110 Appendix. 



the ever-aggressive fir,* and destined to remain for years a picturesque feature 

 of Western Oregon landscape (See Figs. 4, 5, 6) — the horticultural ruins of an 

 age of grain and stock raisers not yet extinct. For it should be kept in mind 

 that the Oregon crchardist of that day was generally a man whose conception of 

 horticulture was incorporated in the phrase, "seed time and harvest." On his 

 calendar there was no season for cultivation, no period for pruning, and no time 

 for thinning, and spraying was unknown. The crop was gathered or harvested 

 in those days. Now we pick it. But this period of decline and abandon was 

 fraught with a definite, though unforseen, purpose. It was the period of incuba- 

 tion of the germ of progressive present-day methods of apple culture. Upon these 

 ruins of the past we are today erecting some ideal orchard structures. (See Fig. 

 lib.) And while it is true that most of the newer plantings of apples are in 

 small tracts, there is a pronounced growing sentiment in favor of planting in 

 larger, commercial areas. The recent success in marketing the crops of large or- 

 chards in both Eastern and Southern Oregon has given an impulse to the considera- 

 tion of the commercial aspects of apple culture such as we have not heretofore 

 known. The early orchards of this section were planted near the homes, and as 

 many of the pioneers selected the open prairie, much of which is level-lying land, 

 for their homes, it came about that many of the orchards were planted upon 

 heavy, poorly drained land, a condition which contributed much to the early de- 

 cline in vigor and productiveness of these first orchards. Today the prospective 

 orchardist, before planting, makes a full investigation of the various phases of the 

 subject, especially as to the inter-relation of climate and soil ; to the different va- 

 rieties of trees ; insect and fungous pests ; inter-pollination ; market demands ; sec- 

 ondary products of the crop ; economy of tillage and other manual operations as 

 affected by the character of the site, and various minor features. As a result of 

 this close attention to the requirements of the crop, there are thousands of young 

 apple trees being planted upon the better sites in the Willamette Valley, once the 

 boasted home of the big red apple. With the proper selection of varieties, skillful 

 treatment of soil and tree, and constant warfare against the pests, there would 

 appear to be no reason why this section should not in a large measure regain its 

 lost prestige in apple growing. 



THE PROBLEM OF PLANTING. 



Before the question of what to plant arises in the mind of the person about 

 to engage in the growing of the apple, there have come those other questions : 

 Shall I grow apples? If so, to what end? For home, local market, or shipment? 

 And it is presumed that to these suggestions a final answer has been given. Whether 

 this reply makes the one or the other object the purpose of the planting matters 

 little, so far as the real work of planting and future care is concerned, though too 

 often the plants upon which a crop is grown for home use are given little or no 

 intelligent, appreciative attention. There is no adequate excuse for the usual 

 neglect of the trees, shrubs, and vines that produce the fruits for home use. Only 

 clean, healthy, vigorous trees may be expected to produce choice fruit, and what 

 tiller of the soil would that his family should have fruit of an inferior quality? 

 (See Fig. 3.) The plea that is usually offered in extenuation of the offense of an 

 ill-kept, fruit bearing plantation (See Fig. 11a) is that "We can't take time from 

 the regular work to look after it." This is the merest absurdity. An essential 

 part of man's duty to himself and family is to maintain good health. No single 

 \y,\vt of our usual diet does more to promote this condition than wholesome fruit. 

 It is only with the best of health that the soil tiller may expect to successfullj' 

 compete with his fellow ; hence how important that he avoid, as far as possible, 

 all demands upon the physician's services, for such demands mean a lessenning 

 of his earning capacity, as well as an increase in financial expenses. Not alone 

 this, for the growing of good fruit for home use gives a tone, keenness and en- 



*Pseu(lotsuga taxifolia. Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, red fir. 



