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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 10, 1958)
4A MAIL TRIBUNE, Med ford, Oregon, Thursday, April 10, 19S8 Rao Frost Forecaster Conducts Continuing Research A lean, sandy-haired, blue eyed man climbs out of a black car with the state seal on the side, walks up to a pear tree and holds something which looks like a walkie talkie next to a cluster of green buds. This may be repeated sev eral times on a cold frosty morning. The fruit rancher whose trees he is examining knows he is Bill Rogers of the frost warning service of the U. S. Weather Bureau. The gadget is called a thermi stor. It's used to measure the temperature inside the buds so it may be compared with the outside temperatures. A long thin hypodermic-like needle attached to a cord is pushed into the heart of the bud. Sensitive antenna-like wires record the outside tem peratures at the same time. All of this is part of a con tinuing study by the weather bureau to determine the re lation between the outside temperatures and the bud temperatures. This and other knowledge gained by on the spot studies will be used to determine more accurately under what weather condi tions the fruit may be dam aged. This research into what temperatures are considered critical to the development of fruit and what happens to the fruit bud during certain weather conditions is aimed also at helping the grower save money on smudging. Rogers is one of 16 men sta tioned all over the "Far West" In this fruit frost warning service. Most of the men trav el on a regular circuit. They hit the various localities when frost forecasting is vital to the growers. This includes both fruit and vegetables. During the fire season such men also aid the state and federal foresters with fore casts in being prepared in ad vance for the "tinder dry" conditions in the woods. This is Rogers' third year in the Rogue valley. Ordinar ily as forecast supervisor of the fruit frost warning ser vice for the far west, he spends all his time in the Pomona, Calif., headquarters. However, a shortage of per sonnel has brought him out into Ihe field. WHAT DOES TO HOUSE DID IT FOR $1,1612 Route 2 Box 332, Central Point Number Chicks Started. .1248 Number Chicks Lost 24 Number put into house 1224 Libability 98.1 BREED: Dernier White Leghorn Pullets FEED PURINA PURINA USED PURINA COST FOR FEED $1,072.95 TOTAL CHICK COST .J 306.00 BROODING COST 36.64 MEDICANTS 10.94 TOTAL PRODUCTION COST $1,426.53 " Average Cost Per Pullet 1.1 bVi Age When Housed 20 Weeks PURINA has a program to help you grow big pullets quickly at low cost. Ask us how you can get started on a tested and researched program to get lots of early Fall eggs. , -, ' ftMARCH SEED & FEED CO. "SEE THE DIFFERENCE PURINA MAKES" Farm Store 10th & Fir Uptown Store 6th & Bartlett and Qmden Not just any weatherman is allowed to enter this high ly skilled and technical work. The frost forecasters receive basic education in col lege meterology courses that include large doses of higher mathematics, physics and chemistry. The Pomona headquarters prefers to train its own per sonnel. A trainee spends some time in the southern Califor nia orchards working with and studying heating prac tices. He works on the orch ard heating crews. He must have a thorough knowledge of fruit production. Such a man is chosen from among "successful" forecasters. In other words his batting av erage in predicting the wea ther must be high. After a year in the field in southern California the trainee is sent to a district. However, the new men are not sent to the Medford dis trict since this is considered one of the toughest areas for frost forecasters. Cloudiness here makes forecasting dif ficult. Clouds may move in just as orchardists fire up. The temperature raising clouds may make it easier on the fruit, but it costs money just to fire up. Grow ers here are much more care ful with their fruit, also, Rog ers said. They can't afford to let any blossoms go. There fore, the forecasts have to be right on the money. Pears are more tender than oranges, Rogers said. Apri cots are considered the most troublesome. A frost can wipe out a whole crop of peaches. How frost may affect the pear crop depends on the state of development. When the buds are in a cluster heat ing is 'required generally about 24 degrees. When in full bloom, heating is requir ed at 28 or 29 3egrees.After the petals drop and depend ing on the, size of the pear, heating is required from 30 to 31 degrees. . j "Of course a number ofi factors may affect the time for orchard heating," Rogers said. "Generally, the fruit is more easily frost-damaged in later stages of development." To make orgiard heating easier on their neighbors as well as themselves growers IT COST YOU PULLETS? "Super" Chick Startena Chick Growena Pullet Developer Work are gradually improving their heating techniques and equip ment as a result of research done in the field by tese frost warning' men. The new er types of orchard heaters including the lazy flame, re turn stack and jumbo cone have all helped, to cut down on the smoke. Rogers puts in a full day and often a full night. In the morning he visits the U. S. Weather Bureau office in the Medford airport to get pre liminary weather reports. Then he may get out in the orchard after a frost period to count the blossoms and evaluate the damage. About 3:30 p.m. Rogers makes out his weather charts similar to those shown in the television weather reports. Important weather informa tion is received on a tele type machine set up in his courthouse office. Next he makes his weather