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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (July 9, 1963)
2 B TUESDAY, JULY fl. 19E3 MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON Farm & Garden FARM Woodlot Facts By DICK OLSON Slat Farm Foretiar Southern Oregon small woodlot owners are In unique position. They are finding themselves with increased taxes on their likewise increased value prop erty. The primary reason for this situation is the California buying market. This land, for the most part, is selling for home building sites with 4U or 80 acres. Also many Cali fornia residents are buying land in southern Oregon for Christmas tree farms. These increased values and taxes are good or bad, depend ing on what the landowner is presently doing on his prop erty and depending on wheth er he desires to sell or retain it. Greater interest in tree farming, Christmas tree andor other, is being stimu lated by these conditions. The present landowner is becom ing more aware of the value of his woodlands and is seek ing ways to help production on this land to pay increased taxes. Those buying, are most ly interested in their present and future earning potential, New residents from California are familiar with Christmas tree costs in California, so nat urally are interested in Christ mas tree growing. Numbtrs To Call If you are interested or need assistance in managing your woodlot enterprise, contact your farm forester at the state forestry office on Table Rock rd. any Wednesday, phone 664-1213; or at the Grants Pass slate forestry office, 761 NE 12th St., between 10:00 and noon any Friday, phone 476 7781. . Several weeks ago, the sub ject of forestry and foresters was generally explained in this column. The stimulating agent of this article was a panel of Grants Pass people who presented a very interest ing and enlightening talk to the Siskiyou chapter of the Society of American Forest ers, entitled "The Image of Foresters. One of the panelists, Mr. "Chuck" GUI, then mayor of Grants Pass, gathered infor mation by conducting a man- on-the-street survey. He simp ly stopped people on the street, introduced himself, and asked, "What is a Forester? The information gathered was presented In two categories of social and occupational. In the social category, the impression of a forester was that he seldom wore ties, he was quiet-not vociferous un less talking about forests. He was the manly outdoors type. The forester's favorite color is green and he is not too active in outside activities, From Man on Street In the occupational cate gory, statements were obtain 1. He has a direct relation ship with Smokcy Bear, 2. he usually owns a sawmill, 3. he has to do with sick trccs-actu ally a tree doctor or surgeon 4. he is a bureaucratic gov ernment employee - more so than any other branch of gov ernment, 8. he cruises timber- couldn't tell what a timber cruises did, but thought h counted trees, 6. from a log ger: 'He waits until you get your road built Or culverts placed and then tells you to move them. His main job is to hamper private industry. , 7 he rides in, flies over, or walks through forests-some- times for days, but difficult to determine why, 8. From an In surance Agent: 'He makes about $800.00 a month and is a good risk. This program should have been a real eye opener to this area's foresters, both public and private. I hope that through better public rela tions between the general pub lic and foresters that t n l s cloudy image can be im proved. It is my desire that foresters, both public and pri vate, be of the type to be worthy of the following image Bivcn by one person inter viewed on the street: "He is a tree and soil conservationist, suides forest cuts and re-seed ing as it affects soil, weather and terrain." Better Onions Tested for State Corvallis - An onion super ior in yield, quality, storage ability and resistance to pink root, the most important on ion disease, is being sought in field tests being conducted by Oregon State University. Heading the project, in co operation with the Western Oregon Onion Growers asso ciation, are W. A. Frazier, horticulturist, and E. K. Vaughan, plant pathologist. OSU Agricultural Experi ment Station. Cooperating with them are A. A. Duncan, OSU extension vegetable pro duction specialist, and Wash ington and Marlon county ex tension agents. Some 450 small plots have been established in the Lake Lnbisli, Gnslon and Corvallis areas, Duncan said, to test hybrids, selections, breeding lines and varieties. The onions being tested were developed mostly from the Danvcrs var iety by plant breeders at OSU, University of Wisconsin, private Industry and the U. S. Department of Agriculture Research Center, Bcltsville, Md. Although researchers feel the grower selections are al ready of superior quality, thnv hnna o hlnhnt- rinDrna nt ed In the street which present- pmk root resistance can be ed this image of a forester. Incorporated in them, he .aid. Better Drug Seen For Parasites In All Livestock Corvallis-A new drug that could make quite a dent in the $50 million loss the U. S livestock industry suffers yearly because of internal parasites has been tested and found effective by Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment station. Dr. Stuart E. Knapp, OSU veterinary parasitologist, has completed a scries of tests confirming that Thibenzole is the best material on the mar ket for controling internal parasites in sheep. He says he expects the Food and Drug administration to aprove the drug for cattle by the end of the year. Not only Is Thibenzole more effective than common ly used phenothiazine, but it