t f'TI'jfi.r-'- V"'f f - - i - VOL. XVI. 4)Qtn$vmUt$. Small Fruits An Old Growers Method of Cultivation and Marketing. Grant's Pass, Or., May 1, 1881. Editor Willamette Farmer : I havo been interested in the com munications on Strawberries from the pen of A. F. Davidson Bnd think an ex change of ideas by subscribers to any agricultural paper, is the main thing to make the paper valuable to all concern ed. So, Horaco Greely like, I thought it might not be out of place to tell what I know about strawberry farming. Having crown and marketed over two thousand bushels of strawborries in the last ten years and having been asked a question about varieties, culture, kind ol soil suitable to grow them, etc., for every pound thus grown I desire to answer some of them here for the benefit of your many readors. Have grown (hem on rich deep and rather moist soil, also clay loam, and on light sandy or .ashy soil mixed with fine gravel, the latter I pronounce the best by far of the three ; the less gravel and the more soil the better. Such a soil is generally un derlaid with a bed of gravel, thus giving first-class drainage one of the main requisites to the successful culture of the strawberry. I never yet saw a var iety that would succeed on wet soil, oven wild ones shun such a location ; such soil never bakes or gets lumpy and is easily worked and kept free from weeds. It is a warm quick soil and the flavor of the berries is much better and sweeter than those grown on heavier soil, while my experience proves that tho bed will remain in a good healthy bearing con dition much longer than a heavy soil. I have repeatedly produced on such a soil in a single season 250 bushels of first claesberries of the Wilson variety -without manure. Tho main requisite feeing deep and thorough culture that is, stirring the soil often to a depth of one foot and hoeing and raking between vines. Such a soil treated as above only turns up moisture at one-half an inch below the surface, to the astonishment of any drouth which I have seen in Or egon in after a continuous residence of 18 years. I use a cultivator that merely loosens the soil without ridging it up, as a strawberry bed should bo kept level. Having selected the ground to be planted, I summer-fallow it one season or plant to hoed crops unless it is al ready in good condition and free from foul stuff. If one starts in with ground perfectly clear the battle is half won, as it is an endless job to fight sorrel and such coarse stuff after tho plants are set. I prefer fall rather than spring planting as the plants make a moro vigorous growth tho first season. I remove all blossom the first year as, it tends to cheek the growth of the plants to re quire them to bear oven a few berries tho first summer. After plowing the ground one foot deep, immediately previous to planting and harrowing well, o proceed to smooth the surface with a l''n"k or 0,,y suitable device, and mark oil" tho row in the following mannor : Set' a stake at each end of the first row, and one at tho proper distance for tho second row at tho end we are starting from. Then walk across tho field directly on tho lino of the first row, taking steps double the length that you want your plants dis tance apart, and set a plant at each track and also ono half way between. This shows tho plant dropper jtwt how mauy and where to drop the plants, after wo finish marking tho first row we set the stake over and return on the second row and so on until tho field is all marked. I make the rows threo and one-half feet apart and step three feet at each step, making tho plants stand eighteen inches ppart in the row. Supposing one to Taiso their own plants, tho next thing in order is the digging and trimming of the plants, which we do by having two SALEM, or moro stout men to go abend with spado or shovel and loosen up tho plants and shako out all the dirt and throw thorn in convenient iiles for tho trim mors, which with us consisted of a doz en or twenty boys from ten to fifteen years old, who cut off nil but Ono or two of the heart or centre leaves and all old leaves and runners and shortened tho roots to four inches, placing them in piles with tho roots kept well straightened out. Such plants being much easier set than those which havo not been trim med and aro thrown together in a jum bled up mass with roots in every direc tion. Then wo havo a good active boy drop the plants along tho lino marked off and as many men as necessary to set th3in, using dibblos for setting which are made from a piece of steel inch thick by 5 inches wide at top and 8 inches wide at bottom, with sido and bottom edges drawn down thin having a handle welded on ono corner at the top the shape of an ordinary walking cano handle. By thrusting this into tho ground and