map. Then he visits the various themo graph stations scattered about the area. These are thermom eters with a recording appara tus attached. As the temper ature is measured by a ther mometer, an electrically pow ered pen marks the tempera ture on graph paper attached to a drum. Recording results and oth er weather information men tioned are used for his fore casts issued by radio and tele vision stations each night. Rogers is also available most of the night to take tempera ture readings or, to answer urgent questions of the grow ers. The frost-warning period usually extends from March 15 to June 1. After he returns to Pomona he issues a report to the growers who he serves. This report is used by the growers to study their orch ard heating, practices and to make plans for next season's session. This service-was first used in Medford in 1916. This Week's By HIAWATHA ESTES This story and a half home retains the charm of our col onial heritage, yet the interior is as modern as tomorrow. Nothing has been done to al ter the traditional Cape Cod lines. . Dormers look out from the stained shingle roof and louvered shutters border the rows of windows on the lower floor. Warm toned brick veneer is used across the entire front wall and hori zontal siding is used else-where.- The entrance hall is lighted by four small panes of glass in the front door.- A wide staircase leads to the second floor from this entry. Upstairs are three spacious bedrooms,, two bathsjand an incredible amount of ward robe, closet and storage space. . The family bath, with I r y-.ij mil - 3 - - - - . r 1 Dirt Growers On Damping By DON BERRY County Horticultural Agent Home gardeners seeding early spring vegetables and flowers in hot frames or greenhouses should take pre cautions against damping off. Damping off is caused by a soil fungi which will attack both sprouting seeds and the tiny seedlings as they emerge, thus reducing the stand. In fected seedlings show a browning on the stems, wilt, and fall over. This trouble is common in greenhouses, hot beds and even outdoors dur ing warm humid . weather. Seed treatment is the best method of control. Materials like Arasan or Cap tan are available to home gardeners Picking Good Spot Vital For Proper Garden Plot By, DON BERRY County Horticultural Agent Vegetable Garden Location Picking a good spot for your garden is as important as buying good seed and giving it good care. A garden site that is level, well drained and in a sunny spot with rich, deep sandy loam soil, free of rocks, is most desirable, how ever since this is not possible with most home garden en thusiasts there are a few things every gardener should look for in planning the loca tion of the garden spot. Most important is good drainage. Often times vegetables will drown out if allowed to stand too long in water or very wet soil. Carrots are especially susceptible to drowing and too much moisture in. badly drain ed areas deprive plant roots of air and nutrients needed for healthy development. Draining wet spots before preparing soil also of benefit and the presence of green scum on the soil surface is one of the indications of ex cessive moisture. Where gar deners are unable - to drain properly otherwise,' planting on ridges will help. Another important ingredi ent is plenty of sunshine. Direct sunlight for at least six hours a day is a must for leafy crops like lettuce, spin Town, Country House l2"R8 ' . In NOOK pan .1 1 i N2 . PLAN NO. 3 528 c 1215 SC. ff. zoi . 20 recessed tub and pullman lavatory and the separate half-bath will ease early morning clean-up traffic for even a large family. A third bath, with a stall shower instead of a tub, serves the den-guest room on the ground floor and is also accessible through the service-laundry room. The super-kitchen is a housewife's dream come true double windows over a double sink; built-in oven, re frigerator and surface cook ing units; lots of cabinets and drawers for top efficiency. A dining bar divides the kitchen from the big, bright family room. Cupboards above open to both sides to save steps in table setting and clean-up. Across the back of the family room, large glass doors Warned Off Trouble for treating their seed. A very small quantity, about as much as can be placed on the tip of a knife blade, added to seed packets and then shaken gent ly until seeds are coated, is the simplest ethod of treat ing. Where damping of has been a serious problem, additional protection is obtained by dust ing the surface of the .soil with Captan or Ferban, or drench with a solution made up using two level tablespoons of Captan or Ferbamin one gallon water, thoroughly soaking the soil at seeding time, ' and applying a second drench or dust as the young plants emerge. ach, chard and kale. Others, like tomatoes, egg plants and peppers, will need more. Trees not only give excessive shade but their roots compete for moisture and plant foods. One more important consid eration in choosing a location is a good source of water. City or irrigation water will afford protection against summer droughts, but in some local areas the deeper wells are salty which is detrimental to garden plants. Generally speaking, a soil that is well drained and pro duces rank growth of weeds and grass will also produce good vegetables. Dairy Building Plan Given In Bulletin Corvallis -How ' to design modern dairy buildings for the greatest efficiency and still allow for economical ex pansion at a later date is ex plained in a new bulletin re leased J?y the Oregon State college extension service. Titled, "Dairy Buildings," the new bulletin was pub lished by OSC