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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1875)
T- - $3.00 per Year, in Advance. THE, CASH SYSTEM. The farmers of Oregon, of this coast, and elsewhere, are all allye to (ho advantages and ad Importance of dealing strictly for cash, sad we hare a few brief remarks to make on that subject. , We have tried thi credit system, and are tired of It, A portion of our subscribers pay p punctually, bnt the most do not. We lose interest money, and meet with some losses, and the subscription list does not average orer $2.50 for eaob subscriber, per an Bum, and this leads us to making tho follow lng change in terms: Hereafter all renewal and subscrip tions, where tue eali snail accompany (lie order, can be paid at 92.50 per au snm, All Subscriptions that are allowed to ran thirty rt7 over time will be ln- sjrarlnblr 93.00 per annum. This nfl'er Is made to indncc prepayment of Mibscrlp tlons, and trill be applied only to those who pay strictly In advance. All those who are receiving this paper are invited to remit the balance that will be due lis on the 1st of January, and add $2.50 to pay for the year 187(3. That will commence the year punctually, and place them on the jprepiad cssli basis. A look at your tag will show you how mncbyou will be Indebted to us January 1st st the rate of 23 cts a month. Remittances can be made by registered letter, currency can bo sent by mall at its current value, or money can bo paid to our ioeal agents. (For Hie Wlllametto Frmer,1 GHAPE3-THEIB DECLINE. THE CAtrxjtS OF THKIR DECLINE. That the cultivated grape In declining Is only too trne. The old Catawba Is nearly ynn out, save in a few favored localities. The grape for "the million," the Concord, is now, and has been for some time, declining. Very good authority states that "the old and reliable Concord is getting worse yeir after year, has mildew, Ml log leaf, rot," Ac. Tho Isabella, too. ! planted no longer in many of the States. The Iona, a very superior grape, is also becoming so diseased act to make planters hesitate lo set It out any more. The Adlrondac, Cassady, To-Kalon, Mottled, Bebecca, and nearly all of Roger's, Camp bell's, Arnold's, Underbill's, Allen's, and other hybrid from ferliliziilon of vinlfera are rapidly declining In vigor, health, and productiveness, as well hs In adaptability to -various locations. Tho northern iorra or group of Labrusca, including many ol our best table grapes, are becoming so dlea-ed tbat their propagation must cease, lor they are unprofitable. The northern form or group b less unhealthy, but even these are becoming unreliable. Now, what are the t-nusna of Hie decline of our grope T Tula In a very Interesting, not to say, deep question. I will, however, try to answer It In such manner as I may. Tho causes are various. Here are soma of the most important ones First, Inwct; fee .ondly, bad locations; thirdly, improper 'treatment in cultivation, pruning, training, and manuring; fourthly, a want of judi ciously selecting the right species and vari eties adapt d to our soil and climate. Wo will takes these set ialim. Thf re are, of insects which prey on the viae, torn fifteen or twenty. Then there re several caterpillars, as el ho various miles. And what shall we aay of birds ? If you bar a small vineyard, these pests take all your tweet grapes. 1 think, sometimes, tbat it cost more to grow grapes than they otne lo, utile you are away out In tho dry, onen hills, where I here are few birds, and, as yet, lew Insect enemies to the vine, with a aood market . But for home ue we must have Ibem; besides, with a little "home cir cle " to guard them, they can be grown. Of locations, I need not say much, for most persons know where to set vines. Cold clay lands, springy, damp lands, and lands liable lo receive a surplus of water from bills above them, should be avoided. Gravelly, stony, andy land, if not too muoh so. are good for vines. If on high, dry lands, an eastern, southeastern, or northwestern slope in good; a direct southern lope, if sleep, iu mm ary, Jint summer tiliuive, i bid; a slurp north ern klor.o sLmild n-wer bo planted iu vliw-e; but ft gentle Korlhe'n gn'le U ore, in the WlHaciette vallrye?p.JlNyrwI!