The Hood River news. (Hood River, Or.) 1909-current, January 29, 1913, Image 1

The Hood River news., January 29, 1913, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextTHE HOOD RIVER NEWS Highest Grade Job Printing Advertisers Get "Results VOLUME 9, NUMBER 5 HOOD RIVER, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1913 SUBSCRIPTION, $1.50 A YEAR Ranchers Discuss Local Problems at Meeting Large Gathering of Orchardlsts Held Under Auspices of Commercial Club and Experiences in Control of Pests, Use of Cover Crops and Irrigation Are GivenValuable Information Secured. More than two hundred orchardjsts attended the meeting held at the Com mercial Club Saturday afternoon to dlBcuss local orchard problems, with special reference to dry rot. Secretary Scott presided and as many as possible of those present fill ed out printed blanks detailing condi tions In their orchards and the man ner in which they had cared for them, the idea being to compare these re sults and reach a conclusion upon the cause of dry rot. More valuable than the written re ports, however, was the discussion, in which a considerable number took part. This discussion led to some def inite conclusions as to the cause and control of dry rot and kindred troubles and these conclusions were verified by I'rofessor Lawrence, who made the concluding talk. Climate or Irrigation? A. I. Mason was on hand with an explanation. lie declared that climat ic conditions had been peculiar last year and laid the unusual prevalence of dry rot to this cause. W. W. Hod well was among those who took exception to Mr. Mason's ex planation. Mr. Hod well said that his orchard had been free from dry rot, while his neighbor's was considerably affected, although their climate was naturallly the same. Mr. Rod well thought It was because he had started irrigating early in the season and kept the ground well moistened throughout the growing period. Paul R. Hughes of Oak Grove was of the same opinion, saying that dry rot had been found particularly where the ground was permitted to dry out too much early In the season, followed by irrigation throughout the summer. Peter Mohr said that he had thrown stock salt around the trees on his place that were affected with the rot and that the trouble had left them. He thought that the salt might have been responsible. After a couple of conflicting opinions one orchardist declared that he had observed that where he had a cover crop and irrigated freely throughout the season there was no rot. Another said he had found core rot w here there were wet spots early in the season which later caked and became very dry. L. F. Henderson said he couldn't ex plain it as he had suffered as much from dry rot on his most fertile soil kept thoroughly wet as anywhere else. Mr. Walters of Cooper and Walters said they had dry rot on only a few trees whluh had suffered from winter kill or low vitality. Mr. Lewis of Lewis and Brown on the Kast Side said they practiced clean cultivation and kept the ground moist the season through, but had rot on scattered trees. He thought it was due to lack of vitality and winter kill. F. P. Friday thought it was due to peculiar weather conditions and scarc ity of sunshine during the past season. Ludwlg Struck was quoted as say ing that too much fertilizer or too sud den changes In the amount of moist ure would cause dry rot. Hoy Brock of the Sears and Porter orchards told In detail of their exper iences and thought the rot was due to an unequal amount or moisture at different parts of the growing season, causing a forced sap flow and breaking dow n some of the cells In the apple. One of the most convincing state ments was by O. D. Nye of Odell. He said he had observed that his orchard nearest the flume, which received plen ty of water at each application was free from rot, but at the further end, which was reached by less water, the rot was much more prevalent. E. H. Shepard Gives a Talk K. II. Shepard, editor of Hetter Fruit and a practical orchardist, was then called upon to give his experiences. He gave an Interesting talk, stating that ho had been practically free from the rot. He thought the best results were secured by growing a shade crop and leaving It In a year, planting it In the Fall and plowing It tinder the fol lowing Fall. He watered his trees six times during the season. Two trees growing near the road where the soil was' kept packed and dry suffered from the rot. Others were free from It. Keep an even supply of water on the trees throughout the year, was Mr. Shepard's advice, and also maintain a sufficient amount of humus In the soil by the use of shades or cover crops. Mr. Shepard was also of the opinion that the rot might also be caused by an excessive amount of water, declar ing that the happy mean should be maintained. "There are a number of other fac tors which enter into a discussion of the rot," said