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HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
The Agricultural College Is a Valuable Friend to the Farmer
. am m. V . i a J VT i 1 S1 II J
rage or isews rsiores and interestins: Articles written rv college experts.
VIEW OP OREGON AGRICl'LTl'RAI. COLLEGE AT CORVAIAIS, OR. IT'S SOLB AIM IS TO AID AGRICULTURISTS.
New Horticultural and Crop
Pest Report Now Announced
OREGON fruit and vegetable growers
can find no more valuable aid in solv
ing the problems of production and pro
tection of horticultural products than the
information contained in the second bien
nial crop pest and horticultural report of
the Oregon experiment station. The facts
and principles put forward in this newly
published volume were determined by
careful experimentation with Oregon ma
terial under Oregon conditions.
Some of the most important problems
that confront the grower were taken up,
several of which have been solved while
still others are in course of solution. Care
fully worded and accurate reports of
these experiments have been made and
results together with the principles of
production induced therefrom are clearly
stated.
The horticultural report deals with fer
tilizers for onion land, greenhouse tomato
investigation, fruit-pit studies in the Wil
lamette, effects of different degrees of
moisture on pears, and strawberry va
rieties of Oregon. Each subject was
written bv a specialist and while conserva
tive and reliable is also vigorously and
vitally handled for the benefit of the
general grower.
The report on insect crop pests was
taken from records of original investiga
tions and contains notes on a number of
species not named In the first report. Sev
eral' investigations that were under way
when the first report as Issued have
been concluded, while thers are still in
progress. There are eight of the unfin
ished problems now undwr investigation
to be reported at a later .te.
Not all the investigational work was
carried on at the college by any means,
many of the control problems having been
studied In the variouB parts of the state
in which serious outbreaks occurred.
Field tests with Insecticides have also been
performed in many Instances and the ef
ficiency of the sprays has been deter
mined. .11 it.
The report on botany and plant path
ology includes seven discussions, as fol
lows' V Pacific Coast rust attacking pear,
quince, etc., a new filbert disease in
Oregon, bacterial gummosls or bacterial
" canker of cherries, notes on miscellane
ous potato diseases, experimental spray
ing of prunes for brown rot, potato spray
ing experiments, and notes, observations
and minor investigations of plant diseases.
A number of investigations are under
way including Winter injury to fruit trees,
together with associated canker diseases,
apple fruit spots and rots, mushroom root
rot of fruit trees, and many other prob
lems of primary interest to growers but
they have not progressed far enough to
warrant publication In the present report.
The investigations of certain diseases are
now centered largely at the Hood River
experiment station.
There are 280 pages in the report,
which is indexed and profusely illustrated.
As a reliable and ready-reference on the
production of horticultural products the
report will prove of Incalculable value to
Horticulturists and general farmers. Cop
ies may be had free of cost by writing
to the Oregon Agricultural College for
them. .
Senior Wins Fellowship.
y, Cx Gentner, of Portland, who will
graduate in June at the Oregon Agricul
tural College, has been appointed to a
fellowship in the department of ento
mology. This fellowship covers a period
of two years. Five months each year will
be spent at Corvallis and seven months as
assistant to Dr. M. C Henderson, plant
pathologist and assistant county agricul
turist for . Jackson County, located at
Medford. ,
"I
from tbo I
Corvelll
with a t
T
of latereatlac Hem
nm Arrknltoral Collese at
in alienate la tbe farm weekly
page of newt aote from the Washington
State toll's at Pellman. Thl will afford
. inim-hure of view from the two blf
acrkultnral celltce of the North that
ihould prove of benefit to tbe reader, for
the Institution deal with tlmllar problems.
- -1
Potato Seed Treatment Is
Cheap Insurance for Crop
(IT N taking up the matter of seed treat-
1 ment for disease control, several
questions present themselves for consid
eration," according to F. D. Bailey, re
search assistant in plant" pathology, Ore
gon Agricultural College. "ThiB being the
time when many growers are especially
interested the following recommendations
are submitted in answer to queries that
are constantly recurring:
"Diseases that can be controlled entire
ly or largely by proper treating and In
spection of seed at cutting are, common
scab, rhizoctonla, blackleg and the two
fungus wilts. This, of course, with the
understanding that tbe soil to be used has .
not produced crops with any of these dis
eases in recent years and has had no other
chance to become disease.