(sn bbeen A Four-Page 7 JfcZ. . CI --- il A 1.1". - - 1 - k SI If W - J rf I , .XW f r 0 -V h.1 .Haf- i . I c SALEM, quite successful with all kinds or fruits. Here, the buu rises and sets north of us ; hence we have, in summer, the morning and evening genial rays, but not the Intense heat oi noon; consequently, fruits in such a loca lion a loug northern slope are seldom sun dried, burnt, or, as we say, cooked. I have had apples, pears, plums, but never grapes, scorohed by the sun's heat. Of improper treatment in cultivation, pru ning, training, and manuring, a volume might be written. When we take into con sideration the unnatural, not to say harsh, treatment our cultivated or improved vines have, and are receiving, need wo winder they are declining and becoming full of dis east? It is true that by judicious cultiva tion, 4c, we have Improved the wild vines and brought them up to a standard we call a good one a standard reached through means used to ends. The means are neglected, the end Is lost. Hence our grapes are declining. Lot us look at the matter, for it is deeply Important. Here, a vineyard is made on a high, dry ridge; 1m sot out well, mid of heil tby, line vines. The owner wishes to make them grow; he piles manure, often brush, around the vines; he runs his plow deeply near the vines, tearing up the spongioles; ho cuts and slashes the young growth of wood; he pays no attention to the insects which prey on bis vlues does not know them he prunes his vines late in spring, and in sum mer too. While the vinos are young they will grow and baar some under any treat ment almost, but in four, live, or six years the course pursued above tells on their con stitutions. The leaves begin to wither, and (all; the fruit does not ripen well; the vines look sickly; the vineyard is declining. Now, nothing has beon done wrong inten tionally. Dut a wrong has been done. The meaos, good when properly used, havo been improperly used. The end is, wbalT A mildewed, yellow-leafed, rotten-fruited, dy ing lot of vines. Who, or. what, ia to blame? The soil? No, tbat la good. The location 7 No, tbat is good. The vines, per stt No, tbey were naturally good. The manure? No, it was badly used. The cultivation? No, it was an abuse of cultivation. The pruning ? No, only an abuse of the noble art. The climate? No, that Is as It should be. Who, then, or what, Is to blame? Alast the owner is to blame, and nobody else and nothing else. Now, we will take another case. A vine yard Is set out on the same kind of soil, loca tion, and vines. He uses a cultivator, plows shallow near the vines, and hoes around tbeui ho does not prune his young vines the first seabou at all, nor drive stakes by them, nor make trellises, but lets the little vines grow undisturbed, making as much wood and leaves as possible, for the leave are the lunga of the vine, and without them there would bo no wood, no roots, no fruit. The liratwousou we have uo fruit, wo want ilie vines to grow iu root, branch, 'and leaf rhe manure used is old, and well dtcmi posed, and not put around lb.) vino, to li eat it aud breed worm, but is thinly oittorod over the whole ground, ho (hat the spngl oles (Mil get enough, but not too uiuuli, of it. This vineyaid in all it should be. For wine, to have the natural flavor of tho grape, no maiiurn should bo usd, for tl e wine will rasio of the kind of umnuro ap plied. For table use, or for market, manors may be judiciously used, as it Increases the si.o; and large fruit sells better than small. But, for wiue, small Irult is just as good ; nay, better, because there is leas water, more budy, and the real flavor of the grape is purer, richer. Species and varieties adapted to our soil and climate, If judiciously selected, will, other things equal, be a sure means of suc cess. A species free from disease is greatly to be preferred. Varieties of the same species are often wli'ely different, aa the Northern Muscadine (native), though of the same spe cie as the Concord (labrusca), is not near aa good a grape as the Concord, An acquaint- noe with species and varieties, with their adaptability to our soil and climate, ia a first requisition, Many a man, in selecting a lot of vlues for bis vlueyard, baa failed in pro curing fuet such as bis soil Insulted to. The labrusca, tcstlvalls, and riparla, are the best peclea lor us, in the Willamette. Varieties selected from these grow admirably here. There ia but on spnelea of the foreign grape, villa vinllnra. Though, by seedlings, selections, cultivation, and crossing, there are now more than 2,000 varieties of the vl nlfera. All our brhl Uiblo grape? (foreign) are of this ppc-cle, us itoyal Muis;diue, Uhacee.