in cooperation with the extension services of University of Idaho and Washington State college. Ad vantages of the loose-housing system for dairy cattle are ex plained. offer a wide view and pea in summer for relaxing patio liv ing. To help lower construction costs the corner fireplaces in the family room and living room are built as a unit. Sliding doors between the living and family rooms can close them off for privacy or open wide to unite the areas when you entertain. The water heater and forced air unit are located in the large double garage which is accessible from the den. Complete working drawing of the above plan can be obtained at a cost of S7.50 for the first set and 15 for each additional set, when ordered at the same time. This plan will be available for a period of four months from this date. Please allow two weeks for delivery. If the above home does not entirely meet with your satis faction a new home plan book. Town and Country Homes, may be purchased for SI. Send all orders for either plans or books to Hiawatha Estes. P.O. Box 404-T, Northridge, Calif. CHIT CHAT Br JOE G. COWLEY Mail Tribune Farm Editor Farming, fishing and hunting just naturally seem to go together. From what we have observed there are very few farmers who are not good fishermen and hunters. The other day we saw a sign announcing the start of fishing season is not far off. Like a lot of people who don't get out with a pole as often as they would like, we started thinking of fishing we would like to do, what we can do and what we have done. That brought to mind an old retired lawyer and an ex-farmer by the name of Herb Kerr. Also a 10-year-old boy he took salmon fishing for the first time. For days afterwards this youngster told how he, Kerr and Kerr's old fishing buddy climbed into a boat mounted on a small cart and how the cart whizzed down a set of tracks into the water with a splash. Usually the boat didn't travel that fast but if the lad had looked sharp he would have noticed old Herb's wink to the fishing pier attendant. Then there was the hours of sitting in the rowboat as the outboard gently pushed it along at trolling speed. Noth ing happened for what seemed like hours, then the quick tug on the line and a salmon trout was quickly gaffed and boated. During the waiting the two old-timers swapped fishing and hunting yarns. One time Kerr slyly reached around and gave his partner's line a quick little tug. Then there was muck excitement as the old gentleman quickly started to reel in suddenly realized the joke was on him and the guffaws which followed. This, too, is the long way around the barn, but what we are aiming at is the farmer is usually both sports and conservation minded. Also, if more men took a neighbor boy or their own son fishing how much, more enjoyment they would both get out of the outdoors and the invaluable lessons which could be learned. The lad old Herb took fishing will never forget that and similar experiences the ex-farmer was generous enough to provide. This might be one answer to juvenile delinquency. The other thing we mentioned that the farmer "is both conservation and sports-minded is now being recognized by some of the more responsible, sportsmen. Many of these belong to the Izaak Walton League. The Jackson county chapter has written for more information and instructions on how to put a new plan Frontiers, Inc., into operation in the Rogue valley area. This is a new attempt" to improve farmer-sportsman relations.. According to those who are pushing it, such a plan would open up a lot of game land which otherwise might be closed to the sportsman. Farmers over the years have become tired of seeing stock stray out through gates left open by careless hunters, having their stock shot up and other resulting . property damage. And rightfully so. This new plan proposes to insure the farmer against any such loss or damage if he agrees to open his land to hunters who belong to Frontiers, Inc. The money these hunters pay into this organization is used to pay any damage claims by the farmers. It costs the farmer nothing. Members of the Izaak Walton. League here are anxious to start this plan working in the valley. If it works as well as it looks it should be plenty good. Another league project now under study is a proposed chapter tree farm program. Aim is to promote conservation education. This plan calls for a chapter to buy a tract of forest land and seek to have it certified in the industry operated tree, farm program. Such a farm would be super vised by a tree farm committee which would obtain pro fessional forestry advice. Work would be done by the chapter members. . . League members pushing this idea point out, that while the primary purpose of tree farming is to grow forest crops, the tree farm can also provide picnic and swimming facil ities, a rifle or archery range, -hiking trails, berry patches, and fishing spots.' ' - Members of the Izaak Walton League here seem to be right up with the farmer in appreciation of women's ability. In commending this chapter as "chapter with the best pro gram of the month," one of the national officers stated, "They recognize the importance of women in conservation." The farmer has long recognized the importance of women. In many farm families she is the one who keeps the bank book straight, financial records, plus many farm records needed to insure wise farming practices. Some of the "board punchers" (telephone operators) over at the telephone office complain there isn't enough about dairying in this column on the farm page. We hope to correct that. Meanwhile here is something we hope