"Tubers that are bruised, cracked or
discolored, or show a brown ring when
the stem Is cut across should be sorted
out and discarded from the seed. In case
scab is the principal trouble for which
seed is to be treated, It will be quite sat
isfactory to use the formaldehyde treat
ment: "One pint formalin In 30 gallons water,
soaking seed with sacks or crates for two
hours, and then drying seed thoroughly.
This should preferably be done immedi
ately before planting; however, if It is
desirable to start sprouts before planting
it will be necessary to give the treatment
somewhat earlier. Care should be taken
not to reinfect the tubers by placiug them
back in the same storage place unless It,
too, Is disinfected. In any case, at the
present state of experimental evidences it
is advisable to treat before cutting.
"A substance that is more satisfactory
than formalin in that It is effective
against rhizoctonla as well as scab is mer
curic chloride (corrosive sublimate). This
poisonous substance may be secured in
the form of white crystals from the,large
drug companies, the smaller stores gener
ally carrying It only In tablet form. This
should be used in 1 to 1000 dilution or
about four ounces in 30 gallons of water
where the crystals are used. If the tab
lets are used the directions should be fol
lowed. "In making this up for use the amount
to be used should be carefully weighed
out and dissolved in a small quantity of
hot water. This must be done In a clean
wooden or porcelain container and after
diluting it must be handled in the same
way, since it reacts with metals. The treat
ment from this point Is the same as with
formaldehyde, except that tubers should
be soaked one and one-balf hours. It
should also be borne in mind that this
substance is poisonous so should be kept
away from Braall children or stock.
"Either solution may be used several
times (not to exceed four). The formal
dehyde loses strength on standing and the
mercuric chloride gradually deteriorates
when it becomes dirty. A gas treatment
with formalin may be used where large
quantities of potatoes are to be treated
but requires special precautions, details of
which will be furnished parties Interested
on application to the department of plant
pathology at Oregon Agricultural Col
lege." One Oregon Gardener.
The vegetable display of F. M. Sher
man, of Lebanon, Or., is attracting much
favorable notice at the Panama-Pacific .
Exposition. His onions, cantaloupes, po
tatoes, pumpkins, squashes and other gar
den truck are described as top-notchers.
Mr. Sherman has been a faithful attend
ant at Oregon Agricultural College short
courses until he is familiar not only with
the processes of scientific production but
also with the principles of selection and
arrangement of displays. He began gar
dening about nine years ago with a capital
of $30, and within five years had paid for
his 10 acres that had been brought into
production. Although out of health when
he began he Is rugged now and has sup
ported his family of four besides adding
materially to his holdings. He has re
peatedly won distinction at state and Na
tional fairs with his choice vegetables.
Advantages and Ills
of Hogging Off Corn
BY G. R. SAMSON,
Swine Specialist, O. A. C.
IN considering the possibilities of hog-
ging oft corn, a sufficient amount of
thought has not been given to the finish
ing process. Hogging off corn is a com
promise between pasturing and lot feed
ing; hence the features which are incident
to pasture are present to this sort of
feeding, both the advantages and the dis
advantages. The advantages, of course, are the facts
that the pigs harvest the feed themselves
and that they secure a good deal of suc
culence at a comparatively cheap price;
- moreover, they secure a good deal of nu
trient at a low cost. The disadvantages
are that they consume a considerable
amount of crude fiber or coarse material
which lakes up space in their stomachs
and which cannot, therefore, be occupied
by better feed. Consequently the high
finish is not secured by subjecting the
pigs which have hogged off a crop to a
period of finishing during which time
they can be fed but little pasture- or
roughage and should have a maximum of
a balanced ration of pretty concentrated
material.
The length of time which will be re
quired for finishing will depend upon the
size of the pigs and upon the weight -they
have reached before hogging
off the crop. The eye of the feeder is
the only guide in this case. The pigs
muRt be smooth and plump when finished
and a sufficient amount of time and a
sufficient quantity of feed must be used
to secure this .result, be It two weeks or
longer. Ordinarily the finishing process
cannot be completed in much short of two
weeks and It may- take a considerably
longer time.
Since the pigs have been practically on
full feed during the hogging off of the
crop they may be easily put onto a self
feeder for their finishing process. The
ration at this time may well consist of a
ration of grain balanced with tankage or
skim milk, according to what is available.