-is llo-.e, Muott of Alcsaudor, Illack Frlcce, Alack tit. I'cltr, Uiucfc July, Miller's lim gundy. te Utetwi4er, Alack Mo Supplement with the r r v s-Ci '2L OREGON, DECEMBER 24, 1875. rocco, Rose of Peru, Flame colored Tokay, Black BurgunJy, Black Hamburg, dec. All these grapes are, more or less, tender, from having been maltreated, pruned too se verely, oramped, orcompelled to grow in a circumscribed sphere, as In a hot-bouse, hot bed or pot, till theyare Injured in constitution and, hence, an easy prey to diseases, Inseots, changes of dim e, &o. The same thing ap lles to mir best American grapes. Are there no other causes which have weak ened and brought about such deterioration in both foreign and native grapes, as to, In many countries, not so much here make our faith In successful grape-growing rathrr weak? We think there are. The growing vines in hot-houses, of green or immature wood; the forcing and high-manuring pro cess; and the excessive nursing and pamper ing with chemtotlly prepared compost an unnatural, artificial stimulant which de stroys by overdosing all the sap-vessels, ren dering diseased the alburnum, buds, spongioles, and destroying the conalltullon of tho plant. Away with your green-wooded, hot-home plantsl No wonder our vinos are declining. Shame to the shameless crea tures who thus, for gain, ruin tbo noblest gift of Flora to man. Such hot-house plants aro fit subject for insects to prey in, for diseases and the Inclemency of the rea sons to kill And yet " we don't know what's the matter with our declining grapes," I approve of trellises, or stakes, of judi cious cultivation, pruning, manuring ; of vines grown by cutting of mature, healthy wood, In natural Foil, without pruning or loo much artificial stimulation, A. F. Davidson. For the Willamette Farmer.! 0ECHAED3. Mr. Editor': Upon your Invitation to write on Orobard Planting, and trees, I will give my experience of a practice of overflO years in Nurseries and Orchards In Oregon. My whole experience of orcharding is con fined to tbat planted by H. Laelllng and Won. Meek and for the eleven years of 50 to 70 owned by J. H. Lambert and myself and now by Lambert alone, at once the old est and perhaps the largest one In Oregon, near Mllwankie on the banks of the Wil lamette. Moat of the old orchards in the Valley originated from this orchard, directly orlndlreolly. Iu early days a large Nursery was connected with it. The orignal trees were hauled across the plains In boxes, growing, set In two wagons, In 1848, It con tains about GO acres and pomprUes a variety of soils; rich sandy bottom, good common soil, dry clay land andswall, the latter well drained. Ihe whole was planted with all varieties of fruit, (frown in Oregon, and for years cultivati-d In tho highest manner by plowing and hart owing several times in a seasonaud spading and hoeing around the trees, uo ctop", but t-ouie potatoes for the first few year were rulreil. In '51 I llrat worked on Ihe pi aro and lor 2 or 3 ymrs many trues were plantod, some on nw luud aud many iu amongst those nlready grow, log, thesastod 103.2 feet and vn planted in rows o tlio.y stood 10x10 feet, and this dis tance I will reemmuend for new plantings. This ives dUtunce enough as the treea must be nhorieiied In and pruned heavily Hfler each heavy crop, or they will break to pieces, and the Irult becomes gnarly, I speak of oldtjr tree, whose tops would come togolber. We dug boles 4 feet In diameter and 20 inches deep, but this we found not neces aary upon experience, Holes large and deep enough to receive the trees a little deeper than tbey wero in (be nursery, the, the roota well spread out and the soil filled in amongst the roota and no tramping with the loot If planted in the fall, but late In the spring and the ground dry, a tramping after the hole Is nearly filled is advisable. I hold All-planting preferable to spring. In our winters the roots make a fine start and our rains settle the soil firmly about the tree, and if yon lay the longest roots against the wind, it acts as an anchor and the tree stands firm. In the spring we must often plant late or In the wet. The first four or five years the ground should be well cultivated and no grain at any time sown iu the orchard. Clover should then be sown and after four years again plowed up and cultivated for two or three years. TICATIOX AMD BOIL. A north tlopo Is preferable, sheltered by a belt of timber in tho east from tbo early rays' nf tho sun on a frosty morning in time of blooming. If the nctural v..in;:t;i of ihe sun ai:d not tbo strong rad thaws tho