GARDENING TIPS
, By DON BERRY
County Extension Agent
Home owner interested In
putting in new lawns or reno
vating old ones should get
them started as soon as the
ground is dry enough to pre
pare good seed bed.
There are many methods
lor planting new lawns and
much controversy as to which
is the best. Certain fundamen
tal practices, however, are
used and principles such as
preparing a good seed bed,
letting it settle, and bringing
it to a good grade prior to
planting, along with applying
fertilizers and working organ
ic materials into the ground
as a preplanting practice are
universally approved.
The types and varieties of
grasses and methods of handl
ing weeds are two of the most
argumentative points. Three
new pamphlets are available
at the county agents' office
covering "Starting New
Lawns," "Lawn Pests," a nd
"Lawn Care." These are avail
able to anyone who would
like to stop by and pick them
up, or telephone and they will
be mailed to you.
People who are interested
in solving specific problems
would no doubt like to attend
the lawn clinic which will be
held Thursday, April 7 at 2
p.m. on the front lawn of the
Medford High school. Dr. Nor
man Goetze, turf specialist
from the college, will be on
hand to discuss lawn prob
lems with home gardeners as
well as professional turf people.
This meeting is open to the
public with no charge so any
one interested In lawns or
lawn care is welcome to at
tend. If It should be raining
Thursday, It will be in the
auditorium of the senior high
school.
FLYING ANTS
. Small flying ants are ap
pearing in migratory swarms
now that the warm spring
weather has come.
These ants are clear-winged
with dark bodies and about an
eighth inch or a little more in
length. They often are a nui
sance in and around homes.
Robert L. Every, Oregon
State college extension ento
mologist, says these ants,
which are narrow waisted,
should not be confused with
termites which are not. Nei
ther should they be confused
with larger carpenter ants.
Both termites and carpenter
ants usually swarm later in
the spring.
Presence of small flying
ants may help in locating ant
nests around the home, usu
I ally rather difficult to do, by
watching where they're com
ing from. The ant nests can be
I treated with chlordane or, dicl-
arin oust or spray, inis is one
of the most effective ways to
control ant infestations.
DJeOSaeJ0l
BIG Y
FEED & SEED CO.
194) N. Pacific Highway
Phsna SP 3-3160
FIRE IN TULIPS
Two diseases, each known
as fire are fairly common to
tulips and daffodils.
Each disease does not
spread from tulips to daffodils
or vice Versa although the
symptoms are similar -misshapen
leaves and shoots,
spotting of leaves and flowers,
laree dry areas on leaves
(tulips), rotting of affected
parts, and other symptoms. In
tulips, a fuzzy gray mold
growth is seen on blighted
areas.
Control of the two diseases
Is essentially, the same. Re
move, carry away in paper
bag and burn all affected
leaves, shoots and flowers.
Spray with 2 tablespoons of
ferban per one gallon of water
(add spreader-sticker) every 7
to 10 days. Where the disease
la present, dig and replant
(healthy bulbs only) in a new
location next year.
EARLY VEGETABLE START
Best way to extend the
growing season for vegetable
crops Is to plant teed In small
containers in greenhouses,
hotbeads, or coldframes about
4 to 8 weeks before trans
planting to field or garden.
Vegetables that transplant
well include tomatoes, pep
pers, cabbage, and lettuce.
Other vegetables, including
squash, cantaloupes, water
melons, cucumbers, and other
sweet corn need more care if
transplanted. Chances of suc
cess are much greater if the
original container is of press
ed peat which can be planted
along with the vegetable plant
at transplanting time. This
way, the plant's roots aren't
disturbed.
Small squares of inverted
sod, instead of paper or wood
veneer containers have been
used successfully, also.
ASPARAGUS WARNING
Setting a disk or spring-
tooth harrow too deeply dur
ing early spring cultivations
of asparagus beds can serious
ly damage asparagus crowns
and lower yields. Before
working up an asparagus field
dig down or poke with a steel
rod to find out exactly how
far the asparagus crowns are
below the soil surface. Then
set the harrow accordingly.
Even with careful setting, a
harrow may sink too deeply
in soft spots and seriously
damage some asparagus
crowns.
