OREGON 



1511 



my further remarks, while using our 

 200-acre orchard as a model. This orchard 

 has twice established a world's record 

 in prices received for fruit in carload 

 lots. 



We do not irrigate for two reasons: 

 First, it is not necessary, and second, we 

 believe we raise a much better quality 

 of fruit without irrigation. 



I shall now begin with our spring work 

 and endeavor to picture to the reader 

 as vividly as possible every important 

 move we make in the orchard through- 

 out the year. 



As soon as the buds begin to swell 

 the spray rig is put into commission and 

 practically the entire orchard given a 

 bath of lime-sulphur for the control of 

 scale, fungus and aphis. This done, the 

 spray rig is side-tracked till after the 

 plowing Is finished, when it is again 

 brought out and we begin spraying with 

 arsenate of lead for codling moth. To 

 be exact, we begin the first application 

 about ten days after the petals begin 

 to fall, giving the pears three applica- 

 tions and the apples four at about 30-day 

 intervals. This completes the spraying 

 with the exception that every other year 

 we spray with Bordeaux mixture. We 

 make our own Bordeaux. 



The plow is the next tool to get into 

 working order. We have our own black- 

 smith shop and sharpen our own plow- 

 shares, harrow teeth, etc., and do any 

 other repair work that does not require 

 extraordinary skill. 



Plowing time with us usually comes 

 about March 15. Although some have 

 finished by this time, we feel there is 

 nothing gained by plowing so early ex- 

 cept to avert the possibility of being 

 caught with a dry spring and not being 

 able to get it done properly. But this 

 gain is offset by the extra care required 

 for early plowed ground. 



We use three seven-inch one-horse 

 plows for plowing close fo the trees. The 

 singletree is attached to the plow beam 

 by means of a rod or chain of sufficient 

 length to throw the horse about four or 

 five feet from the point of the beam. 

 This allows the horse to swing out 



around the lower limbs and back into 

 line again before the plow is dragged 

 past the tree, thus enabling an ex- 

 perienced plowman to steer the plow 

 directly up to almost any tree in the 

 orchard. 



Our rule is to plow to the trees one 

 year and from the trees the next, then 

 turning and crossing the orchard the 

 next two years in the same manner. This 

 brings us back to our first starting point 

 every four years and keeps the orchard 

 free from high ridges and deep furrows. 



Eight ten-inch plows cut out the cen- 

 ters unless we should get behind with 

 our work, and then outsiders are em- 

 ployed to help us out. 



We aim to plow from four to six inches 

 deep and to work this up into a dust 

 mulch by means of the drag and spring- 

 tooth harrows. First, the drag follows 

 the plow to level down the clods some- 

 what, and then the spring-tooth is put 

 to work going over the ground in various 

 directions, crosswise, lengthwise and di- 

 agonally. Four good animals are used 

 on each of these rigs and the teeth set 

 as deep as the teams can handle them. 

 All the unbroken ground under the trees 

 that cannot be reached by the spring- 

 tooth is dug up with spading forks. W« 

 thus make sure that every foot of ground 

 is being properly stirred. 



After going over the orchard five or 

 six times with the spring-tooth, or until 

 the ground is properly broken up, we 

 again start the drag harrows, going over 

 the entire orchard every ten or twelve 

 days, and when the weather is very dry 

 and the ground cracking badly, as often 

 as twice a week, until the pears are ready 

 to pick. 



We use the three-section steel-frame 

 adjustable harrow. Each harrow is fitted 

 with a spring seat on which the driver 

 rides when the ground is dry enough to 

 permit. The teeth are set at an angle 

 of about sixty degrees, and with the 

 weight of the driver to force them down 

 they keep the dust worked up to a de- 

 sirable depth. 



"Sticky" dries out and cracks very 

 quickly if allowed to settle and harden. 