giving it a few motions to the right and left then drawing it out carefully so no dry dirt shall fall in tho opening. Tho plant is then set by placing the plant in tho opening with the roots kept spread out liko a fan, and thrusting the dibble into the soil at an angle of about 30 degrees with the bottom nearest tho plant, and with a quick motion of tho hand tho dirt is firmly pressed against the plant and then by filling that last opening by scraping full, the w ork is done. Wo had 13,000 Wilson plants dug, trimmed and packed at our Turner farm and sent to us here, all of which arrived safely after a trip of 250 miles. They were planted as above stated about tho middle of March, which aro now making tho best growth of any I havo yet planted, as it is on very sandy loam soil on tho north bank of th'o Eoguo river, treated as above. Wo havo not lost over one plant in a thousand. After setting we hoc and rake after and run a cultivator that merely loosens up the soil without ridg ing it up through between the rows and loosen the soil to a depth of ono foot, about once a week until August 15th, when they aro laid by for tho season. If any weeds make their appearance after August 15th, I pull them by hand or shave them off from tho surface with a hoo boing careful not to go deeper than an inch, as the fall is the timo the plants throw out a good supply of small hair like roots completely filling the soil with them. Feeders we call thorn, to supply tho following year's crop with nourish ment. They should not bo disturbed by either hoo or cultivator until after they are through bearing tho following sum mer, as by bo doing tho plant is weaken ed and very likely, as Mr. Davidson has said in regard to the Wilson, tho second and third pickings would bo small spodv. tl linns. I have btt succor in crowincr them in sinu'o plants or lul with nil runners kept off. When I can planting strawberries ono wouldsay iln not cultivate in the spnne.lnd I would nk why. The uiuuer gierally was that they did not knowbut that thej- read or heard so gome-where, en wo naid no attention to it until we found out better by expenem As to varieties I cannot say much now as this article is already long. I havo tried some twentv-fivo varieties of tho much praised kinds, and for profit I havo jet to find tho variety that will equal the old Wilson. But soil and culture have much to do witli the value of some varieties. I will at some future timo give my mode of gathoring, packing and marketing. If I havo answered any of the many questions asked mo in tho past years by different parties I shall feel repaid, as that should bo a part of our business in this life to learn and bo learned. B. D. Samiioiid. Xewsr letter from California. Sax Jose, Cal., April 20, 1831. Kditor Willamette Farmer: Having traveled in the northern and OREGON, FRIDAY, central portion of California during tho past month I have had tho pleasure of seeing somo very pretty oountry and sconory. Tho present prospects are flattering for an abundant harvest so far as I enn sec, and leports are that it is universally so throughout tho State. The grain crop is to bo seen in all stages from seeding to heading. Tho greatest difficulty apprehended is too rank a growth of straw, owing to thero having beon an unusual amount of rainfall. Thero have been more rainy days tho past month than fair ones. Tho pros pects for fruit is simply enormous, and fruit culture hero hiw reached an im mense magnitude. Seemingly the in dustry would become overdone, but the planting of new orchards is in progress all over the Stato. The estimate is that this seasons planting will moro than equal one-third of all former orchards and vinyards. The apple, plum, prune and pear aro just shedding their bloom, whilst the almond, appricot, and poach aro of considerable sizo;Uhe orange is to bo seen from the bloom to the ripened fruit. It is claimed by many that tho fruit industry will soon be overdone, but judging by the prices asked for fruit green and dried it yet holds a margin. Apples, green, $1.25 to $2.50 per boxj oranges, $3.50 to $4.25 per box ; retail for fifty cents a dozen for very choice. Good fruit lands in localities accessible to market aro selling for from $100 to $800 per acre. Yet in many choice localities more distant from mar ket and railroad communication there is choice fruit lands to ber-diad at prices varying from 10 to $50. There is a beautiful section of country adapt' ed to vineyarding by irrigation to be found at a Bmall place ten miles south of Stockton, on tho railroad, where land can bo bought for from $30 to $15 por acre. I visited some beautiful young orchards and vineyards that were flour ishing nicely. Tho is an increasing im migration of a moro wealthy class to this country, having been