will hold their attention: The opinion of Circuit Judge Val D. Sloper of Marion Increase yields iviffEa 33EGGH) 'flim'.'j.iiBh car 2Bg -J& H S33S3f Soil insects can take a big bite out of your crop dollar by destroying the seeds, young plants, and root systems. One application of Heptachlor, at planting time, wUl protect your crop from seed to harvest or only a few dollars per acre. Agricultural experiment station tests prove that Heptachlor increases yields from 10 to 100, so play it safe! Get Heptachlor now in any of these easy to apply forms: HEPTACHLOR SPt AY S-iot broadcast or row treatment HEPTACHLOR GRANULES for row treatment HEPTACHLOR-FERTILIZIR MIXTUtES-do two jobs at once, save 50 of time and labor. KILL FOLIAGE INSECTS LATER IN THE SEASONI Heptachlor alto provides xctllini control of lygut bugs, army worms, thripi, jrosshopptrt, too boorlat, critkot. cutworms, od other railage insects. U.f.D.A. fos!s prove HoptacMor treated alfalfa doos not contaminate milk! SH YOUR MAIM ... AMtOCAl UADUM SO WMCTK1DI VKLSICOL. CHEMICAL CORPORATION 20S2 Cantor Street, Berkeley, California TOOAT SOS fSOVW Oregon Grain Prices May Stay Approximately Same Corvallis Oregon grain, hay, and seed prices for 1958 should be about the same as last year with prospects of slight price increases for some seed crops, reported Ray H. Teal, . Oregon State college and grain marketing special ist. Wheat will remain the best paying grain for many Ore gon farmers even if the an nounced cut of 22 cents a bushel in national support rates is permitted to go into effect, the specialist says. Prices for Pacific North west white wheat are not likely to average much above supports this year. Exports of white wheat in recent months have fallen below a year ago and prices for carryover stocks can be expected to de cline toward the support price for the new crop, Teal stated. Feed grains have little chance of bringing better prices than last year due to a further build-up of carry over stocks across the coun try, he continued. Recently announced national support price for 1958-crop oats is the same as last year, but the rate on barley is two cents lower. Malting barley price levels are expected to tie closely to feed barley prices. Storage Plans Suggested .. Growers of feed grains are advised to make arrangements for suitable storage to qualify for government supports since county on the validity of the brucellosis testing law clears the air of any doubt as to its validity, according to a recently issued statement by Robert J. Steward, state director of agriculture. Steward points out in his statement that the testing program was established by the department under the 1957 brucellosis act. "At this point, 80 per cent of the testing has been com pleted. We believe any cattlemen who have been hesitant to test pending the outcome of this case will now join forces to see the state of Oregon gains a brucellosis-free status with next year," Steward said. The case was carried to the court by cattlemen chiefly from Wallowa and Gilliam counties. Steward has urged all cattlemen who have not tested their stock to make contact with the nearest state or federal veterinarian to schedule an early test. He said the testing program has continued uninterrupted since last August 23, the date the suit was filed. From Sept. 1 to March 1, 220,803 cattle were tested in the state, with 1996 reactors discovered. During the same period, calfhood vaccination was stepped up to 80,480 head of young stock. He added that since September, Hood River county has achieved certification status and seven more counties are on the brink of completing testing. These counties are Grant, Baker, Union, Polk, Lincoln, Benton and Clackamas. This will place 22 of 36 counties on the brucellosis-free rolls. . Some counties are nearing the deadline for completion of testing. They should act now so they will not lose all progress which has been made to date, the director said. Your Pastures and Small Grains Need MOYKaOGEFn!! Here's How NEW PHILLIPS 66 AMMONIUM NITRATE Helps Increase Your Profits Stretches grazing periods . . . helps you produce plenty of low-cost feed. Helps put more protein in your pasturts for higher quality forage. Increases your profits per acre through higher yields from your small grains. Gives you more uniform distribution for even feeding of crops. EASY TO HANDLE AND APPLY BECAUSE IT'S FREE FLOWING IN STORAGE AND DURING APPLICATION SEED 10th & South prices are likely to drop be low support levels at harvesl time. Teal sees little chance foi improvement in hay prices in 1958. Stocks are large in pro ducing areas as a result oi lighter feeding during th mild winter. Prices have some: chance of going higher nexl fall if mouse-damage to has fields proves as severe as some areas report. The 1958 price picture for most turf seeds is about th same as last year. Supplies ol fine fescues are reported mov ing well, and use of turf seeds is likely to continue heavy around homes and schools, along highways, and in rec reation areas. Common ryegrass seed prices are looking up slightly, partly as a result of shorl crops in Europe and New Zea land. Alfalfa and red clover seed harvests have declined during the past two years, bringing fair chance for price improvements, Teal noted. EGYPT STRIKES OIL Cairo (IP) Minister of In dustry Azis Sidky said today the discovery of a new oil field in the Sinai Desert is a "turning point" for his coun try's industrial development. Sidky said the fields will "en able Egypt to become self sufficient and even an ex porter of oil." . & FEED CO. Fir - 6th & Bartlett - 4,-'.Ma7ft
