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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 22, 1960)
8; B , TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1960 MEDFORD MAIL: TRIBUNE. MEDFORD, ORE. i-CHIT CHAT , V!- y JOI COWLEY ' Mall Tribune m fdirar iwTwo big problems face this area's pear growers. These re pear decline and the threatened union organization of pickers. Both of these topics were on the program of last .-week's Oregon State Horticultural Society meeting In Cor V.vallis. However, the panel talks on labor unions and seasonal agricultural labor drew many pear growers away from the panel on pear decline. And this problem naturally affects - all of Oregon agriculture - and possibly all of U.S. agricul. lure. '-,-( . All of the U.S., because In Corvallis Thursday the head of the Agriculture Workers Organizing committee, Norman .Smith, declared it is his organization s aim to organize agri scultural workers all over the U.S. as quickly as possible ; 4- r Vt were unable to attend the panel discussion, but a couple of people who did kindly took notes for us. We did hear Bruce Sanborne, San Francisco lawyer representing the Dl Gorgio Orchards of northern and central California relate harvest labor problems in California from the grow er s view. r ' The San Francisco attorney urged Oregon growers to Join with the California growers to fight the labor threat, .'State legislation maybe the answer, but It Is not the ulti mate answer," Sanborne pointed out. "It is more of a fed eral problem and federal protection is needed." - Primarily, the growers need a reasonable defination of a "labor dispute, the attorney emphasized. The California labor department will not route pickers to ranchers who have pickets around their properties. This, even though union organizers have merely set pickets without attempting any negotiations. This union tactic is merely to force the rancher to deal with the union committee and hire union workers. Outlining his recommendations to growers, the attorney f uggested: (1) legislation to protect the growers at harvest time, (2) Judicial interpretation of labor regulations and particularly of the definition of labor dispute, and (3) change in government regulations. Orchardists cannot receive Mexican National pickers while they are picketed, Sanborne explained. Since this Mex ican National program Is a federal one the problem must be referred back to Washington, D.C. Until this past year, agri culture has been exempt from labor regulations applying to industry. It was clearly the Intent of Congress that farm ing be exempt from these labor regulations since agriculture is. operated undej conditions entirely different from indus- M IU1 IflUUUVUUIl ''-Agriculture produces a perishable product which must be sold during the year. Market conditions dictate the prices received. Growers can't tack on increased operation and labor costs. They can't even establish or demand prices to re-coup losses. Market prices fluctuate from hour to hour. Its markets are fiercely competitive strictly governed by the law of supply and demand. Farms can't be shut down dur ing labor negotiations. "This is not a case of more pay, more workers. Growers ire' always short of pickers and California growers already pay among the highest wages," Sanborne pointed out. "The .tactics of organized labor to force the farmer to negotiate or lose his crops and possibly his trees is like telling a fac tory owner he must negotiate or lose his factory. Crops must be harvested at their peak of quality, if they are not the farmer loses the chance to earn anything further from them the rest of the year." ii. .: Sanborne took a sharp cut at California Gov. Pat Brown and "a favorable political climate for labor." Brown's poli cies are unsympathetic to agriculture, the attorney asserted. '"' When growers protested actions of the stale department of labor in refusing to refer workers to picketed ranches, and protested that office's interpretation of "labor dispute," the office head told the growers to take a case to court and get a court ruling in their favor, the San Francisco attorney related. The growers took two cases to court and received favorable decisions from both. The court ruled that the Wagner-Kaiser act was not being followed and ordered the state labor office to cease its policy, the attorney said. , When the labor office still refused to comply the growers appealed the cases to higher court. The labor department refused to follow the previous ruling auring me iiuerun period. "All we asked was that the pickers be allowed, to decide for themselves, Ssandorne saia. Sanborne noted that growers have a big slake In their (rees. It takes five years before a peach tree produces and about 15 before a pear tree hits full production. Regardless of how poor the crop is the trees must still be pruned, thin ned, Irrigated, sprayed and cultivated. - Cclcrv growers in the Oxnard-Vcntura area lost $30,000 worth of celery because of picketing. A cherry grower lost $288,400. An estimated 300 tons of