CUCUMBER SUGGESTION
When cucumbers are plant
ed. in heavier loam soils, or in
soils that aren't well drained,
germination and early growth
are improved by planting on
soil ridses or beds 4 to 6
inches above normal ground
level.
Plows or discs can be used
to make the ridges, which
should be about 2 feet wide on
top. The ridge is similar to a
back furrow that is firmed
and leveled on top by drag
ging or rolling.
The ridges or elevated beds
provide better drainage, aera
tion and warmth.
About the only way rain
will hurt rhubarb is by leach
ing nitrogen out of the soil.
An early spring application of
nitrogen, about 30 pounds per
acre, will promote more vig
orous growth and higher
yields.
Ammoniated phosphate Is
probably better than straight
nitrogen fertilizer.
RED ROBIN ROSE
Advertising of this hedge
rose li creating much Interest
While these advertisements
are written to sell a product
they are generally quite true.
Possibly, the profusion of
bloom is not usually up to that
advertised, but really is quite
satisfactory.
This is a hardy southern
rose, not a multiflora as some
think, and ii used for hedge
plantings and as an under
stock for many southern
grown roses.
It can be grown as a nar
row hedge row. Main thing to
remember is to cut it low at
the beginning and to continue
to cut back to the point where
you need branching. It will
make a hedge a little faster
than privet, possibly. Those
roses bloom from early sum
mer until late fall.
NEW BORDER PLANT
The only Ail-American mod.
al winner for 1959 is the new
pink heather alyssum. It is a
soft lavender pink which is a
little deeper in color in the
shade or in cool climates. It
is a very delicate shade of
pink in mids-ummer and in
warmer areas. It grows com
pactly, about 6 inches tall and
has a profusion of bloom until
late fall.
PLANTING TIPS
This timi of year even the
laziest gardener is apt to get
enthusiastic over the ap
proaching season!
Pictures in the seed catalogs
make gardening appear sim
ple. And besides, what tastes
better than free vegetables
fresh from the garden? Even
the person who doesn't want
to be tied down to a summer
program of watering and
weeding can enjoy some fresh
vegetables from his own gar
den if the garden is a border
of leaf lettuce.
Remember the luxury of a
variety of leaf lettuces-fresh
and tender from the garden?
It's yours with almost no ef
fort if you edge some of your
flower borders with quick
growing leaf lettuce.
Read catalogs carefully.
You can select leaves to com
pliment your late spring and
early summer flower bed.
Plant at different times so
that you won't have all the
crop at one time. Another
trick is to leave a small space
every 18 Inches for annuals.
Then when the lettuce is too
big it can be pulled and the
colorful annual such as pe
tunias and marigolds will soon
spread to fill the gap.
"WE BEAT SCAB
WITH CYPREX"
Oregon pear grower obtained excellent scab control
xoiih Cyprex 65-W fungicid
Hob Deuel, Jr. is the owner-operator
of Del Rio orchards at Gold
Hill near Medford. He has 94
acres of pears in production and
28 acres of pears in new trees.
Varieties raised are: d'Anjous,
Seckles, Bartletts, Cornice. Like
other growers in the area, Mr.
Deuel has had a scab problem.
He says : "We have always had
to battle to control scab because
of the location of our orchards."
The orchards are on low ground
along the Rogue River and there
is an old abandoned pear orchard
to the west across the river (up
wind side) . In the spring, there
are early morning fogs and mists
and the humidity is very high.
Last spring was especially warm
and humid. "Like a hot house,"
' says Mr. Deuel, "really good
weather for scab."
"Cyprex was a big help in our
scab control program. In past
years we have used up to five scab
sprays on Seckles. This year we
used only three sprays. The first
' two were non-Cyprex sprays one
at 90 bud separation and one1 at
advanced popcorn. The two
6prays were about five to seven .
days apart. This standard pro
gram was not holding so we put
on Cyprex at advanced calyx.
That stopped the infection."
Mr. Deuel applies a 400-gallon
tank on lVi acres on all sprays at
a ground speed of 2'.2 m.p.h.
ii
Cyprex w a must for ui in 1960," sayt Hob Deuel, Jr.
