Orchard Blight Threatens Kennewick Highlands
Agricultural inspectors work to combat the spread of pear blight, warning local growers that immediate action is necessary to prevent a total loss.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Inspector Luke Powell was on the Highlands Monday of this week looking after several cases of pear blight. Blight has been found on tracts in every part of the Highlands and, while not very serious at present, if not attended to immediately will give us a chance to repeat Prosser's experience of last year. E. O. Keene is in charge of a force of men cutting blight on the forty-acre tract west of the Liebel ranch. Prof. Wm. Meikle was doing field work illustrating methods of surgery for blight as Mr. DeSellem and himself used very successfully at Yakima last season.
“Blight has been found on tracts in every part of the Highlands and, while not very serious at present, if not attended to immediately will give us a chance to repeat Prosser's experience of last year.”
Early orchard management in Washington was a constant battle against biological threats like pear blight. The proactive, government-led 'surgery' for trees mirrors contemporary agricultural extension services that protect the region's massive fruit economy today.
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