freestone peaches were lost, or $12,000 due to union action. Dl Gorgio ranches near Marysvllle lost $100,000. "The power to strike In agriculture is the power to destroy," the attorney insisted. - --' Sanborne admitted that he knew of only one case of at tempted intimidation by the union. A group of union men charged into a ranch and scared the workers, he said. The man responsible for organizing this action is in jail, he said Otherwise, pickets respected property lines and followed "an entirely peaceful policy." The growers early decided to follow the same policy, the attorney added. -; t ... In answer to questions, Sanborne said, so far the AWOC, was able to organize less than 1 per cent of the farm labor force th Is year, but expects the AWOC efforts will continue Public relations aro Important, he said. As a result of fair treatment by the papers the public was more aware of the true situation. He advised growers attending the session to form committees and be sure their side is presented by press and television. : ' The organizing drive follows no patlcrn and hits both large and small grower, Sanborne said. A small grower signed up with the union after the had lost three olive crops, . v Sanborne said the AWOC hasn't struck in Texas, Louis iana and olhcr states using large numbers of migrant work ers because California has a favorable political climate for its program and the other states do not. Another possible reason is that California workers can afford to pay higher dues, he added, In answor to a question. ..The OSC home economics auditorium was packed with both vegetable and fruit growers during the panel on labor nnioiu and seasonal agricultural labor. ' Antagonism toward panel participant Norman Smith. AWOC head, was like an electric current running through the audience, an observer reported. However, in spite of this antagonistic feeling, Smith conducted himself "very well," our reporter commented. John Zuckcrman, of the Council of California Growers, commented mat ne ten amun is a acoi catcd man doing what he feels is right and the union men workim with him are diligent and hard working men. mow ever, he also pointed out that one of Smith's co-workers Is now in Jail for strike activity, .. Smith didn't leave any illusions when he said, "We're eolns to stay with this lob until it is done!" Smith's appear ance surprised many people. A large, portly man with ruddy complexion, mostly bald with fringes o( gray nair ana oe spectacled, he resembled the local hardware merchant more than a driving union organizer. erally the best worker. Nobody could pin Smith down on what he would consider a fair wage. He did say that the AWOC was able to get an increase from 11 to 12 cents a crate at the end of the season for tomato pickers in Califor nia, zuckerman, of the Council of Oregon Growers, said this is always true. Pickers always start low and raise their rates at the end of the season. A Benton county public health nurse remarked that in creased wages would not mean migrant workers would live any belter, bhe told of how a family of four received $100 irom wcltare and dldn t show uo for work for four days Migrant workers are inclined not to spend their money wisely, sne noted; . ,. .,. ', Zuckerman attacked Smith's remarks that the Mexican National program is controlling the labor market and is responsible for keeping wages of domestic workers down Only 350 Mexican Nationals are employed in Oregon each year and represent about 2 per cent of the total labor force In California. . 1 . Although Smith said the union is "much concerned over the family farm," he admitted undor the crossfire of ques tioning that the AWOC program is going to hurt the family farm. Well, that's It. The pistol is cocked, aimed and the finger is on the trigger. Oregon Is next. How effective pear indus try public relations will be here in this crucial slruggle will depend on how soon growers and packers as a whole com pletely drop the attitude, . It s none of your damned bus iness!" . There are a few pear industry people here who have always been frank and open about what should be public Information. , (We admit there is some info which cannot be released without harming the industry), but they are too few. too few. . , The wife sums up our attitude when she says, "You can t blame 'em about being cautious with their wages when it takes IS years to put a pear tree in full production. Hydrangea Tips Given Gardeners He drew large guffaws from pear growers who have been hard-pressed In recent years when he commented, "I can't think people of the United States want yachts, swim ming pools and winter vacations at the expense of some workers!" f Aq Loud boos followed a remark that a union man is gen- By VERNON MARSHALL November - Since I have several requests to write s few pointers on Hydrangeas, I will choose this month as starting month for this plant so that, we may start at prop agating period and carry you through the blooming period, including the coloring of the hydrangea blooms,. All Hydrangeas are beauti ful and all are