Mr. Shepard,"and the effects of winter kill no doubt make a tree more susceptible. The same Is true of weakened tree vitality from any cause. Cover Crops Valuable Aside from the value of cover and shade crops In maintaining an equable temperature in the soil and supplying humus, Mr. Shepard thought them olso very valuable for their service In loosening up the plow soil. This plow soil, he said. Is the hard stratum that forms Just beneath the portion of the soil which is kept loose by the plow and cultivator. This plow soil, he said, often forms so hard that it pre vents the penetration of moisture and air and thus diminishes very consider ably the supply of plant food avail able for the tree's root system. Mr. Shepard has made some exten sive experiments with cover crops and said that where humus is desired the winter rye, planted in the Fall and plowed under the following Spring gives the best results, at least such was the case on his type of soil. If it Is desired to supply the soil with nitrogen or plant food he advised the hairy vetch, which makes an abundant growth and throws its roots well down into the subsoil. For breaking up the plow soil he advised alfalfa. He said this drives its roots down deeply and although It is difficult to eradicate, he said the frequent cultivation such as is practised here would effect such era dication without bad results. More of the local troubles come from continued clean cultivation than any one other cause, Mr. Shepard declar ed. A number of other orchardists ex pressed their views upon the subject, after which Professor Lawrence was called upon to state his findings. He said that he had visited over 150 or chards that were more or less affected with the rot. He stated that It is not due to either a fungus or insect pest, as some have believed, but that it Is due to the breaking of the cells of the apple from unfavorable physiological conditions. He said that the core rot, dry rot and Baldwin spot are all simi lar in their nature and due to much the same causes. Professor Lawrence explained how the sap Is forced into the young ap ples from the root. Where a large amount of moisture is forced up the pressure is sometimes as great as 75 pounds to the square inch. Inequali ties in this pressure are due to un equal irrigation and to extremes in temperature of the soil. Where a large amount of water Is forced Into the growing apple the pressure causes the cells to break down and the dry rot appears. The appearance of the rot this year In a more general form than previous ly was explained In part by the fact that for several years previous to last year the average rainfall In the valley was considerably below normal. LaHt year It was increased considerable and the greater amount of moisture accel erated the rot. Remedies Are Suggested Three preventatives were suggested by Frofessor Lawrence. First Improve soil conditions, he said. This should be done by definitely determining first what the soil lacked. It Is a mistake to use lime on soli that Is deficient in nitrogen. Before using either lime or nitrogenous cover crops It should first be determined which the soli needs. "You will also have to grow cover or shade crops," he said, "In order to prevent sudden changes in soil tem perature which drive the sap Into the fruit In excessive amounts and break down the cells. "Also bo careful to give the trees a uniform supply of water throughout the growing season." Experiment Station Needed Professor Ijiwrence took the oppor tunlty to urge the need of an experi ment station. He said such a station should employ several experts, all un der the direction of one head, In order that tliey might be directed In co-op- HERMAN PREGGE'S HOUSE IS BURNED Fire destroyed the residence of Her man Pregge at Oak Grove Friday af ternoon about three o'clock. This was the old homestead which has stood as one of the landmarks of that section for nearly 30 years. How the fire originated is not defi nitely known as there was nobody In the house at the time, the family be ing at Mrs. W. Pregge's. E. E. Stan ton, who was driving home from the schoolhouse, was one of the first to catch sight of the smoke pouring out of the building. The family were noti fied and many of the neighbors hur ried to their assistance. The fire was so fur advanced that it was impossible to save the house or any of its contents. For a time It was feared that the large two-story apple storehouse standing nearby would also burn. The neighbors carried several hundred boxes of apples out of this building while others were trying to save it from the flames by throwing snow and water on the roof. Several times it caught fire, but each time the flames were successfully subdued. It is said that the house was insured and that most of the loss will be covered. WANT EXPERIMENT STATION HERE A bill was introduced in the legis lature the last of the week