frosted blooai, no barm U lively to corns j then fruit Farmer this Week. " teV, i w . la less burned by the suu aud. north sides of hills are gene.'ally the richest and the ground does not get so dry. These are Important considerations In our hot and dry climate. As for soil, the dryest part of a farm, If not too poor, is the best for all kinds of fruit trees. Bleak, poor, clayey knolls should be avoided, however. Apples will not grow in a wet soil; pears are less particular; plums must have dry land; peaches dry and sandy; quinces do best ouadiyspot; the blackberry is the only fruit I kno or that does well iu moist soil. Now to piovemy premises by experience in the orchard as above stated. Containing all varieties of soils, it gave a good opportu nity to test the adaptability of tree and soil. Apple trees, planted on dryland moderate ly rich, suoh as most of our farm lands are, do the best at present, still bear good oropn, and are the healthiest and have always done the bast; on dry, but very poor soil, did no good and soon died; otiilcb sandy soil did not ripen the wood well, died much in tho limbs and showed many weak places; thoe planted ou swale land, though drained at much expense by a skillful Scotchman never did any good aud soon a large opeu spaoa told the story. A few pear trees were plant ed in wet ground aud have been and aro do ing well, but dry land for pears. Some 50 quinco trees stood in a wet spot nnd bore good crops, the drier part however gave the better crop. Cherries must hive dry sol), even stony. I mention plums the last be cause of their awakening importance tbey require a more lengthy notice. I emphatically recommend all varieties of plumsto be planted on dry ground. True the wild plum Is mostly found in wet spots, yet experience has taught us lht the cultiva ted plums and prunes will do no good save on dry soil. P. Barry, in bis " Fruit Garden " says: " The plum succeeds best as a general thing In a day loam, rather stl'fl. The native pium, however, does well on very light soli." This is in accord with my experience In this country and of what I know of cultivation of prunes in Germany. Much of the land in Northern Germany is very sandy, having been reclaimed from the blowing sand dunes, and is frequently drifted by the wind to the great damage of crops. In the early part of this century the King of Prussia furnished to the farmers of such lands a large amount of pruue trees, oalls'd the Ger man Prune, Ouetscbe or Twetsche, to be planted on tbeir sandy lands 60 feet apart. It was claimed tbat the trees would make wind breaks and the loaves covering the ground would prevent drifting, and tho crop would amply repay for occupation of space. Now then this experiment proed an entire success. The fnruiers'reupod a larger crop ol rve nud a profitable crop of primes. 1 have seen tho dried piunes from these lauds bault-d to market iu laro box wagons and sold by tho bushel. Now till, if Huytblru, would prove th'it tbepruni duos well on dry laud, unit such Is uiy expei Itiiiu'j In Oregou. In 1811 or 'CJ we planted a number of prune, somo on diy land, and tome on wel though undor-dralncd and nil on wet laud soon die i, and ail ou dry land are now flno trees, bearing htavy crops ol Felleuberg Prunes. My experloncti would tell ma by all means; plant your plum and prune orchards ou dry laud. Jt Is all important lhat we start out right in any undertaking, but much inoro bo in starting an oicbard that takes yens lo mature and Is expected to last for years. I havo more to say on this subject in another paper. Henky iln.LKii, Portland. Eesolutions of Bespeet. Whereas, It has pleased an all-wise Provi dence to remove fiom our midst by death, George Mathews, a worthy momb'-r of Lone Star Grange, No. 1C0, P. of H.; therefore belt Resolved, That by tbo drutb of Hro Math ews we bavesuffmt-d the loss of an efucWxit and earnest co-worker iu our cause, foclety a fahhlul and upright ullizuu aud his family a kind pmieoior. ' R'solved, That we extend to thoallllcted family of Aro. Mathews our sincere sympa thy and condolence, iu this, their hour ol trouble. Resolved. That the Secretary of this Grange be instructed to furnish the bereaved family of deceased with a copy of these reso lutions, also one to the Willahxttk Fakmeu for publication. A. II. BllKVMAN, If. A. JOHNHQN, Mils. M, L. Tomky, Committee, A herd ofcholui Out runny cattle Imported bj the .MsHb!ieiiH r-odety lor Promoting AurU ultiire. over u vnar uj;o, were sold ut amnion