valuable to the florist whether you consider the old. standby H. Otaksa, the many fine French sorts which have been introduced of late years and helped us out so. much In overcoming the shortage of imported Eas ter slock, or the so-called hard sorts, H. Paniculata grandi- flora and H. arborcscens gran-diflora. Let's start with propaga tions - Any new growth (out side of the end or terminal bud of a plant) will prove use ful for propagating. The cut tings will root easily under the same conditions as carna tions. Often plants which for some reason don't set flower buds, have an abundance of growth along the stems, all good for the sand bench. Also plants with flower buds fur nish fine shoots, suitable for cuttings, from the base. These with a little bottom heat and a house Just a little above 50 degrees will root Inside of a month. , Pot Cuttings. When they are well rooted, pot up the cuttings into 2 Vi inch pots and set them in a well drained sunny place in a 50 degree room. Soil should be good sandy loam mixed with. 50 per cent pcet. When well established, shift them into 3Vi inch pots and pinch. By the middle of May they most likely can be shifted again and go outdoors, where they are best plunged up to the rim of the pots into soil in five-foot wide beds or cold frames. Don't overlook good drain age in the bottom of the pots. Hydrangeas love moisture, but in poorly drained soil the plants 'will soon get yellow, colored foliage. Early propa gated stock and such as has made a good growth, may bo pinchid again, but don't do this after June. Allow plenty of space between the plants and shift them as necessary. During the hot summer months don't merely keep the soil In the pots from drying out, but sprny the plants as well. To do this toward eve ning is of much benefit. While early propagated stock will naturally make the largest plants and will need more pinching than plants rooted late, even cuttings root ed during May or June arc well worth growing. These can be used for four-inch pot plants with one flower head, or they may be grown wltlv two flower heads to the plant. Still another way to plant three rooted cuttings into an eight-inch pot or even more Into a four-inch pot and keep them shifted but not pinched back. From the end of Sep tember on, start keeping the plants on the dry side to gradually ripen the wood and place them In a deep cold frame before heavy freezing occurs. Gradually the leaves will drop and by Novcmber or when touched by a light frost - your plants will be In a dormant state. From that time on up to the middle or end of December rest them. This means to keep them any where just above freezing. Watch Temperature Beow 32 degrees will mean running the risk of losing the end buds and above 45 de grees of starting them into growth earlier than necessary. Give plants a 54 degree house from the end of December on, slowly increase the tempera ture to 50 degrees and later on to 55 degrees or even 60 degrees or a little over if by March the plants appear a little backward. Their buds should be well formed six weeks or so before Easter, then gradually decrease the temperature but avoid sudden changes. Always let them have plen ty of space, never let them suffer for want of water, and each monlh feed them with a good liquid organic fertiliz er, such as "Liquinox" 10-10-5 for regular fertilizing, and change to 0-10-10 as they get well Into bud, to encourage large blooms. Coloring Hydrangeas should begin as the bud starts form ing with use of iron sulphate, aluminum sulphate, iron ke lates, or greens 26. Greens 26 is easy to use, will not burn, and may be fed along with liquinox feedings each month. Larger quantities may be used three weeks before flowering if you desire deeper colors. care should be taken not to over feed soil, which will re sult in burning the plant. Food Processing Growth In State Ties Farm-City Corvallis - A big Jump In employment during the past 10 years in Oregon's food processing industries is build ing a stronger dollar-tie be tween the state's farms and cities, says an Oregon State College agricultural economist. Sales of Oregon farm pro ducts last year totaled $424 million. Another $176 million value to these products was added at the first step in mar ketings reported Mrs. Elvera Horrell,' OSC extension agri: cultural economist. , The first marketing step GARDENING TIPS By JOHN McLOUGHLIN County Extension Agent TREES It is a good practice to stake or tie all newly transplanted trees larger than one inch di ameter. -This will keep the trees in position until their roots are large enough to perform this function. The roots are usual ly sufficiently established to remove this support after two growing seasons. . The simplest type of brac ing for small trees is a stake driven into the ground on the windward side of the tree Two stakes on oposile' sides of the tree or three stakes at equidistant intervals around the tree and united by cleats with the tree supported be tween . make excellent sup ports. - . Precautions against trunk injury are necessary when ty ing the