BOARD OF HQRTICULTURE 167 



one of the growers in tliis country. Tliis plant is more in tbe nature of an insur- 

 ance policy, and it is quite possihle tliat its Services may not be used for an entire 

 season. Witli it, however, tlie srower feels that slioiild lie desire to flood or 

 Irrigate, lie may do so at any time. 



Next in importance to the natural requirements, all of which Clatsop County 

 possesses, are commercial reciuirements. First in importance of these Is trans- 

 portation. The cultivated liogs of this county all Iwrder the main line of the S. P. 

 & S. Railway, and but a stone's throw distant is the western end of the Columbia 

 River Highway, paved for most of the distance between Astoria and Seaside. Its 

 products have the best of opportunity to get to markets readily, as the common 

 point for Astoria means not only for all products coming into Astoria, but for all 

 products going out as well ; this includes cranberries. Astoria and Seaside are 

 two cities from which labor can be drawn, and even Fortland is but a half day's 

 journey from the bogs. The power lines of the Pacific Power and Light Company 

 run along the highway between Astoria and Seaside, and it is from this line that 

 growers some day expect to receive power and light. 



Of particular importance is the fact that the bogs are right on the line of the 

 railroad, as this means that the growers construct their packing houses directly 

 at the right of way of the transportation Company. There is no hauling cost to 

 the railway. The packing houses act both as storage houses and as packing houses 

 as well. The cranberry is one of the fruits that is not sent to the market imme- 

 diately upon its being harvested. For this reason, particular attention is being 

 paid to storage and packing houses ; and for this reason, splendid packing houses 

 are being built. One of the most modern and complete cranberry packing houses 

 is now nearing completion in this county. It is of hollow tile constructiou, the 

 floors are of so-called mill constructiou. having ventilated spaces through which 

 cool air can be sent through the berries at any time the grower feels it necessary. 

 The openings in the storage floor are so arranged that every tier of storage boxes 

 has at least one openiug under the tier, gratings through the lower of packing 

 house floor permit the cool air from underneath the building to be rushed through 

 the berries at night, Ventilators on tbe roof of the warehouse furnishing the 

 pull for the air. 



The growers of this county have an association to which everj- grower, with 

 but one exception, belongs. This association in turn belongs to the Pacific Cran- 

 berry Exchange, which markets the cranberries. The Pacific Cranberry Exchange 

 is composed of the Oregon association, acting with several Washington associa- 

 itons. While it is a young Organization, it may interest you to know that last 

 year. when Viut one year old. it emliarked upon an advertising campaign which 

 helped materially in selling its product last fall, when conditions were really 

 most adverse, on account of the sugar restrictions in effect at that time. 



ORCHAKD FERTILIZING— PROFITABLE OR OTHERWISE 



By W. S. Brown, Chief in Horticulture 



"Shall we fertilize our orchards?" is a questiou that can only be answered by 

 answering two more. First, can the trees and crops in our orchards be improved? 

 and second, how can they be bettered? If one can intelligently answer these two 

 latter questions, he is then in shape to decide whether fertilizing will pay him, 

 or not. 



Unless young trees are planted on soll mueh depleted by long cropping, or 

 upon such soils that are absolutely worthless for orchard lands, trees very 

 seldom need any Stimulation of growth before they are from five to eight years 

 old and ready to begin bearJng well. Consequently, in this discussion, we are 

 chiefly interested in the liearing tree. 