asking that an annual appropriation be made of $5000 for the purpose of establishing an experiment station in this county. C. I). Thompson and other local horti culturists prepared the bill and it was introduced by Representative C. H. Stranahan. The appropriation is asked to be made contingent upon the county mak ing an annual appropriation of $1500 to supplement the state appropriation. Although it Is hoped that the bill may pass, it is handicapped on account of the fact that not less than nine bills asking for experiment stations have already been introduced and It may be hard sledding for the local measure. Malheur, Grant, Coos, Clat Bop and Yamhill counties are among those in the field for experiment sta tions. It is stated that other counties are preparing to make similar re quests. erative study of the different pests or unfavorable conditions as they might arise. He said there should be a soil expert, an expert in the use of irriga tion and one or more to study the plant diseases. Secretary Scott called attention to the fact that I'rofessor Lawrence has resigned as county fruit inspector be cause of the reduction in his salary following the report of the grand jury. He said it was most important for the fruit industry here that Mr. Law rence's services be retained and said It was up to the fruit growers. A. I. Mason took the opportunity to call attention to the horticultural bill introduced in the legislature .by the State Board of Horticulture. He said It would give the counties authority to hire such on expert without salary re striction. If it passed he said It would solve the local problem. Professor Thompson announced that a bill calling for an experiment station here has also been introduced and urged all to give it every possible su pport. iM'tmriHiilfc- Npw SnAnchnU ""mioml Of the Week Floods en used great damage niony before the New York gru 1 c tea b vW CAN'T MARKET ITS FROSTED ORANGES California will not be allowed to market its crop of frosted or frozen oranges this season. Word has come from Washington that the marketing would not be tolerated, but plans are under way to utilize the stock In other ways. While the order of the government does not entirely prohibit the selling of these oranges, stock that Is damag ed 15 per cent will be considered adulterated within the meaning of the pure food law. The message from Washington says: "In order to protect the consumer and to prevent the flooding of the mar ket with oranges and lemons unfit for food, the pure food board of the bu reau of chemistry yesterday afternoon Issued a formal order forbidding inter state commerce In those fruits mater ially damaged In the recent California "freeze." " 'Materially damaged,' within the purview of the board, is where the freezing has dried more than one-fifth of the center pulp. Shipments where 15 per cent or more of the fruit is thus affected will be held to be 'adul terated by the agents.' "In order to prevent the frozen fruit from being sold, special Instructions were issued by the bureau of chemis try to carefully Inspect all citrus fruit. "In connection with this new order, the bureau announced that it now is perfecting a method by which the growers may dispose of their frozen fruit In making confections, oil and acids. "The bureau's reports indicate that between 65 and 80 percent of the Cali fornia crop was affected by the recent freeze." F. R. Brisley, representative of the Acme White Lead and Paint Company, was In town Thursday making the nec essary arrangements with the E. A. Franz Company for the coming year. Extension Course to be Given Local Ranchers It is announced that an extension course Is to be given in this county under the direction of the Oregon Agri cultural College. The dates are from February 17 to 20. Horticultural and agricultural ex perts from that institution, all with a special knowledge of local conditions, will compose the corps of instructors and it is said that Professor Lewis, Boquet, Jackson and Cordley will be here. In order that all may avail them selves of this opportunity, meetings will be held at Parkdale, Pine Grove and Odell and on the West Side. The exact dates for each point have not yet been definitely arranged. This work is In line with the policy of the O. A. C. to extend Its extension department rather than to encourage the establishment of experiment sta tions in the various sections. Presi dent Kerr last week advised the legis lature that he was in favor of such ex tension work rather than the inde pendent stations and advised against the granting of the several bills pro viding for the establishment of such stations. Another announcement In line witn the same movement is that of the lecture to be given by Professor Dry den of the O. A. C. at the Commercial Polncnre w vns elected president of France over I'nms ami iVschnncl. Federal guilty of the charges of high misdemeanors