ortley, Rome and Winter Banana. There is, however, 

 no excuse for our having small apples, and the small apple comes from allowing 

 the tree to carry too heavy a load. We put off our thinning until too late in the 

 season, ot do not thin at all. If, together with this, we are shiftless in our 

 methods of tillage, fertilization and general orchard practices, we must expect 

 small apples. Every apple grower in Oregon should resolve that this next year 

 he is going to strive to grow larger apples. It is one of our best weapons to use 

 in forcing our product into new markets. 



A second problem which the apple grower must consider is scab. For three 

 years we practically had no scab, and as a result, growers got into careless 

 habits. This past year has been a good scab year. The Oregon Agricultural Col- 

 lege has given splendid advice on the control of scab. The delayed dormant and 

 pink sprays are absolutely necessary if scab is to be controlled. This should be 

 followed by the calyx spray, and, if scab should appear, by the ten day and espe- 

 cially by the thirty day spray. Scab can be controlled by systematic spraying. 



A third problem is anthracnose. Fifteen years ago anthracnose was bad, 

 until Dean A. B. Cordley, of the Oregon Agricultural College, showed us how to 

 control it. We had very largely eradicated this disease, but this past winter 

 was rather severe on trees, and seemed to weaken their vitality. The tissues on 

 the main branches and trunk beeame weakened and the anthracnose ran like 

 wildfire. The spraying as suggested by the College of Bordeaux 4-4-50 in August, 

 and 6-6-50 as soon as the fruit is picked, will go a long ways toward Controlling 

 this disease. Inspection as early as Maroh of each year by the orchardist of 

 every tree which he has, and the eutting out with a sharp, clean cut, of any sores 

 which Start, should enable us in a year or two to eradicate this disease. 



So many of the old home orchards, especially in the Willamette Valley, have 

 been ruined the past winter, that these farmers now have a golden opportunity 

 to establish a new home orchard, which will be really good. Let us not make it 

 too large. A few trees are sufficient for a home orchard ; we can produce from 

 three to five varieties to a tree, and these varieties should be selected to give 

 fruit good for eating and good for cooking, and to give the family fruit over a 

 very long season. We can raise a garden in the orchard while it is young, and 

 while the orchard is mature can perhapb use it as a chicken run, keep a few hogs 

 in there, or mulch the orchard heavily with straw. 



With a good barrel spray pump and such treatment as recommended, a splen- 

 did quality of delicious fruit can be produced for every home. 



THE FEAR 



Growers in the Southern Oregon district are beginning to realize that Irriga- 

 tion is going to be essential for the production of the large pear. Such pear 

 growers should strain every nerve to see that where it is possible to irrigate 

 the water be procured as soon as possible. We used to be able to seil the 

 two inch pear. but the trade is demanding larger and larger fruit, and this Coming 

 year the canneries are going to require a two and one-half inch pear. Good till- 

 age, a small amount of annual pruning. well distributed, and judicious thinning, 

 will easily enable one to produce such fruit. Like the apple scab, the pear is 

 also attacked, but the same methods of treatment outlined for the apple will also 

 suffice for the pear. In speaking of pears, it is also interesting to note the rapid 

 rise of the Bosc pear. This pear has topped the market this year, going higher 

 than $7 a box, and Western and Southern Oregon can produce this fruit as can 

 no other section of the world. The time is Coming when the tonnage of this 

 variety will be greatly augmented. 