tree. Use soft rope or burlap. Wire or hard rope may be used if you run it through rubber hosing placed around the tree. Leave a lit tle play in the line. Street trees, especially those planted in a strip with out curbing are best protect ed from cars and bikes' with the three stake method. Storage Tips Given by Agent By LEE SHEEHAN County Honiii Economics Agent Correct storage makes the difference between enjoying your summer's harvest in January and a constant trip to the garbage can with spoiled produce. Keep potatoes, onions, shell nuts, squash and similar produce cool, dry and with space for air to circulate around them. Store potatoes in burlap sacks in the dark to prevent sprouting. Resl them on blocks of wood off the cold floor. Hung onions in string bags (saved from quantity buys of orange or grapefruit.) Be sure onions are dry when stored. This may mean you'll need to allow them to dry several days after digging. Dry single layers on tray. Shell nuts store well In a cool, dry. place, after they have been correctly dried. Walnuts should be dried im mediately after harvest to prevent mold. Best drying temperature is 00-100 degrees. Turn nuts daily to insure even drying. Home drying takes three to four days. Walnuts are dry when the meat breaks Instead of bend ing. Store in shell in cool garage, porch or basement. Plan to shell walnuts before the warm spring weather. Nulmcats store well in the freezer. For more convenient shelf storage, can at home. Storage of squash offers a challenge to the home gar dener. Newer varieties last well Into spring if handled ARBORVITAE The second fail spray an imation for control of Berck man's Blight should be apf plicd now. This fungus attacks all ori ental arborvitae. Golden ar borvitae is the most suscept ible of all. Considerable dam age to oriental arborvitae has resulted in this area due. to this disease. For control of Berckman's Blight remove all dead and dying twigs from the bush and then spray wilh tribasic copper sulfate at three table spoons per gallon of water. All oriental arborvitae, whe ther diseased or not, should be sprayed. If rain occurs be fore the spray dries on the bush apply a second applica lion. Add a spreader sticker to the spray. SLUG CONTROL Slugs are one of the most common and persistent pests or nome gardens in western Oregon. They are most active during the cool wet periods of the year and least active during periods of freezing or - hot wca thcr. Each individual slug is capable of laying eggs, a con dition called hermaphrodites. After the first fall rains and early spring, the greatest egg laying activity occurs. The small pearl-like eggs are laid 9 Million Bushels Of Grain Inspected balem - Almost 9,000,000 bushels of grain were inspect ed during October according to report by the grain inspec tion division of the stale de partment of agriculture. Portland received the larg est amount of grain with a tot.al of 8,286,665 bushels. Astoria and Pendleton offices cheeked In a combined amount of 468,217 bushels of wheat. Astoria had 320,550 bushels and Pendleton, 147,- 667 bushels. Grain coming into Portland by truck totaled 820.775 bushels; by barge, 1.4 million bushels, mostly' wheat. Export shipments of inspect ed grain came to 6.513.065 bushels. Of this, over 5,000, 000 bushels were wheat and the remainder barley. carefully. Large squash with stem attached do not spoil as quickly as those that have lost the stem. So when moving or rearranging squash, do not grasp with that convenient handle. Plan to use those without slcms first. Protect from freezing by using plenty of paper insulation. Apples store best et temper atures just above freezing. Not everyone has such storage available, but cool, dry stor age space with some air cir culation is next best. Some varieties keep better than others. But usually the small fry of the family keep stor age of the family apple tree's yield from becoming a problem. Sawdust SIH GREEN STAMPS Medford Fuel Go. Tel SP2-2tn Court t MeAnd. ZJ LICENSED JUS INSURED HIGH WINDS AND HIGH TREES ARE DANGEROUS! Avoid damaqff . , call us lor fret iidmjtos on Tree Topping, Re moving and Pruning! Oregon Tree Service SP 3-4871 in clusters of six or more in sheltered cavities near the soil surface. The eggs may hatch wilhln'a month or over winter. The necessity of kill ing the adult before egg lay ing is readily seen. One good point about slugs Is that with a good control program they are easy to con trot. Meal or pelleted baits containing metaldchyde and calcium arsenate are effective. Proprietary ni e t a 1 d e hyde dusts or sprays are effective on flowers and shrubs but should not .hr used on vege tables or small fruits. M e t a 1 d e hyde volatilizes readily and breaks . down quickly in contact with. moist soil. A board may be used as a shelter for the bait to length en the baits effectiveness The bait formulation is' mqre residual in action than the spray. Slugs may remain inactive in sheltered places for a few days. Therefore repeated-applications are necessary . for good control. Baiting or spray ing nearby