attracted by the fruit industry and congenial climate. But lot me say to my Oregon friends do not neglect to avail yourselves of a golden opportunity of engaging in the fruit industry of such varieties as nie adapted to soil and climnte, such as Bartlet and Wintor Nellis pear, apples, plums, prunes, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, currants, etc., can bo pro duced in abundance and of as fine a quality for tho market in tho form of green or dried fruit as any spot on earth and not depend upon tho one routino of wheat culture, and to provide to get an equal share of tho markets of the north eastern States and Territories, as that is a topic hore, to raise the above varieties for the markets of those sections, on the lint of tho railroads arc built and open tlutm up. 31. V. lis An Orozoalan la Calllornla. Herewith we append an interestin, letter received from our old friend mid former resilient, Mr. Mr. M. V. Ensley. It fully explains itsolf. San- Jose. Onl., April 12, 1881. EJi i r Willamette Furmtr : Having been associated with upiacul turo and knowing tho advantages of, and results, obtainod in the production of honey in Oregon, and having passed through tho greater portion of tho north ern and central part of the Stato of Cali fornia, and having investigated tho re sults of this portion of tho Stato by in terviewing apiaculturo in different local ities, I find Oregon is, and can be, made far moro profitable in this industry than is possible in the central and northern portion of California. I find tho princi pal portion of all bees kept hero are con fined to the mountain ranges. It is claimed that about one year in throe is a failure; having to feed tho entire stock iu most localities, while in isomo of the canyons where thero is natural irrigation they may be tcK-sustainlng and in some instance, furnish a small amount of sur plus, but such localities aro tcarce MAY 9, 1884. Apiaculturo has become un industry in this country ; about one in four yoars a bountiful season, then the amount of honey obtained depends altogether upon the hives used and locality in which they aro kept, and I am informed that in many sections of the country where honey could bo gathered most plentiful ly, the species of vegetation of which tho honey is gathered is such as to produce an inferior article not suitable for tho ta ble or market, and I also find that there is a large portion of tho product obtained in many parts of the southern counties, especially in the af terparts of tho sea son, that is not a merchantable article. Taking the results obtained, together with the prices obtained, the business of honey producing is not so remunerative as is claimed. Tb.3 price in San Fran cisco, and quality, are proportionably as follows : Extra white comb from 15 to 18 cents (of the total crop of last year it will aggregate 17 J per cent. J medium to best, 21-J per cent. ; price 10 to 12J cents per pound ; dark and inferior mixed 8 cents per pound ; choice 28 per cent., price, 5 to 7 cents per pound, accoiding to quality, and I find the principal hives used aro tho Langstroth and Simplicity, and usfd principally by tiering up from three to four high, as they find the larger the hh o the better tho results ob tained, i In Oregon thero is scarce a season when it becomes necessary to feed the bees, tho production is moro uniform taking one season with another, and bet ter range for bee ranching in the moun tains along the Cascade and Coast ranges of Oregon than is to be found in California, when taking into considera tion the extent of good honey producing territory, quality and quantity obtained, and tho Northwest, including an East- oni market along tho lino of tho North ern Pacific bee keeping in Oregon is much moro extensive and remunerative than in California. M. V. E. "- Weathsr Beport for April!18M. x Eola, May 1, 1881. Editor Willamette Farmer: During April, 1884, thero vtoro 14 days during which rain fell, and an aggregate of 3.09 inchos of water. Tho mean temperature for tho month was 51.51 deg. Highest daily mean temperature foi tho month, C5 deg. on tho 7th. Lowest daily mean temperature for tho month, 42 deg. on tho 13th. Mean temperature for the month at 2 o'clock i. m., 58.5G deg. Highest tcmpeiature for the month, 75 deg. at 2 r. M. on the 4th and 14th. Lowest temperature for tho month, 25 deg. at 7 A. m. on tho 8th. Frosts occurred on the 4, 14, 15, 18 and 27th. Tho prevailing winds for tho month wore from tho north during 10 days, southwest 0 days, south 11 days. During April. 