191 5 



BETTER FRUIT 



Page 21 



gard, one must be governed by local 

 conditions. If the land is clean culti- 

 vated the water may be turned ofT in 

 August. But if weeds, grass or crops 

 are growing near the trees they will 

 require water much later. In extreme 

 cases, where the land is foul and the 

 soil has a good under-drainage, it is 

 best to irrigate until October or until 

 there is some fall rain. In case of a 

 very dry fall, such as the one just past, 

 I think it a wise plan to irrigate the 

 orchard some time in November, after 

 the leaves have fallen. 



As an experiment we irrigated a por- 

 tion of our young apijle orchard last 

 November. The results of this experi- 

 ment will be carefully noted next sum- 

 mer, as a future guide. I am quite 

 sure the results will be very favorable. 

 The extreme dry weather last fall, and 

 the extreme cold spell that we had in 

 December is an unfavorable condition 

 for young trees, and we may reason- 

 ably expect some damage by winter- 

 killing, though it is impossible to tell 

 at this time what the outcome will be. 

 The most essential feature of irrigating 

 an orchard for best results is to keep 

 an even degree of moisture in the soil, 

 by close attention to the irrigating and 

 cultivating at the right time and in the 

 right way to meet local conditions. I 

 am quite sure that a well regulated and 

 even degree of moisture under a bear- 

 ing orchard will have a verv favorable 

 effect upon the keeping qualities of the 

 fruit in storage or transit. If the trees 

 are allowed to get very dry while the 

 fruit is maturing, then the moisture ap- 

 plied, the fruit will take a new start 

 and make an unnatural growth that is 

 unfavorable to the keeping qualities of 

 that fruit. I am not very familiar with 

 this feature, but it seems to me that it 

 is a very important one, and the matter 

 should be thoroughly discussed by the 

 State Horticultural Association. 



In conclusion, there are a few lead- 

 ing thoughts to keep in mind. Prepara- 

 tion of the soil, by deep plowing and a 

 system of cultivation that will place 

 the soil in the right degree of compact. 

 Supply the much needed nitrogen, by 

 the application of organic matter, by a 

 system of crop rotation, cultivation, 

 and the application of manure. Regu- 

 late the soil moisture by careful irri- 

 gation and cultivation. Cultivation 

 plays the most important part in regu- 

 lating the three leading factors, tem- 

 perature, moisture and soil air. 



Mr. ,T. N. Shotwell, a fruit grower of 

 AVenalchce, last year patented a prac- 

 tical device which is giving splendid 

 satisfaction for stencilling boxes. It 

 stamps the grower's name, postofTice 

 address, the number of apples con- 

 tained in the box, grade and variety, all 

 on one end of the box in regular align- 

 ment at the one movement. Such facil- 

 ities which save labor and expense are 

 going to be big factors in helping the 

 fruit grower solve his problems by re- 

 ducing the cost of production. This 

 machine is being manufactured and put 

 on the market by Shotwell ^t Wilmer- 

 oth, Wenatchee, Washington. 



Free Book on Road Construction 



Will be Issued About August 1st 



Reserve Your Copy Now 



We are just receiving from the printers a 

 new book on road construction, which we 

 believe will prove the most useful and val- 

 uable book of the kind ever issued. Our 

 object in preparing it is to show the why 

 and how of using 



Red Cross Explosives 



for Road Building 



It is by no means confined to this method, bnt 

 thoroughly covers every detail of road construc- 

 tion and maintenance, and the uses of all modern 

 methods and appliances for this purpose. It is 

 fully illustrated by halftones and original plan and 

 sectional drawings. A copy will be sent free to 

 any supei'visor, path master or private party who 

 has anything to do with building <n- maintaining 

 roads. 



Write to us at once and you will get one the 

 first copies issued. Ask for booklet No. 338. 



Good Roads Department 

 Du Pont Powder Company, Wilmington, Del. 



GOLDEN GATE WEED CUTTER 

 AND MULCHER 



Not only cuts down weeds, but KILLS them— and 

 leaves finely pulverized top soil. Cuts any depth. 

 Prevents evaporation by working under soil with- 

 out disturbing soil on top. 

 See them at the Exposition, Block 1. Agricultural Palace 

 Write for circular 



C. G. SIGURD 



CapitalAve. and McKee Road. SAN JOSE. CALIFORNIA 



To Growers and Shippers of High Grade Apples in Boxes 

 We Recommend Our 



Edgemont Lid Press 



AS I'.EING 

 Strong. Durable. Convenient and Moderate in Price 



That a Lid Press with nail stripper and cleat box. brackets to hold 

 bds where you want them, cleat hooks to hold cleats while nailing 

 and a perfect treadle rachet is appreciated by the growers is shown 

 by the sale of hundreds of them to growers not only of the Northwest 

 but of nearly every fruit district of the United States. 

 Send for circulars and prices to 



H. PLATT & SONS, Como, Montana 



YAKl.MA HARDWARE CO., North Yakima. VCashinglon 

 PLOUGH HARD\X'ARE CO., Wenaichee. NX'ashinglon 

 Ynii ran hiiv an BERGER & CARTER CO., 504 .Mission Streei, San Francisco 



lUU Ldll UUy dll B. G. PRATT CO., 50 Church Street, Ne»- York City 



Fdpemont I id Press from inland seed CO., 913 First Avenue, Spokane, Washington 

 LUgCIHUm LIU r 1 c»s liuill pi^^^^^ PACKING HOUSE, Hood River, Oregon 



WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT 



