44 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



or oats for hay. A small strip along the trees had been 

 plowed and perhaps cultivated once during the season. In 

 every instance I talked with these men who were growing 

 wheat and oats between their young trees they assured me 

 they cultivated their young trees well. They were men with- 

 out experience, and did not realize that every particle of 

 moisture they conserved by cultivation along the narrow strip 

 was drawn to the growing grain and the young tree received 

 but little benefit. A young apple or pear tree when taken 

 from the nursery has its life shocked by its removal. When 

 planted out in orchard — its new home — it should have every 

 care and attention until it has recovered its vigor from the 

 shock of transplanting, This care and attention can only 

 be given it by thorough cultivation to conserve moisture which 

 is so necessary to make the plant food in the soil you have 

 planted it soluble; if not, you will have a stunted tree that 

 will always be a reproach to your skill as a horticulturist. 

 I say don't attempt to grow wheat or oats among your young 

 trees, or old ones for that matter, for you will fail to grow 

 a profitable orchard by doing so. Corn, beans, or potatoes 

 can be grown among young trees as a filier crop to pay the 

 expense of cultivation of a young orchard, if the cultivation 

 is good, but wheat or oats never should be grown. 



Our seasons here are variable. Usually we have good heavy 

 rains during April and May, then with good or reasonably 

 good cultivation crops or all kinds respond and are "bumpers." 

 The past two years we have not been favored with these April 

 and May rains. Poor cultivation or no cultivation shows a 

 shortage in apples and other fruit that is under size. Where 

 good cultivation has prevailed on soils of the same character 

 the apple crop is good — of good size, highly colored, and is 

 now selling at top prices. On the other hand, where poor 

 cultivation has prevailed the Output will be poor, apples too 

 small to come up to grade. A careful inspection of the 

 orchards the past month convinces me that the Output of the 

 apDle and late pear crop of the Rogue and Umpqua Valleys 

 will be 33 per cent less than it should have been had the 

 aople and pear growers given intense cultivation to their 

 orchards during July and August. This is the condition as 

 I know it to be, and is a subject that the progressive fruit 

 grower should not hereafter neglect. If he does neglect it, 

 it is only a question of time when for want of Drofits in his 

 business he will have to go out of the business because he is 

 a man that does not "do things." 



Why, I was in aüple orchards in Jackson County, splendid 

 orchards too — good soil, where the cracks in the earth were 

 a foot deep, and large enough for an apple to roll into them. 