"Some fungicides give our
pears a rough finish, Cyprex does
not. It goes into solution easily,"
says Mr. Deuel.
How Cyprex works to
give long-term protection
PLUS eradication
Cyprex Is an entirely new fungicide
chemical that has proved its value in
hundreds of tests over a 5-year period.
It works as a protectant and an tradi
cant in control of scab fungus. It ii
equally effective against apple scab and
pear scab and also controls cherry leaf
spot.
Applied as a standard spray, it
spreads a tough fungicidal barrier on
leaves and fruit that gives top scab con
trol even through heavy rains. Cyprex
has built-in spreader-sticker action.
Some Cyprex actually "moves around"
during rains to cover adjoining new
growth, while the original tiasue re
mains protected. Cyprex penetrate!
throughout the leaf where it works
from the inside out-killing scab spores
that land. This is called local-systemic-action.
Even when Cyprex ii sprayed
otr scab infection begins and sporei
CYASAM1D SEHVES THE MAN WHO MAKES A BUSINESS Of AGRICULTURE
begin to germinate, Cyprex can knock
out the infection inside the leaf. The
spray also has deposited a protectant
covering oit the leaf. The next time it
rains, this stick-tight fungicide will be
ready to knock out new spores before
they penetrate.
No fungicide in common use can gW
you the protection, pint extra-long
eradicant action, you get with Cyprex.
Cyprex is compatible with most com
monly used insecticides and other fun
gicides. It's non-caustie, law in toxicity
to orchard workers.
All the extra advantage! you get
with Cyprex give you that margin of
control that can make the different
between fair and excellent crops. How
ever, none of them eliminates the need
for proper timing, good coverage, and
a sound schedule.
Consult your local agricultural au
thorities for further information. Or
writ for leaflet PE 5061, American
Cyanamid Company, Agricultural Divi.
aion, Los Angeles 64, California.
Cyprezt it American Cyanamid Com
pany'i trade-mntk fer dndine fungicide.
-CHIT CHAT-
r JOE COWLEY
Mail Tribune farm Editor
Th way things are the local peargrowers should be In
the lemon business. Somebody is always putting the squeeze
on them for something or other.
Perhaps one reason the fruitgrowers organized a Farm
Bureau center in Medford is the fight which the national
Farm Bureau organization has promised against Labor Sec
retary James P. Mitchell's proposal for a federal minimum
wage law covering migrant farm workers.
CYPREX 65-W
FUNGICIDE
John C. Lynn, legislative director for th American
Farm Federation, remarked Saturday that farmers have vol
untarily made "great advances" in raising wages and work
ing conditions of migrant workers. This has raised farm
costs, also, he said. The labor secretary is proposing a min
imum wage for hired farm workers. He claims the country's
500,000 migrant farmhands need a minimum wage protec
tion. They can expect to earn, he said, less than S900 a year.
Medford area employs about 2,300 migrant workers during
the picking season. The average wage received is $13 a
day for the season, we learned from official sources.
One of the small fruitgrowers in the valley disclosed
the other day that he used to be a fruit tramp. This, he
said, helps him to understand the migrant laborers' prob
lems. He employs five or six pickers, both local and from
California. These return year after year. This small fruit
grower pays three cents more a box than average rates, but
expects that much more work, too, he told us.
Farm Fish Ponds Fun, Profitable
Corvallis-Back yard fishing
is a source of both fun and
profit for farmers who man
age their farm fish ponds well,
reports Andrew Landforce,
Oregon State college exten
sion wildlife management
specialist.
As many as 500 adult medium-size
fish can be grown
in a one-acre pond stocked
with largemouth bass and
bluegill sunfish. That's plenty
of good fishing for family,
guests and neighbors.
A new Oregon State college
bulletin tells how to manage
warm water game fish ponds
in Oregon. The bulletin sug
gests the best combinations of
bass and blur-gills for various
parts of the state; tells where
to buy fish for stocking ponds;
comments on pond size, plants
j and fertilizer; and suggests
three good ways to catch bass
and blucgills.
