Blasting the Berries

Blasting life into holly berries is a far cry to Christmas wreaths, but this very thing takes place at the great holly orchard near Kirkland, Washington, owned by Edward P. Tremper of Seattle. At Kirkland, the only orchard in the United States consisting entirely of holly trees is maintained. In that orchard more than 1,000 holly trees are growing. Mr. Tremper found in 1921 that some of his trees were not making the growth they should. Beside these sickly specimens were strong, sturdy trees. To discover if possible the reason for this condition and to provide a remedy, Mr. Tremper called in an explosive expert, George E. Willman, who for 24 years has been in the employ of the E. I. du Pont de Nemours Co. Mr. Willman prescribed blasting to revive the dying trees. His method was to send down a two-inch driving bar to a depth of three and a half feet, four feet distant from the trunk of the tree to be treated, using 20 per cent blasting powder. Very little change was noted in the trees’ appearance the first year, but during the second year and since, an all-round healthier appearance has been marked. Mr. Tremper explains that the blasting loosened the under soil so that the roots could get down into the moisture and obtain nourishment. The trees were literally blasted into health.