vacant lots or woods helps control slugs be fore they reach your garden. Slug control is a year-round practice. ASC Ballots Mailed To All Farmers A. S. C. ballots were mailed to all farmers Monday, Nov. 21. Ballots are to be returned to the county agricultural stabilization and conservation office postmarked no later than December 1, according to M. B. Caster, acting office manager. ' At this election, community committeemen will be select ed for the seven ASC com munities in the county. The county convention to elect the ASC county committee will be held Dec. 20. which plays an important part in the economy of Ore gon cities includes such ex amples as grain storage, pro cessing fruits and vegetables, making butter and cheese, and bottling and delivering milk. Total value of $600 million in farm products after the first step in marketing is sec ond only to forests as a source of primary income and is growing rapidly as Oregon processes more of its farm out put, Mrs. Horrell said. This rapidly expanding eco nomic bridge between Oregon farms and cities is scheduled for special statewide attention during Farm-City Week, Nov. 18 to 24. While Oregon Department of Employment figures show a 5 per cent drop in farm jobs in the state since 1950, they reeord a 21 per cent increase in employment in industries processing food products. . Fewer farmers, producing more efficiently wilh mechan ical and chemical aids, have also given rise to another phase of agriculture involv ing city peopie: people who provide farmers with services and' supplies such as ma chines, equipment, and chem icals. Nationally, about two-fifths of .the county's, entire labor force works at jobs supplying farmers or . processing and distributing farm products, the economist reported. Efficiency resulting from this combined farm-city "agri business' has boosted tile out put per-man-hour from farms nearly 70 per cent in the past 10 years. Investment in agriculture has expanded along with out put. Oregon farmers have in creased investments in their farm operations by nearly 50 per cent since 1950. . . Value of Oregon's farm land and buildings, machin ery and livestock reached $2Va billion last year - equal to 70 per cent of the total per sonal income after taxes of all Oregonians. , This "farm plant" invest ment now averages about' S32.000 for each of Oregon's 77,000 farm workers which includes both farmers, and cm- ployed help on farms. By comparison, factories through out the country have an aver age investment of about $16, 000 for each worker. About half the income from Oregon farm sales comes fom beyond the state's bor ders. Expanded income for all Oregon agribusiness - both farm and city - from these highly competitive and dis tant markets will depend upon the entire link of Ore gon's producers and proces sors using the most efficient methods, Mrs. Horrell said. on the Hart Schneider lur key breeding program. "One inquiry came as far away as Happy Camp, Calif. All of this response is due to the article on the the Mail Tribune farm page last Tuesday." Hart said, "We've never received as much response before, even from our extensive advertising." Peach Growers Should Prune By DAVE PASSON County Extension Agent Peach growers can begin their dormant pruning now, says Dave Passon, Jackson county extension agent. - Peach tree pruning is pos sibly the easiest of all tree fruit pruning jobs. This is true because peaches produce the bulk of their fruit on last year's wood. Pruning of ap ples and pears, on the other hand, is complicated. Fruit is ! produced on spurs that may be from one year old to as old as the tree, says Passon. In pruning peaches, t h e grower must balance his cuts to the variety, the soil, and the tree's past performance.' tree age also plays an impor tant role. As trees become older their ability to produce new laterals diminishes. Young peach trees should be pruned only enough to shape a strong framework. This is especially important after the trees' first year of growth, according to Passon. Later on, after a peach tree has borne fruit, pruning should be restricted to cutting out sucker growth, thinning out brushy areas, and remain ing awkward or broken branches. Summer pruning can Be an aid to better tree development if handled properly, Passon says. Persons interested in sum mer pruning should contact the Extension office before going ahead. Orchard pruning demonstra tions will be held later this month or early next monlh, reports Passon. Al Hart, of Hart's Hatch ery, just south of Medford. reported yesterday that he has received nine inquiries WE KNOW WE HAVE THE BEST! It will pay you to prove in your own herd , . . that "ABS is Best by Every Testl" Modern Artificial Breeding with FROZEN SEMEN FROM AMERICAN BREEDERS' SERVICE -to I v ; ' A C. C. Williams ROGUE VALLEY PROVED SIRE SERVICE SP 2-4093 For a Complete Feed Service We manufacture a complete line of feeds for all kinds of feeding. Dairy Cows and Beef - Hogs - Rabbits -Chickens - Turkeys - Calves and Horses. 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