Page 6 



BETTER FRUIT 



July 



riGi-Rr; 2 — Incomplotp distribution of water to the roots of trees. The furrows 



stinuUI be placed evenly over tlie ground, as all space about trees of this age is 



occupied by tile feeding roots. 



the supply. This point is being over- 

 looked at the present time, or is not 

 fully appreciated by many .^rowers, 

 who are j^Iocing clover or alfalfa in 

 their orchards. If water is not applied 

 frequently enough, numerous unde- 

 sirable condilions occur, such as fall- 

 ing of fruil, cessation of growth, which 

 is followed by second growth when 

 irrigation is applied, and weak growth 

 of shade crops. The second growth 

 which fre(|uently occurs on dry trees 

 irrigated during the summer appears 

 late in the fall and causes the ends of 

 the branches, and not infrequently the 

 entire tree, to suffer from freezing in 

 winter. 



The fact that numerous orchards 

 are permitted to become in need of 

 moisture between irrigations indicates 

 that fruit growers are frequently un- 

 familiar with the moisture conditions 

 of the soil, or are neglectful of know- 

 ing definitely the conditions under 

 which the trees are working. This 

 condition appears to be more pro- 

 nounced since clover and other crops 

 have been planted in the orchards than 

 formerly; however, much loss has oc- 

 curred from drouth in orchards that 

 were considered to have an adequate 

 supply of moisture retained by means 

 of systematic clean cultivation. The 

 proper amount of water to apply de- 

 pends upon the capacity of the soil to 

 absorb and retain it. It is advisable to 

 apply as much at each irrigation as the 

 soil, to the depth from which the crops 

 are capable of feeding, will hold with- 

 out loss by drainage. This quantity 

 varies from approximately three inches 

 in depth of water on sandy soil to eight 

 or more inches for silt or clay. The 

 capacity of a soil of any type is influ- 

 enced by its depth; therefore, the 

 amount of water to apply must be de- 

 termined by experience for each tract 

 of land. 



The method employed for applying 

 water to the soil exerts a decided in- 

 fluence upon the cost and efliciency of 

 irrigating. Whenever possible large 

 heads of water should be used. A great 

 saving in water and labor would result 

 in numerous orchards of the Pacific 

 Northwest if ten to twentv-five times 



as much water were used for one-tenth 

 to one-twenty-flfth the time that is now 

 used to do the irrigating. 



The time and detail necessary to irri- 

 gate by means of furrows can be 

 greatly reduced in the average orchard 

 by using borders, or sloping checks, 

 and flooding the surface. (For an ex- 

 planation of this method of applying 

 irrigation water see Hood River Ex- 

 periment Station Circular No. 1, page 

 7; and Umatilla Experiment Farm Cir- 

 cular No. 3, both of which can be ob- 

 tained at he Oregon Agricultural Col- 

 lege.) The method of applying water 

 is necessarily influenced to a great ex- 

 tent by the size of available irrigation 

 head; however, this can usually be in- 

 creased to advantage by neighbors 

 using the same stream in rotation in- 

 stead of each taking a continuous flow. 

 It is also influenced by the character 

 and slope of the lanil and the cropping 

 system pursued. Moderately sloping 

 land having a covering of clover or 

 alfalfa can be flooded, while clean cul- 

 tivated land requires furrows ranging 

 from numerous and small for sandy 

 land to deep and few for heavier soils. 

 Steep slopes usually can be irrigated 

 satisfactorily by means of deep contour 

 furrows. Deep furrows are preferable 

 for most clean cultivated soils, as a 

 minimum of surface soil becomes wet 

 while irrigating. (Figure 1.) ^^^len 

 furrows are used they should be evenly 

 distributetl to insure against irregular 

 wetting of the soil. (Figure 2.) 



The conservation of soil moisture is 

 greatly fostered by systematic and 

 thorough cultivation. This is important, 

 whether the land is clean or in such 

 crops as alfalfa. The fertility of the 

 soil has a marked influence upon the 

 water requirements of crops, hence it 

 is important for this reason, as well as 

 that of adequate growth of the crops, 

 to keep the soil in a fertile condition. 

 Not only does the water contained in 

 fertile soils give better results on ac- 

 count of the heavier load of dissolved 

 plant-food materials that it carries, but 

 soils made rich by the use of legumi- 

 nous crops, or other organic fertilizers, 

 are capable of holding much more 

 water than similar soils in a depleted 



condiliiin. To maintain a high state of 

 fertility in the soil as a practice of 

 water economy, and to create a uni- 

 form demand for water each year a 

 rotation system of cropping is very 

 essential. Instead of i)lacing clover in 

 the entire orchard at one time, thus 

 creating a heavy demand for water for 

 a few years followed by a slight de- 

 mand in years that clean culture is 

 practiced, a portion of the orchard 

 should be kept in crops and a portion 

 in clean culture by changing at inter- 

 vals of two to four years. 



Kill "Barley Taste" by Using Cooking 

 Soda 



Let the soda keep company with the 

 bread board the next time you make 

 your barley bread, and you won't have 

 the family exclaiming, "Oh, if only 

 barley didn't have that queer taste." 



One teaspoon of soda with six cups 

 of flour will counteract that bitter acid 

 taste to which so many persons object, 

 it has been found in experiments made 

 by home economics workers at the Uni- 

 sity of Wisconsin. 



The taste, it is said, varies with the 

 different brands of flours. Most of the 

 flours which are being milled now con- 

 tain more of the outer coat of the grain 

 than they did last summer, and conse- 

 quently have a somewhat stronger 

 flavor than the flours used earlier. 

 Adding a small amount of cooking soda 

 to the dough destroys the taste. 



The Yakima Valley Fruit Growers' 

 Association has closed its pools for the 

 1917-18 crop, showing an average of 

 .fl.33 per box to the grower for all 

 kinds, grades and sizes of apples. 



Give our boys in the Army and Navy 

 every fighting chance. Pledge your- 

 self to save to the utmost of your 

 ability and to buy War Savings Stamps. 



"All the resources of the country are 

 hereby pledged" — now is the time to 

 work them to the limit. 



Protect your soldiers with your 

 savings. 



WE NEED a first-class packing- 

 house foreman for work on large 

 Colorado fruit ranch. August 15th to 

 November 15th; mostly apples. Must 

 know his business absolutely and be a 

 hustler. Must furnish references. 

 Box A X, care Better Fruit. 



Nice Bright Western Pine 



FRUIT BOXES 



AND CRATES 



Good standard grades. Well made. Quick shipments. 

 Carloads or less. Get our prices. 



Western Pine Box Sales Co. 



SPOKANE, WASH 

 NOW is the time to send to 



Milton Nursery Company 



MILTON, OREGON 



FOR THEIR 1918 CATALOG. 



FULL LINE OF NURSERY STOCK. 



"Genuineness and Quality" 