I Oregon residents can get a
free copy of "Managing Ore
gon Warm Water Game Fish
i Ponds" from their local coun
j ty extension office, or from
I the OSC bulletin clerk, Cor-
vallis.
Washington- IUPII -The gov
ernment has announced it will
pay about 10 million dollars
to cranberry growers who
suffered losses through no
fault of their own during last
fall's cranberry-cancer contro
versy. The White House said the
MAIL TRIBUNE, M.dford, Or.
Tutidav, April 12, 1960
indemnity payments would be
made by the agriculture de
partment and would approxi
mate S8 per barrel for clean
ed, marketable cranberries.
There's a vast difference between employing five or
six pickers and over 100 as the larger orchards have to do.
This means they have to lake any and all labor they can get.
But, perhaps they would get a larger percentage of good.
steady help if they could reach a better understanding with
the fruit pickers on working conditions and wages.
Surplus wheat and programs to ease the surplus wheat
problem is one big election issue. It affects everybody who
eats and pays taxes. On June 30, 1959 there were larger
stocks of wheat on hand than ever before at the end of a
crop year. Many wheat programs have been developed,
introduced in Congress and several have been put into op
eration. Oregon wheat growers have been busy promoting
sales of wheat overseas. In fact, increasingly larger sums
are spent trying to sell or give wheat to other countries.
We can only judge then that no really workable plan for
taking care of this surplus has been found.
Pointing out that a minimum of 500,000 acres of public
land was blocked by private land closures during 1958, Van
Winkle made these recommendations:
An appraisal of all tracts of public land administered by
the bureau of land management should be made to classify
certain recreation areas for retention in public ownership.
Federal holdings in these areas should be consolidated
through land exchange or purchase. A permanent multi
purpose road system should be built to serve the selected
areas.
I
Some Applcgate farmers had been bothered by this rec
reation access problem. They had an earthfill dam across
the river for irrigation purposes. This made an ideal swim
ming hole, also. A number of people were using it. Then
when the Jackson county parks and recreation commission
was considering adjacent land for a county recreation area
the public swarmed in and threatened to destroy the dam
However, since that land has been placed under the juris
diction of the U.S. Forest Service the farmers hope tighter
control will be maintained.
7 Hf. RIDE-A-MATIC TRACTOR
Vana-molil Drive and
Automotive !l.n, $54200
and Oifftrfntial
30 Attochmantt In- A$V TIME
ciud.i n.w Rotary PAYMENTS
Tilltr. I
ASK US TO DEMON STR ATS
BIG Y FEED & SEED
194S N. Pacific Highway
Phont SP 3-3160
General programs or philosophies on this current farm
problem are: Government should get out of action program
at once. Supports, subsidies and action programs should be
gradually eliminated. Finally, a third group believes some
action program is necessary to ensure equitable incomes for
farmers.
Those favoring a hands-off program think the forces of
supply and demand will solve the problem. Those farmers
who cannot make a living without government aid will quit.
And the more who quit the stronger will be those remaining.
The second group believes a sudden halt on action pro
grams would cause severe economic hardship to farmers
and those who serve the farmer. A gradual elimination of
government help would mean that in 5 or 10 years agriculture
would be free to operate and sell without government in
terference.
A part of the third group believes that unless agricul
ture is orosDerous the nation won't be. Others think farm
ers would be forced to live indefinitely on a lower plan
than citv dwellers who would continue to have very high
llvine levels. Some aDDarentlv think this difference would
h- ill riant to the Beneral nubile, but other think farmers
are entitled to money Income about equal to comparable
worker in urban life.
These are the different opinions held by just plain citi
zen and nrominent men in agriculture. It shows the con
fusion and disagreement about objective for United State
agriculture since World War I. This means people are grop
ing their way toward a siaDie agriculture, ai me same
time the country urgently needs to Know wnai i actually
wanted and how to get it.