1883, there wcro 19 rainy days and C.51 inches of water, 4 clear, and 7 cloudy day?. Mean temperature for the month, 47.10 dog. Highest daily mean temperature for the month, 56 deg,, on tho 25th. Lowest daily mean temperature for tho month, (0 deg. on the 13th. T. I'KARD. Woman Suffrage U Popular. I,ABiMi,Or,May3, 1884. Editor WilWmetto Farmer i In ycterdays paper I see a short edi torial iu regard to the woman suffrago question that surprised mo. You say that not more thn one in throe will vote for tho atnondment. Now I bao talked with a great many in this p.irt of the county about it, and only one man in about fifty was against it and ho wbh not in favor of it liccausc ho thought the "wimln was too smart mw." It h hardly worth whilo to advance argu ment, on the sido of the suffrage for those that oppewo it aro seldom capable of NO. 13 understanding ovea tho simplest propo sition. But thero is ono that it seems tho feeblest intellect can grasp, and that is there should be no taxation without representation. F. J. Beatty. KIVER AND HARBOR IMPR0VEMKHTS. Of course our Congresman are exercis ing all their inliuenco and policy to secure appropriations for improving the river and harbors of Oregon and Wash ington, but they cannot force tho great majority to viow matters in a proper light. At a timo when the treasury is so full and tho rovnuo so great it would seem that improvements of such im portance as tho rivors and harbors of this region require could command tho attention of Congress and secure suf ficient appropriations to carry them out. Hore is what the last dispatches say on this subject : It was ogrocd to appropriate as follows : S40.000 for continuing improvement at Yaquina bay; tho engineer's estimate was $140,000. For constructing tho Cascades canal, for which tho engineer's estimate was $500,000, tho committo has agreed on an appropritationof $100,000. Tho upper Willamette river, above Portland, was allowed $5000, and tho Columbia, bolow Portland $100,000; in the former tho estimate was $31,000, and in tho latter $242,000. For tho upper Columbia and Snake rivers, for which tho engineers estimated $5G,000, tho committee has agreed to appropriate $5000. Recommendation for tho Co quillo river. Coos bay and for improv ing tho mouth of tho Columbia were crjcctcd. It was proposed to construct a jetty nt tho mouth of tho Columbia, from tho south capo of tho entrance to tho spit, and there attach it. There were somo differences of opinion among the engineers as to tho advisability of con structing this breakwater, which would havo cost $500,000, and the disagreement resulted in a minority report by Mendcll. Steward, Craighill, Comstock and Powell agreed that tho improvement would bo successful, but Mendcll rcportod that owing to tho peculiar action of tho tides on that part of tho coast thoro were somo doubts whothor the plan proposed would succeed. Tho commitco con cluded that until tho ongincors reached some settled opinion on tho subject it would bo unwise to wnko an appropria tion. . Tho Coos bay estimate was rojoctod on tho grounds that $97,000 had been already oxpended on a half tido jetty, started near Fossil point, at tho mouth of tho bay, and which is'to extend on a curved lino toward Coos. Tho estimate for the Coquillowas also to construct a jetty and cut a channol through tho south entrance, permanently clo'ing tho present channel. Tho committco took tho ground that as theso improvements would cost a great deal of money, it was hotter to wait till the present appropriations are exhausted. The total amount appropriated will be tween $12,000,000 and $13,000,000. Goeur d'Alene Mines. Isaac D. Huntoon, a Portland morchant, writes as follows from the mines : I have been in nearly all the stampedes from Arizona to Frnzer river, and havo met several of my old friends on Pritchard creek that tell mo this is the best mining camp they have ever seen. Somo of theso old timer are direct descendants of tho Wellington. You couldn't hire them to tell a lie, and whon they ensure mo they havo seen $40 totl.e pan washed out and over five pound cleaned up from a throo days' run on somo of tho claims, ami when I bpo tho rich spc cimens of quartz they find he n, I tell you I feel natisflcd that I am in tho richest mineral belt In America. This is a great field for prospt-ctcr'. All through thenu mountains, from tho Yankee fork to tho British Columbia line, thero are thousands of qnartz leads, nm I venture to predict that within eighteen months there will bo ono thosand ttumps crushing ore Ijetweeu Miasouira and Cocur d'Alene lake. Notice. There will bo a meeting of the stock holders of tho Sulcm Co-operative Asso ciation of Patrons of Husbandry No. 17, on Saturday, tno lutn cmy oi ju 110,1001, at 1 o'clock v. m. of said day, to elect di rectors aud org.uiizo said curporationt and do any othor business that may proit'rlv come before said stockholder. It. P. Boise, Dax'l Claiik, O. O. Gu:n.v, Corporator. i l 1 'jra. w t. ,.'Jni. ,.. wi; x . $k . $$&