also produces no undesirable side efects, and is safer be cause an accidental overdose is not as likely to harm the animal. However, because Thiben zole is not always 100 per cent effective, Knapp recommends using a combination of the two-Thibenzole in the spring, followed with phenothiazine in late fall or early winter The phenothiazine may kill any parasites missed by the Thibenzole. Alternating the two drugs may help to pre vent parasites from building up resistance to either drug Affect Horses, Pigs Internal parasites affect horses and pigs as well as cows and sheep. Parasites sometimes kill the animals, but the loss is more often an economic one because the animals don't gain as they should. Although Knapp gen erally uses sheep for testing, results can be applied to other animals as well. Knap pointed out that in ternal parasites increase as more pastures are irrigated and more livestock raised in smaller areas. He explained that conditions for parasite development and survival are best when temperature is above 65 degrees and ground moisture equals about two inches of rainfall. This occurs normally about two months a year, but when pastures are irrigated conditions are right for parasite growth for nearly six months. In another phase of his con tinuing research, t'napp found good evidence that feed- lot owners need not routinely treat all sheep for internal parasites when they come into the feed lot. He's looking for an accurate way to determine the level of parasite infesta tion in live animals. This in formation is needed to help sheep growers and feeders de cide when and how to treat for parasites. The scientist pointed out the need to study the problem in various areas of the state because environmental condi tions differ from place to place, as do types of Internal parasites. So far, he has tested cattle and sheep in douglas county, northeastern Oregon and from several areas in the Willamette Valley. Chit Chert By JOE COWLEY Mail Tribune Farm Editor Small towns for many years were the supply base for nearby farms, however, this supply source has shifted to the larger towns in recent years due to rapid transportation The declining economy of small towns and non-farm rural area residents have been of serious concern to agricultural leaders and the federal government in recent years. This concern has resulted in such government programs as the Area Redevelopment administration, Rural Areas Develop ment, and the community development program which has been fostered in the Pacific Northwest by the University of Washington. Of all these programs, possibly the most practical Is the self-help program of community development. Even If noth ing else comes from such a program a searching analysis is made of the small town and its problems. The people them selves learn what makes their town strong, what makes it weak and what improvements could be made. Such a study by the people, themselves, is the basic step in obtaining new industry, attracting tourists and making a town a better place In which to live. Heart of this "operation boot-strap" is the community census which includes: What things do you like most about living In this community? What things do you dislike most about living in this community? What is the attitude of the community toward potential Industrial development? To what extent might the people of this community be expected to subscribe to a stock issue for the development of sound local industry? No doubt about it, a good many American small towns are In serious economic trouble these days. About the most graphic example we saw was a small mid-western town which is no longer the agricultural trading center. Once a popula tion of 200 now it has about 10 families living in it. The big farm implement stores have moved to the larger town, about 60 miles away on the fast highway. Farm families now do their shopping in the large chain stores in the big town and a trip to the big city once or twice a month is a com paratively small problem. The summer afternoon we visited the town, a cannon could have been fired down both sides of the street without hitting a soul. The only place to eat was a dustv old ice cream parior in me center of main street. A portly, white haired woman with a large apron tied around her ample middle was idly gazing out oi the cracked front window. The post office next door had long been boarded up as was the city hall. NEW! FROM NIAGARA For Remarkable Mite Control Morocide has proven unusually effective against mites resistant to organophosphate and chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides. This is due to an entirely different mode of action. Morocide 50 WP is registered for use on apples only. Morocide 4 Dust is registered for use on both apples and pears. Morid li a tradt miki of Forbmrta Ho.thil A.O. Sot flm hkjyiMj MfmtWM, ol 773-3373 646 South Grope Street Medford, Oregon NIAGARA CHEMICAL DIVISION ANAHEIM fllKSNO RICHMOND TAXIMA Horn Otflo MmDLSrOftT.MSW TOKK Following the folly of prohibition, Installed bv what critics called "small town conservatism." people have become increasingly critical of the small town. Foremost of these critics was Sinclair Lewis who wrote "Babbitt" and "Arrow- smith," novels condemning the bigotry and narrow-mindedness of some small towns. And there have been other such critical writers as H. L. Mencken and George Ade. George Ade once wrote, "Down In the Ague Belt there was a town called Miasma. It needed paint, sidewalks, tooth brushes and Bibles. Everybody in Miasma believed the sun rose just in the edge of Widow Clevison's hog lot and set over on yon side of the sand