One hie difficulty In making a scientific objective de
ration nn what kind of nrogram Is needed is that there is
not enough accurate Information on agricultural income
and assets on a national basis to learn now wen on or i.uw
poorly off the farmers are, as a whole. This would apply
to areas, types of farm business, sizes and characteristics
of ownership and management, according to Harold F, Hol
lands, OSC agricultural economist.
i l, i. a lor-nnri ft I ff icil 1 1 V. Just hOW mUCll
IViedSUi illi-uiiic .a - -
money does the farmer make? And how does he value this
..1.1 ha ..tka. farm than rln anvthin else be-
income or wuu.u i.c .a....;. -t
cause he places a higher value on hi working happiness,
rural life, home, etc.
a it.i-j jirrin, ,iiu In mak-inff a scientific evaluation of
the problem i in the extent and types of competition in
. ... 11.1.1 .. Mn..a..Mmant holn
various parts OI ine economy, mmuui iviira.
would farmers sell tneir gooas in nigmy cumucuuvc
kets and buy goods and hire labor in much less competitive
markets?
Mr. Harlow Says:
ii
It's Fun to Grow Tomatoes!"
People who are not farmers must remember that farm
ing i different from big business. Most farms are family
farms, the agricultural economists say. The number of
nnmrnniailv inv one commodity is large
compared to industry. The volume of each is small com
pared to the total food supply, i-roouction or unte h"h
of one farmer or a group of farmer in tate or county
would not materially change the overall price of that com
modity.
rw i ... ...unn. ..amain T4niu sat Ufartnrv are
1 WO important quesuuiia .cum.... - -
money incomes from comparing incomes of farm and non-
farm people? will commercial larmcra uui .uuu. .....
same ize money incomes as comparable to nonfarm busi
nessmen during the next 20 years or to without govern
ment help?
Planning meetings will be held soon on the Oregon Cat
tlemen' association annual convention to be held here this
summer. One thing sure the plans will be extensive. Every
body in the county and particularly in the city of Medford
will know the cattlemen are in town even if they have to
run a mass of cattle down Main st.
Rogue Soil Conservation district people and Interested
cattlemen will be making a tour soon over the Applegate
arcis which were used for the Flecco plow demonstration
in September. That was, if you will remember, when the
Caterpillar Tractor company through Crater Lake Machin
ery company here brought in a huge sodbusting, brush-rip-
ping plow and tractor to see u Drusny rui tuu.u., .un
claimed for pasture and range land.
Two things are alill hanging over the head of farmer
...i- . ...ail in others. One i the wilderness are
in una ni". " -- .
bill and the other 1 the movement toward creating more
- . . np ua a ntifl in Dunne recreaiiun iicm. no.
access a' k ' , . ,
, i u van winkle Orenon Citv. member of the
" " ..... . . anmmu.inn lolri th ilate natural re-
urerjon aioic . -- , ' , .
sources committee that "preservation and development of
access to federl isnat is national pruoiem arm
tiblllty."
An Oregon Farm Bureau representative luggested farm
er would be more willing to allow nuniers no uinimirn
........ .rrou their land if th state would adopt program
for increased patrol and some form of Insurance against
damage. Whatever happened to the "Frontiers, Inc." pro
gram which local member of the Izaak Walton League were
thing of trying here. Thl was an Insurance program which
was being tried in eastern Oregon to Injurs farmer against
ft" vVMrS
SMS?',
''"'j
It's EASY. Too!
The folki t "EilonV will gladly help you teleet a variety of tomatoe.
and other vegetables that will grow and produce for YOU like the
ones shown above.
9 Us Isotox Newl Keep ahead
of Aphid and Thrip
9 Orthe Lawn Fungicide for
"Brown Patch"
Try one of our Hose Sprayer!
$ Buggetta doe a real job on
Stub and Snail easy to uss
ORTHO ROSE DUST, In plastic Refillabls
Duster control aphids, thrip, black .
spot, mildew and rust
SIMPLICITY TILLERS
With Reverse
Makes Garden Work Easyl
Try the New CYCLOMOW
Rotary Mower with finger-tip
M adjustment ball bearing wheels)
L ;
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See our selection of GARDEN TOOLS of all types
Lawn Edgers, hand or lectric Lawn Sweepers
BEDDING PLANTS SHRUBBERY BERRIES
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hunter dimag.
.