12 



cases (and, of course, plenty of other eases might be found 

 where the prices had not been so high), Avhere the orchards 

 'were still returning an excellent interest on the investment. 



It may be that it was unkind in me, as hospitalily as T 

 was treated out there, to go around looking for their 

 troubles, but since I was not at all responsible for the 

 tioubles and would have been glad to help them out if I 

 could, I do not think they will hold it against me, and T 

 want to take a moment to speak of the troubles that they 

 have out there which impressed me most. They interested 

 me and I think they will interest you. showing some of the 

 handicaps under which they are laboring. 



One thing I saw A^ery commonly there Avas sun scald on 

 the fruit. We had this in some of our orchards here 

 a fcAV years Avhen Ave had extremely hot Aveather. The up- 

 per surface of the apple Avill shoAV a broAvn area Avhere the 

 tissues are simply baked. That apparently Avas fairly 

 common. That isn't particularly surprising to me, and I 

 do not suppose to you, because Ave knoAV something about 

 the climate they have there, that it is for the most part a 

 wet and dry season; starting in sometimes the last of Octo- 

 ber and raining much of the time until Avell into the spring 

 and then it stops raining and they do not see any more 

 clouds until October again. With that type of climate and 

 the heat that A\"()uld develop under tliose conditions, it isn't 

 at all surprising that the fruit would at times be scalded in 

 that Avay. 



A second trouble Avhich Avas much more serious it seems 

 to me is Avhat they call out there "collar rot." Of course, 

 we have Avhat Ave call "collar rot" loo. Anything Avhich 

 attacks the tree at the surface of the ground is usually 

 called that. This type they had there so far as any one had 

 an explanation of it Avas considered due to irrigation. I 

 saAV many blocks Avhere perhaps anyAvhere from a dozen 

 trees to an acre up to half or tAvo thirds of the trees on the 

 acre Avould be affected in that Avay. Of course, it probably 

 iTieant if you coul^ discover the trouble on that manv trees. 