ridge." A local critic has said somewhat bitterly, "Small people live in small towns." But it is also true that big people have come from small towns. People like Charley Russell, president or Southern racinc railroad company, from Jacksonville; Pinto Colvig, famous Ringling Brothers' Circus "Bozo the Clown" and voice for many Walt Disney cartoons, also from Jacksonville. Also, there is Carleton E. Morris, from Talent. author of the well-known "One Man's Family" radio series which ran almost as long as "Amos and Andy." FROM THE GROUND UP By BART BARTLETT Weather as a factor in eco nomic crop production has perhaps never been as marked as it has this year. Pollination weather was bad for some tree fruit crops Freezing weather prevailed during the period when some tree fruits could have set fruits. This period was follow ed by several weeks of cloudy, showery and or windy weath er that prevented newly pol linated pears to properly set. This is an involved subject and cannot be discussed at length in this column. There has been a measure of biological control of insects this season. This has largely been true only where tree fruit crops were lacking and no effort was being made to control such pests as green fruit worm and codling moth In fact, full biological control of all economic pests would require an insect predator that could eat or kill a large range of pests. It is not too difficult to manage the con trol of a single economic pest by means of a predator. The difficulty comes when some spraying must be done to con trol some other pest and this spray kills the pest and the beneficial predator as well. What is needed is a predator that will consume or control all insect pests. . Pear Decline Seen Many orchard trees that have no crop are showing symptoms of decline. These trees should be marked now for removal. In a season such as this when growing condi tions have been excellent and there is no crop all trees that have any future promise should be growing well. Check the back areas and corners of all agricultural properties for damage to eco nomic plants that may have been caused by some of the larger animals of this area. At this time damage to crops has been reported that would indicate that deer, porcupines, and jack rabbits are active and feeding on the plants in question. One pest that Is plentiful Strawberry Crop Said Above Average Corvallis - Oregon straw berry fields are expected to yield 79 million pounds of berries this year, a shade above average but down sev en per cent from last year's harvest, reports Stephen C. Alarks, Oregon State Univers- i t y extension agricultural economist. The figure is based on the June 1 crop conditions and U. S. Department of Agricul ture estimates. The prediction for Oregon is the same as in May, although the June figure for the nation as a whole was reduced, he noted. The USDA now expects a total of 492 million pounds for all season strawberry groups. This is 23 million pounds less than 1962 production Nearly all of the state's strawberries are produced for processing, Marks pointed out. In 1962, growers sold only 4.4 million pounds on the fresh market out of a total production of 85.4 million pounds. The weather Is the key to this year's crop, Marks said. Like last year, harvest start ed late. However in 1962, weather favorable to straw berries continued through June and into July, length ening the season and upping production. A sudden prolong ed hot spell could reduce the 1963 harvest time. The bulk of strawberries usually produced for proces- this year is the common leaf hopper. It may damage such crops as spinach, strawberries, and grapes. A dust of DDT should eliminate this pest. Consult your seed store man agers for materials and advice. Many pastures of the local area do not present an appear ance that indicates good man agement. The cattle on these pastures look much the same way. There seems to be a gen eral lack of direction from the extension authorities in assisting many cattlemen in getting their pastures and meadows freed of weed and fertilized in a manner so that the maximum beef production can result. Barber colleges should ex pect a rush of students and their promise should be great as it seems that this could be stepping stone to better things, at least from a political standpoint. ... sing shifted from California to Oregon last year. Oregon accounted for 81 million pounds or 36 per cent of the United States total of some 226 million pounds of berries for processing, Marks said. This was in contrast to the 10-year average for 1931-61 when California's share of the total U. S. processed pack was 87 million pounds and Oregon had nearly 66 million pounds. Last year was an unusually good year . for strawberries both in Oregon and Califor nia, Marks said. Higher yields in Oregon accounted for the increased production, However, Oregon's 2.75 tons per acre average was still less than one-third California's average of nearly 10 tons per acre. This year California has been producing heavily, but deliveries to processors are far behind last year because favorable weather has extend ed the fresh market shipping season, Marks observed. Through May, deliveries to processors totaled just over six million pounds, well L low the 17.4 million of a year earlier, he added. - California expects to pro duce 205.8 million pounds of strawberries, down one per cent from last year. Most of California's berries are sold on the fresh market, wUh only 35 per cent of the 1961 and 1962 crops processed as frozen berries. Washington stale's straw berry crop is also late this year, Marks said. The crop forecast for Washington