ii' Jiimitca Plain, on tbo 3d lint, Tvv el vn bead were told at prices ranging from $JI to?:wi,Bn(l I biH(;grch'utu amount renlUod lit tho '.ale was 31,731. Volume VII. Number 45. How Prunes thrive In Oregon A Grange Feast Bkavkr Gmuj, Deo. 6, 1875. Ed. Fahmkr: My promise lo write some? of my experience with the prune I now ful fill, I baye trlod throe varieties of prunes so called, The German Prune Is the only one worth planting ca tho prairie or open ground, and I very much question whether there i any locality this side of the situations about Portland or Vanoouver, Washington Territo ry, that tho Italian prune will succeed. It may possibly succeed south of the Califor nia Mount'ilns, bnt in all my acquaintance in the Willamette valley above Oregon City, I do not kuow.of a single healthy tree of this variety, but in sheltered situations there may be some. The German prune needs sood culture, and so tar as my exporlonce poes will do best ou hill or red land. Lot it head low and cultivatn thoroughly, or the fruit will drop oil until there is only a a handful left. Soma havo tried Irrigation, but it grows two lato with this treatment. Wo hod a. Jolly time on yostorday. Our Giangeat Rock Point met for our anniver sary least, and a free talk. Bros, smith, of Tumor Grange, and Jones, ofSalom Grange, wore with ns, and such a social least Is sel dom witnessed or experienced in this selnsh and grasping world, and such a talk as the sisters gave us ou domestic economy wan, fearful; and when we udjourned it was the understanding that each brother aud sister granger was to pay a social vislt.oneor more, to some brother and sister granger before the next regular meeting; and then such plan ing of visits aud mutual good will made me think of that good sorlpture which says, '-a ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them." Brother and sister grangers; the grange will be just what we make it in and of ourselves. G. W. Hunt, See. From the Coqnille, CcquiLMS, Doo 0, 1875 Editor Farmrri The steamer " Cardelia," about' which so much uneasiness was felt in consequence of her being nut Iu the late stormy weather; came into this river yester day, safe and sound. She experienced the roughest weather she has ever yet encounter ed; and the fact tbat she came In, In good condition, when ethers went under, reflects credit on her oflioers and crew, and their gal lant little oratt. She brinits a boiler, engine, and other machinery for Hoover's mill, on tho upper Coqulllo, merchandise and ma chinery for Capt. P. rker's tug, which be la building to run on tbo Coqullle bar. This tug will ba built of Orpgon fir throughout. She is to bo 10 lent kocl, 15 feet beam, and 5j foot draught. Her engine will bo 00 horsi poWHr, with extra lariro "illnrs, Sha is lo bo bnilr, extra strong and sHinimh, and calcul ited to plunge through the surf like a Hca-llon, aud dra; 11113'thing which U loo-to at both eudv, ulVer hor. Capt. Paikrr will alo lulld a large saw mill at his pluco on the lower Coq'illli', I bo timber for whiok Is now being trauxp irted to tho place of Its erection. m. Letter from Iowa. Cor.Ksntmu, Ukmvvaiin Co , Towa, ) Deo. 7lh, iH7i J Mit. Editor: It has been sometime slnco I recti ved a copy of tho Wir.iiAMKrrK Far mer (which you kindly sent me for some weeks or months after my subscription bad expired). 1 have been thinking about re newing for some time, but the pressure of work And a little scarcity of funds have pre vented, but now please find inclosed P, O. order for $5 for which pleaxe send me Ihe Wuxamkitu Farmkr as long as you csn af ford fir that amount, after deducting what I already 00 you. My family UUe it the best of any of liio three or four Paclflo coast pa pers which wo have been receiving. Wintor has tot in; It U snowing all day to-day; mer cury a week ago last Monday morning 15 below zsro; about 10 all day. Yours mo'it respectfully, J AMISS Cot.K. Trbeh.--T, B. Allen, ol Salem, is agent for the Wood burn Nursery, and can be louud with a fine assortment of fruit, shade, aud ornamental trees, of all varieties, at Marliu it Alton's storo, Commercial street. When vou visit Portland do not fall to BO (.nd sco Wood's Museum, with Its 70,ou0 cu riosities. Admission only 25 cents. TlioSoutlnmi Ur0Kn Swamp Land Coin pan v metnt JarktsiiivlllMOii Fruity last and eli'iiei! Jaiuus A, Fay, J, is. T, .Miltur and Usury Klippel m (ilitc'.ois; ibury Kllppul as Pt-gident, fl 4 vl 'iWswV. -jis...Lu.ij-J .-r.! jjk mo W-jfciLgijjJ&wrri. "- "f.r-F'e&s itit ,