It tankage Is used, 5 per cent will be a
sufficient quantity, or If skim milk is
used, two pounds of skim milk to each
pound of grain consumed will just about
produce the balance. As to the kind of
grain which Is best suited for the finish
ing process, this will depend upon what
Is cheapest in the locality, since the rela
tive values of corn, wheat and barley for
fattening pigs are not very different
Whichever feed will produce the greatest
amount of grain for each dollar expended
on each acre of land may be considered
the best feed to raise for the feeding of
the pigs.
Poison Bait for Slags.
The garden slug, slimy, slow-moving
and repulsive creature that attacks all
manner of garden and ornamental plants,
Is readily controlled by the use of a poi
son bait, says A. L. Lovett, specialist In
insect crop pests at tbe Oregon Agricul
tural College. To be most effective the
material should be placed In small heaps
about the infested arcs carlr in the even
ing. The treatment should be repeated
about every flvje days to take care of the
newly hatched slugs.
The most effective bait Is finely
chopped leaves of some green succulent
feed, such as lettuce, kale, wild mustard
or clover,' with the addition of arsenic
' and some sweetening agent. The follow
ing formula is good for small amounts:'
. Green succulent leaves (chopped fine
ly), one quart; Paris green or white
arsenic, one tablespoonful; sugar one
tablespoonfiil.
Bran may be used Instead of tbe leaves,
but water must be added sufficient to
make the mixture moist, not sloppy.
Slugs may also be trapped under boards
or pieces of burlap placed about the field.
The traps should be visited in the early
morning, when the slugs may be removed
and destroyed.
Early Spray Recommended for
Currant and Gooseberry Worm
THERE are two insect pests which at
tack tbe currant and gooseberry. One
occurs as a small white maggot inside
the developing fruit, causing it' to ripen
prematurely and drop to the ground. The
post Is known as the currant maggot or
the gooseberry fruit fly. The other pest
Is a velvety green worm which feeds on
the leaves stripping the foliage from the
bushes about the time tbe fruit Is ma
turing. This pest is known as the native
currant worm.
Sprays are not generally effective In
controlling the currant maggot. Stir the
soil thoroughly to some depth about the
bushes in the Fall and again In late
March.
For the green currant worm spray the
hushes with a lead arsenate solution us
ing one ounce of lead arsenate to three
gallons of water. This spray to do the
most good must be applied just after the
fruit is set on the bushes. If one does
not apply this early spray, the worms may
be killed when the fruit Is large by a
spray of white hellebore powder one ounce
In three gallons of water. This material
is non-poisonous and does not discolor the
fruit. The early spray Is to be recom
mended, however.
Here Are a Few Things to Be
Done for the Lawn in April
LAWNS can be made all through April
In Oregon and even well Into Mayt
says Professor A. L. Peck, landscape spe
cialist of the Agricultural College. All
rose pruning should have been completed
before this tlmeT and under no consider
ation should any of the early flowering
woody shrubs be pruned before tbelr
flowering season has passed. Otherwise
a large part of the flowers are cut away
In the pruning.
As soon as the ground works well grass
seed may be sown in the lawn. All newly
planted trees should be shaped so as to
develop Into fine straight growth rather
than Into forms crooked and undesirable,
due to prevailing winds and other causes.
Keep a close lookout for the weeds,
and get them early. If slugs are present,
sprinkle a little soot or wood ashes around
the plants that are being attacked.
From the middle to the last of the
month early flowering asters, balsam,
calllopsis, candytuft, cornflower, sweet sul
tan, annual chrysanthemum, dahlia, cos
mos, any of the popples, annual gallardia,
annual larkspur, mignonette, pansy, an
nual phlox, stocks and other early flow
ering plant seed may be sown. '
Needs an Audience.
"8o your wife Is a suffragette?"
"Yes," answered Mr. Jenkins.
"Why does she want to vote?"
"I don't think Henrietta really desires
to vote. She's merely tired of talking to
me. She wants a large and more Intelli
gent audteno.e."
PHI In
ami aai
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He Took Dad.
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COME IN anrt havo your month ex
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very latest Scientific Palate Method.
DR. A. W. KEENE
Dentlat.
Aldrrt Motlc Tkrater Rullain;,
SSI WaokJaatoa St., Portia ad, Or.