is 45.4 million pounds, down four per cent from 1962. Mexico Imports Longer Predictions for Michigan, the other of the "big four" strawberry processing states, is a crop of 35.1 million Smokey Soyi; Via your Ash Trijt pounds, d' jvn 10 per cent from last year. - Meanwhile, strawberry im ports from Mexico the first five months of this year are larger than any previous com parable figure, according to the Foreign Agricultural serv ice. Through June 1, imports totaled an estimated 29.9 mil lion pounds, compared with 21.8 million for the same per iod in 1962. Total imports last year were 32.5 million pounas. Carryover stocks of frozen strawberries at the start ot May total 79.5 million pounds. compared with 76.6 million a year ago, Marks said. Car-' ryover on May 1 during the past five year period has . averaged around 89.9 million pounds. STOCKMEN FEED PELLETS Your coarse or unpalatable roughage will make a faaie for a modern balanced ration that you can feed with little labor and no wattage. The increased meat or milk pro duced will give you maxi mum returns on a small cash investment. MORTON MILLING CO. 500 Ross lane, Medford 1 LAWN MOWERS SHARPENING SMALL ENGINE REPAIRING Parts and Service for Briggs Strarton . Clinton . Lauson . . . and Others BIG Y FEED & SEED CO. 1948 N. Facitle Highway 773-3160 L T Often one family or group of people will control the town's government and society. But this is also true in big cities and is blamed for the rapid turnover of business executives. Such a self-study as provided by the community develop ment program in Jacksonville may have all the effects of the painkiller In Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer." Like Aunt Polly's cat in the book a town under this program may find it is being turned inside out and writhe in its critical torment. Heaven help those who may find themselves in its path. A small town's fulfillment seems to lie in the past or a light-industry promoting future. People like to think of a town with old-fashioned ice cream parlors, a town band con cert in the village green, church suppers, bazaars and fairs, horses clopping through streets pulling carriages, and bicycles built for two. These are things of the past, which if reinstalled could draw spending money and residents. So are historic buildings. A small Industry or two or three, plus a training program for skilled help to help attract such industry provides a firm economic base for such a small town. Perhaps a combination ot both old and new developments would be better. "Operation Boot-strap" is just that. It must come from the people and requires continual effort. A member of the Wlnlock, Wash. Community Development association wrote: "Things were very bad in our town and some of the local businessmen went to the University of Washington at Seattle to consult with this department (bureau of community devel opment). A meeting was called, but few came (to the first study group program). The enthusiasm stimulated then cre ated an immediate desire and interest for a second meeting when many attended." "Questionnaires were handed out in the beginning con cerning things of local Importance such as: how is the mayor doing fur the town, should the police chief be fired, is the council progressive, are people attending church, eliminate the snobs, get acquainted with your neighbor, take interest in all local affairs, clean and paint the town, clean up the cemetery. "We declared a holiday in business and everyone turned out and we painted every building in town. The women made up many sandwiches and pots of coffee and we had a fine dinner hour. It was suggested we take more Interest In our local cemetery so we created a district and added a few mills to our real estate taxes. We sold $200 worth of large trees which had grown from small plantings. Today we have about $1,200 a year coming in and are soon to build a nice house for the sexton, office, rcstrooms and a place to keep the various machinery. "A new feeling was built in and the farmers whom had somewhat felt neglected really felt a part of our town and took a new interest. (Various farmers were appointed to com mitters to report on dairying, curs and poultry, strawberries.) A general good feeling was created between everyone and the desire to trade locally happened. We also had a trade committee. The Winlock association learned of an industry looking for a location. Merchants and townsfolk contributed $100 to $500 each to buy a site and obtain water. The land cost $7,000 and the water development $16,000. A total of $25,000 was raised in a few weeks. A 'beautiful factory" was built. The town realiics $2,000 and the school district $3,000 in taxes each year. The payroll totals nearly $' million an nually with over 100 persons employed. Since then two other plants each employing 10 men have been erected. "We have again come together and supplied monev for a smaii piywood plant, and a shingle mill. We are getting along and while we have many empty buildings, a few houses, we have $3 million in bank deposits, some good stores, a modern disposal plant, a fine water system, good fire department and good school. j t. i (Kiraiiage (Cco(IDjD LOCALLY OWNED LOCALLY CONTROLLED IN THE LONG RUN You Won't Do Better Than Trading at . . . GRANGE CO-OP solely for the benefit of LOCAL farmers and ranchers. Always quality products and reasonable prices. REMEMBER ... You don't have to be a MEMBER to trade here and SAVE. - '"', 1 ' . 1 'f GRANGE . y CO-OP tiJl - "..-3ii t j , ( j . l s tO J i ;Vrl 37 Ash Street CENTRAL POINT Phone 664-1261 or 773-4022 421 A Street ASHLAND Phone 482-2143 P -f
