Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1914 — Home Orchard Demonstrations. [ARTICLE]

Home Orchard Demonstrations.

Demonstration meetings are being held in the counties of the state by the Horticultural Division of the Extension Department of Purdue University. Counties have been asking for demonstration meetings in different parts of the state,, but there are several counties that haven't applied for demonstrations, yet they have sufficient funds on hand to insure the handling bf such a meeting. should be anxious to secure tliese demonstrations and thus help to increase the orchard yield. Home orchards on Indiana farms are regarded by too many farmers as incumberances on flit* land they occupy These same orchards, a few years ago. however, filled cellars and bins with large crops of perfect red and yellow apples. That conditions of fruit production have changed is obvious, hint just what the factors are in the changed order, very few fanners have seriously considered. It is known that San .lose scale and other insects, as well as fungus diseases have increased to the point of serious danger to orchards, but proper control and profitable methods of orchard management seem to many tanners to involve many mysterious operations' with chemicals and spray machinery. The mysteries, however, if at first vexatious, are soon eliminated by little effort. Operating a spray pump is no more difficult than running a binder through a wheat field but the fact that it is a newer practice has made it seetn so. Many farmers who have kept pace with general agricultural progress are still behind on modern methods of qrebard management. There are hundreds of otherwise up-to-date farmers whose orchards have become, through disease and neglect, unsightly ob r jects on the landscape.

We are facing a condition, not a theory. It is generally recognized that something must be done td save the passing orchards. There are farmers today who realize this fact and who have the inclination to spray and prune but who feel that the information that they can get Irom reading books and bulletins is not sufficiently direct and practical to insure satisfactory results. Personal and practical help is wanted and, without it few farmers fpel qualified to undertake the task of making over the home orchard. -One of the several practical extension aids which Purdue University is offering to meet the need of direct and personal help to Indiana farmers is the orchard demonstration meeting or one-day orchard school. These meetings are held in the orchard of easy access to a community by a member of the Purdue Horticultural Department. The meetings are usually all day picnic occasions, since the noon hour is given over tp a

good old fashioned basket dinner where friendships grjpw stronger over common enjoyment in the satisfaction of appetities made keen by the out of doors and the holiday spirit. The morning session of a demonstration meeting is devoted to the. subject of pruning. The demonstrator briefly discusses the principles of pruning; fruit trees and completely prunes one or more trees for illustration. The talking is done largely from the tree and the reasofi for every cut is pointed out. Pruning tools of various types are used ana discussed and as many practical points as possible are emphasized. In the afternoon orchard pests are described and identified, and control measures are suggested. Spray materials are made, tested and applied to several trees. The advantages of different types of pumps, nozzles and

accessories are made clear 'by illustrations. Any one wishing may try the nozzles or saws, for himself. The meetings are .entirely informal and questions are in order at any time during sessions. Demonstratiotf jfneetings have been valuable to the extent of thousands of dollars in many counties of the state. Whole communities have learned profitable methods of handling the home orchard from the tacts and inspirations gained at one of these meetings. During the season of 1912-13, 139 meetings were held with a total attendance of 11,801. There is a great demand Tor meetings for the 1914 season but any community in the state may obtain one of these meetings, if immediate application is made to the Horticultural or Extension Department of Purdue University.