Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-30
DECEMBER SESSION OF THE poro.
MAC FRUIT GROWERSs
ARSOCU ATUnH

Orcer at III O'Clock by vice president Major Jno
III. King, P. H. Folsom, Esq, secretary.
After the reading and adoption of the secre-
tary's minutes, the following was read by the
secretary on the
EARLY FRUITISG OF PEACH TREES:
To illustrate the adaptability of the soil and
climate for fruit raising, would state that two
years ago last February 1 planted a number of
peachstones in hard, dry, gravelly soil: several
trees from these stones bore fruit this last sea-
son, and from one tree, large beautiful one L
gathered three dozen fine ripe peaches the first
day OF September last
A. t. c. DODGE, Capitol Hill.
Mr.. Saul stated that the peach was one of
those fruits that required careful selection of
varieties, and these should be grown so as not
to become mixed; that there were several good
varieties that would produce themselves il kept
carefully separated from others. In regard to
eariiness OF fruiting, he remarked that that de-
pended mostly on the soil and season, a light
grayely soil being most favorable to early
bearing.
REMEDIES AGAINST THE BoRER.
Major King What description OF soil is most
likely to induce the attacks of the porer-that
which is light and gravelly OF a rlch soil?
MIR. SAUL will state one fact from the ex-
peTience of a very successful grower of peaches
He employed a very simple remedy, which was
to have a shOvelfull OF night soil placed at the
foot of each tree. This done once a season was
found to prevent the attacks of that insect. The
borer attacks the tree early in the season, and
bOres into the heart of the wood.
Mr.. Dodge have seen the tree girdled by
il, but in soft ground.
Major King.-when the tree has been long
neglected and the season favorable the tree will
be girdled but the insect can be easily dlslodged
with knife. In my fathers orchard was ac-
customed TO scrape the earth away from the
roots in the fall and apply Stacked lime, re-cov
ering with earth in the spring.
MIR. Saul.-That operation Is very frequently
done, but the cold does not kin the insect. We
know that insects indigenous to any country
mate; the chrysals may be frozen through as
hard as crystal, yet, being placed in a warm
place, be thawed out and show life again. The
lime may kill the insect, but the cold not.
tTOf. Observation-Disclosures say il will.
Mr.. Saul.-My experience is that 1t will not.
For many years L have taken them from the
frozen ground into the green houses, when they
would come to life. L am not much of an ento-
mOlOgist, but have been intimate with those who
are, and their opinion is the same as mine.
Major KING would state, in reply to Mr..
Saul, THAT had two objects in view when re-
moved the soil from the roots. One was that the
bark could have time by exposure to become
dry and hard, so that the insect could not pene-
trate 1.-THE other was that was able to apply
and which would not have proved rs effectual if
mixed with the soil.
Mr.. Gillingham.-That think is correct-the
object is to harden the soil.
Mr.. Saul.-In that respect ii would prove ben
eficial. wet or mild winter is more destruc-
tive to insect life than one that is uniformly dry
and severe as they are liable to be surprised and
killed by a sudden frost.
MIR. Smith.-Jarring and shaking the trees is
good remedy against the borer as well as the
cUrculiO.
Major King.-wiH Col. CuTtiss state what has
/ been his experience in regardt to the bOrer.
Col. Curtis-I can only speak from short expe-
rience. After one year of successful bearing the
/ trees were killed by a severe winter; and do not
recOllect Of having seen the bOrer. 1t was ne
/ cessary, however. to ward Of the curculiO, and
for that purpose we shook the trees and allowed
pig and poultry the range of the orchard. Lime
/ and ashes we're also applied. The orchard was
/ sheltered from the west and north winds, but
\ open to the southeast, which Inow think is e
| most unfavOrable of all exposures.
! EFFECT OF THE SUN UPON PLANTS.
Mr.. Gillingham.-The north side or a shelter
in this climate is the best, where protection is
| afforded from the rising sun. In the morning
| the rays are direct upon the body OF the tree,
I and produces thawing of the sap on one side
/ while it Is frozen ON the other. At noon the
| rays OF the sun are diffused and uniform.
Mr.. Saul.-Plants are injured by heat from
| any source when i'll a frozen condition. When
| they become frosted, instead of placing them in
I "A greenhouse, take them into a cellar where, by
/ being thawed out gradually, they will not be
/ injured. greenhouse plant viii be killed by
frost, but hardy trees will not be injured If they
have been carefully packed so "a to retain the
moisture, and afterwards allowed 70 thaw grad
ually.
An interesting discussion here followed upon
the effect OF freezing upon the sap of trees
Major King remarking that he thought the
character of the sap was changed by frost.
Mr.. Curtiss.-Will sap once frozen be more
likely to ferment at a lower degree of tempera
ture than it il had not been frozen?
! Prof. Taylor.-I think il will.
| Mr.. Curtiss.-We have had sap frozen a grea
deal when making sugar, but never perceive,
any difference in the sugar except that it ma,
have been little weaker, which, however, wa
not proved.
Major King.-My object in introducing thi
! subject was to ascertain if the freezing OF tn,
sap did not produce blight the following season
which is an opinion much entertained. Their
are changes produced in insect life from tn
same cause, as shown in the culture of the hone
bee. The queen bee when placed in a low tenn
perature will only produce the drone bee ant
not the working bees of the hive, showing tina
this effect is OccasiOned by freezing, and perhap
that cause also produces in trees the disease
known by the name OF blight.
Mr.. Saunders--We don't know anything
about it. We may talk all day, but will arrv,
at no conclusion. The first question is does tn
sap freeze in healthy trees My opinion is tina
it does not. The sap is the life of the tree.
Major king.-Why is il that in the sprin,
early vegetables that have become frosted cal
be restored by watering them, while those no
watered will be lost?
Mr.. Saunders-Of course, frost will iniur
plants, but that is all We can say. A plant
destroyed by frost when all the moisture is alb
sorbed; otherwise, 1t can be saved if the re
manning moisture can be retained, but the SUI
shining upon a frozen plant absorbs the rest o
the moisture, and therefore destroys it. Tn
tree that has perfectly ripened its wood will no
be frozen, because 1t has no sap; and thougl
frost may kill a plant, that is only secondary
the main injury has been done before IN
frozen sap theory, as il is called, has obtaine,
more or less for thirty years; but il that is on
cause of injury, il is not that alone, for we SCI
trees injured that have thoroughly mature,
their growth. Cold is only relative term.
is pretty well understood that it is possible t
suppose degree Of cold that will freeze every
thing. Injury from frost depends upon tn
amount.
Prot. TaylOr.-I think il depends upon tn
condition OF the sap; a small portion of OF
placed about water viii prevent its freezin,
altogether.
Prof. Taylor, in the course OF his remarks
also said that all living vegetable organisms alb
sorb gases and liquids. These become condens
ed during their growth, their latent heat is giyel
on, and in this way the general heat Of the body
Il kept up. All liquids passing from that stat.
to the solid condition give of heat. The leave
OF vegetables absorb carbonc acid. The carbon
Is condensed in the shape of solid wood, and hea
corresponding TO the carbon condensed is Hber
ated. From these facts the great value of veg
citation, as a means of increasing the genera
temperature of a country, will be easily seen
The high cultivation of the soil has a smila
effect, because the chemical changes which TAX
place in the soil are generally of such charac
ter as give of latent heat, and the soil whel