and wns removed from the bench. Jacob II. Schlff and Ueorge W. Perkins ten titled lefore the I'ujo money trust investigation nt Washington. I'oulke E. Brandt. Mortimer SehifT's former valet, who de fined lefore the I'ujo money trust investigation nt Washington. I'oulke E. Brandt. Mortimer SehifT's former valet, who de clared thnt ho had been unjustly sentenced to thirty years' imprisonment, wns pardoned by Governor Sulzer of New York In Pittsburgh. Captain Rould Amundsen was welcomed as the south pole discoverer. George A. Slpp gave damaging testl ;raft luvvHthjntlou. Iiov. Daniel Russell was nuuicd to ollhiate at the wedding of Miss Helen Gould and Finley 1. Shepard. WINTER RETREATS BEFORE CHINOOK A balmy Chinook wind swept In over the valley Friday night broke the back bone of winter for a few days at least and the week end in Hood River would have been a second Indian summer had it not been for the snow that still remained. The Chinook, accompanied by bright warm sunshine, made an onslaught on the snow, which was piled between two and three feet deep, and at pres ent there are only two or three Inches left. The rapid melting of the snow caus ed the river to rise rapidly and the power plants carefully guarded their intakes. No damage was done to small trees, however, as the growers took the precaution to settle the snow around them before the heavy thaw came. On Saturday the maximum temper ature, according to the official observ er, Professor Lawrence, was 52 de grees and the minimum 38; on Sunday the maximum was 45 and the mini mum 38; on Monday It was slightly cooler, the maximum being 40 and min imum 38 degrees. REFUSE INSPECTORS FOR FROZEN FRUIT Officials of the Pure Food Board hold they have no authority to place Government Inspectors In Pacific Coast packing houses to inspect citrus fruits before shipment, as has been re quested by fruit men. In view of the board's order prohibiting the sale of citrus fruits frozen in the recent cold snap on the Coast, the growers asked the board to Inspect shipments in the packing houses instead of the Eastern markets that they might not suffer the loss of having shipments condemn ed after incurring freight and packing charges. Club rooms Saturday, February 15. This lecture will be illustrated by mov ing pictures and the subject will be the chicken business in Oregon. All will be welcome to attend this lecture, especially the women and children. ICE IS USED TO HOLD JACK BLOOM A recent dispatch from Washington, D. C, states that W. F. Thomas of that city, owns an orchard of 6000 young apple trees In Maryland. The unsea sonably warm weather has coaxed out the buds and there Is danger of bloom ing. In case of frost the trees would be injured. Mr. Thomas consulted experts of the Department of Agriculture, and on their advice shipped 100 tons of ice to the orchard. The ice will be broken up and applied to the roots of the trees in the hope of chilling them, thus preventing the sap from rising and thereby keeping them from bloom it. g. Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Johannsen of tfce Upper Valley spent the week end vis iting friends in The Dallws. il m Lighting Contract Let to the Hydro Company City Council Signs'Agreement2forTen Year Period Following Withdrawal of Batchelder Injunction Suit--Both Companies Pleased --flavor Blanchar Submits Message to Council. At the meeting of the city council Monday evening a 10-year contract with the Hydro Electric Company for lighting the city streets was signed. This action on the part of the council followed the voluntary withdrawal by J. F. Batchelder of his injunction suit against the city. It has been rumored that certain changes have taken place recently which give the Hood River Gas and Electric Company control of the local field. This being the case, it seems as though the Hood River Gas and Electric Company owes certain citi zens active in the city's affairs their heartfelt thanks for the strenuous part they have taken in getting a 10-year electric light contract for the city at twice the rates which the city now pays. The Glacier in its last issue asked why Mr. Batchelder withdrew his injunction suit. Now they know. The contract as signed contains a a large number of provisions. One is that the city can demand a readjust ment of the rates at any time that they may appear unreasonable, a hearing to be given before the stae public ser vice commission. At the same time the contract pro tects private users of the juice by pro viding that maximum rate shall not be in excess of 10 cents per kilowatt for the small consumer, with a sliding scale down to five cents a kilowatt for the larger consumers. It is provided that the contract shall go into effect not later than 60 days from date. The city shall specify where the lights shall be placed and work will be started without delay in properly wiring the city for lights a