APPLE-GROWING IN OREGON. 



B;/ Hon. W. K. Newell, President of the Oregon State Board of Horticulture. 



The purpose of this article is to present briefly some of the fundamental 

 principles of apple growing as they apply in a general way to the industry 

 in this State. To give detailed instruction for a given locality is not a 

 difficult matter if one is familiar with the conditions, but to go into details 

 for so large and so diversified a country as Oregon is impossible. 



Apples of the finest quality can be grown in every county in Oregon, pro- 

 vided varieties suitable to the locality are selected and the requisite care is 

 given the orchard. It must be kept in mind that there is no other fruit 

 grown that requires so fuU and complete knowledge of detail to bring it to 

 the highest degree of perfection. General principles will apply everywhere, 

 but there are local conditions and methods of practice that must be mas- 

 tered, and can be acquired only by close observation and experience. To 

 forcibly illustrate this point it is necessary to refer only to one instance in 

 Oregon. The two districts of Milton in Umatilla County and Cove in 

 Union County are only about fifty miles apart, and yet so different are the 

 climatic conditions that there is a difference of thirty days in the time of 

 ripening of the same varieties of fruit. 



LOCATION AND SOIL. 



The apple adapts itself to a wide range of soil conditions. The safest 

 and best rule is to observe trees that are already planted in your chosen 

 neighborhood. The soil must be well drained, naturally or artificially, and 

 be of good depth and quality. Trees may grow nicely for a number of 

 years in light,' thin soil, but when the heavy strain of maturing crop after 

 crop of apples comes there must be depth and substance or the results will 

 be unsatisfactory. Do not be deceived in the choice of soil, but investigate 

 closelj'; dig or bore holes to determine depth, and observe the vegetation to 

 determine quality. The apple is already so widely planted that there is no 

 difiiculty in observing its habits in any locality. 



PREPARATION OF SOIL. 



Thoroughness in every detail must be the watchword of the apple grower, 

 and it can not be too strongly impressed on the mind. If the land is newly 

 cleared, cultivate it at least one season in potatoes or corn before planting 

 the trees. Plow deeply, and, if old wheat land, or similar soil, subsoil by 

 all means. Harrow until in fine condition. Never plant an orchard until 

 the land is in first-class condition. You can not properly fit it after planting. 



TIME TO PLANT. 



The apple tree can be safely planted at any time when the soil is dry 

 enough from November 1 to May 1 in the greater part of Oregon, but 

 November is unquestionably the best month. The young tree is sufficiently 

 ripened by that time to be removed, and if planted at that time it will be 

 well established in place and its roots will be calloused ready for growth 



