REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 99 



depth, and the thickness of this strata of hardpan is from three 

 inches to fifteen inches. Underneath this hardpan is gravelly 

 loam, rich in plant food, but not available at present on ac- 

 count of this hardpan. Had the orchardists of that region 

 examined into this soil condition, and adopted the advice given 

 by this board for years past, by dynamiting the soil, thus shat- 

 tering the hardpan and allowing roots and water to go down, 

 they would not now be confronted with the problem they are. 

 The trees jDlanted on this light, shallow topsoil have about 

 used up all the available plant-food, and in consequence 

 stopped growing and soon will cease to bear fruit — the roots 

 have spread out on the surface, and are therefore liable to 

 injury from freezing, and the trees become loose and easily 

 thrown over by strong winds. The only remedy now is to 

 bore a hole into the hardpan between the rows of trees, and 

 dynamite it, which will materially assist the feeding root to 

 go down and prolong the life of these trees. However, all 

 this should have been done prior to planting. 



We are also of the opinion that if the soil is properly dyna- 

 mited irrigation will be more perfect, as the water will go 

 down easier, and in consequence will require less irrigation 

 and more cultivation, and bring up the water from below by 

 capillary attraction. Tliat this theory is correct is evidenced 

 by the fact that wherever it has been tried it has proven suc- 

 cessful. Mr. J. S. D. Mannville, of Boise, dynamited his soil 

 Avith good effect. Mr. David Dunbar, near Vale, Malheur 

 County, planted an orchard, but it did not do well — the trees 

 grew slowly and were continually blown over. After five 

 years of experimenting, his hired man, who had read our re- 

 ports, suggested dynamiting, which they did, and planted an 

 orchard alongside the old one, and now these later trees are 

 three times the size of the old ones, are strong, healthy, and 

 bear abundant crops of fruit. In view of such conclusive ob- 

 ject lessons, it seems to us that intelligent, progressive horti- 

 culturists would not be slow in adopting the methods suggested . 



One of the most remarkable observations is that trees in the 

 Grande Ronde, Powder River, Burnt River, Malheur River, 

 Weiser, Payette, Boise, and Snake River valleys go into bearing 

 at such an early age, and attain such large size. Orchards at 

 four years bear good crops of fruit, and the trees are fully as 

 large as six and seven-year-old trees in the Willamette Valley, 

 which can only be explained by the large quantity of available 

 phosphoric acid, potash and nitrogen in this soil, which, how- 



