THE HOOD RIVER NEWS
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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.