long felt need. The passage of the contract by the council was unanimous with the ex ception of Councilman Stranahan, who voted against it. Salaries are Fixed With the approval of the council Mayor Blanchar fixed the salaries of the appointive officers. These remain the same and are as follows: City marshal $100 a month, city at torney $75, water superintendent $100, city water clerk $60, city engineer 75 cents an hour with a minimum month ly stipend of not less than $50 nor more than $150. The fire and water committee re ported favorably on the fire escapes that have been constructed on the old rink and recommended that a license be granted Messrs. Fitzpatrick to con duct a skating rink. The Heights firemen made a protest against the present location of the fire house there. It Is now on the springs property, which is owned by the city. This location makes a hard uphill pull for the department and it was request ed that quarters be provided so that the apparatus can be kept In a more convenient place. Mayor Submits Message Mayor Blanchar submitted to the council a brief message as follows: w ltn your permission, the mavor will deviate from the usual procedure neretotore rollowea or preparing a lengthy report at this time of the year "with recommendations, etc., be lieving that more effective results may rouiKE - g Judirc Robert W. ArehSald was found be obtained from more frequent com munication bearing directly upon the needs of the city and our ability to pro vide for same. We are entering a new year under favorable circumstances. The city's financial condition is splen did and much credit is due the former council for the faithful service render ed. Should Start Street Paving "We should immediately proceed to take up the matter of street paving, carefully reviewing the work of the former council and ascertaining be yond doubt what kinds of paving will give proper results and yet be the most economical. This is no small problem and the former council was obliged to hurry matters more than they probably would liked to have done on account of the short time giv en them in which to decide. We, how ever, have ample time In which to work out this problem if we start now. Should Employ An Expert "It is therefore recommended that the street committee be Instructed to secure the services of a competent paving expert in the capacity of a con sulting engineer, requiring him to make a personal investigation of the various phases of the local problem, the variation in grades, weather con ditions during winter season and pres ent valuation of abutting property, which will be required to pay for the proposed improvement, then give the council his opinion and recommenda tions. "It is further recommended that steps be taken to macadamize the prin cipal thoroughfares from the paved district to the city limits (where same has not already been done) as early as weather will permit and that the street committee be authorized to proceed Im mediately with the judicious expendi ture of not less than $2000 for further improvement of the East Side grade, while labor is plentiful." RAILROAD RATE CASEJPOSTPONED A novel situation has presented It self in the Upper Valley around Park dale and Wood worth stations. O. M. Bailey, a long-time resident there, has complained to the State Railroad Commission relative to rates and service. The people, apparently well satisfied with present efforts of the railroad company, have signed a joint letter to the commission, stat ing that the railroad company Is de serving of credit for what it has done. The plaintiff has twice asked a post ponement and the hearing that was advertised here for Saturday last did not materialize. The case is now set for late in February. Charles T. Early, who has charge of the railroad properties, is now In the East and local officers declined to give out any information. About 97 per cent of the Upper Val ley people have, it is understood, gone on record as favoring the railroad company by signing the petition refer red to above. LOCAL TRANSFERS OF REAL ESTATE Frank Davenport to Stanley-Smith Lumber Company, five acres and right of way near Ruthton. Harry IiVein to Hannah Anderson, five uores In Barrett district. M. Morioka to ('. Niguma, 5.92 acres in Riverside Park west of Dee, $1,100. Christian and Missionary Alliance Sunday School at 9:45, II. C. Dletz, superintendent. Preaching at 11 a. m. Young People's Meeting at 7:15 p. m. Evangelistic service at 8 p.m. Prayer meeting Thursday evening at 7:45. These are all gospel meetings. Our motto: "Jesus Only." All are cord tally Invited. W. P. KIRK, pastor. Christian Science Christ ton Si lence services are held n (he Reuiling Room, Room 2, David son iiuiiiiing. Sunday at 11 a. in. Subject, "Truth." Sunday Hi-hixd at 10 a. m. Wednesday meeting at I p. in. The reading room is open dally from 2 to !i p. in. Read the News-it tell it alt.