The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-23
THURSDAY EVENING, MAY %. 1872.
Potomac Fruit Growers Assoc tion-Proceed-
ings at the May Session.

The association met, pursuant to ad-
journment, on the 9TH instant, Friend Gill
lingham, president, in the chair; P. IL.
Folsom secretary.
On motion Of the secretary, seconded by
Col. Il. Daniels, a committee of three was
appointed to take into consideration the
current matters of the association, and to
suggest any plans deemed necessary for its
more effective organization and better
management to secure progress and more
extended profit in the good work before it..
On motion of r. p. Darby, nj. d.,
General G. w. Balloch was unanimously
elected a member Of the association.
TREE wAsHING-ITs USES.
The question propounded at the last
meeting relative to the lead colored wash
used on the trees at the United States ex-
perimental gardens, was answered by
Prof. Saunders, as follows: The coloring
on the pear trees is a mixture composed of
one peck lime, four pounds sulphur,
slaked with water, and to each gallon of
this mixture is added one ounce of carbolic
acid, the whole colored with SCOT. The OBJ
ject of putting it on the trees is to prevent
blight. Whether or not it will have the
desired effect remains to be seen.
In the general discussion of the subject
Of washing trees, Mr.. Saunders said that
blight is fungoid growth that comes in
many ways, and should be checked as soon
as possible. Nor does it have any one
place to act it may strike limb, trunk or
root. This wash was to preuem blight
When the blight was actually upon the
trees one should cut away at once, follow
ing the affected part as far as it goes, if to
the root.
Mr.. j. T. Bramhall, of Falls Church, had
used the wash given, with satisfactory re-
suits.
Col. Ed. Daniels, of Fairfax county,
stated that he had noticed in his pear or
chard and others several places where the
leaves had partially wilted appearance
being droopy-and he asked if that could
be blight. IN rs
Mr.. Saunders thought it probably the
work Of light frosts, and that they would
recover.
Major King asked il washing the whole
trunk Of the tree retarded its growth. He
thought that he had noticed that it did upon
its immediate application, but that the tree
soon started ahead again.
Mr.. Saunders stated that the respiration
of tree was carried ON through its leaves,
and that the bark had nothing to do with
it; that it might be covered entirely, with
no injury to the tree. The bark thickens
as the tree advances in age, although many
shed the outside bark from time to time,
the disposition of the bark is to harden and
form cork. The blight is seldom if ever
found on old trees, which fact suggested
that the hardened bark kept off disease,
and it might be found that a good thick APP
plication would keep off blight from young
trees.
ga sUCKERs-sHALL THEY GROW?
Mr.. j. 7. Bramhall brought up the plan
of allowing suckers to grow around trees to
protect their trunks, SO that they could be
trimmed high, thus affording a chance to
pillow quito near the tree itself.
1t was generally thought that the plan
was poor one; that trees should be trim
med low, so that the branches would pro-
tect the trunks that blowing under the
roots, thereby endangering the steadness
and healthy condition of trees. This
should in no way interfere with the general
stirring of the soil, keeping off weeds nor
ploughing between rows OF trees.
The president read the discussion upon
the subject as it took place several meetings
ago, for the benefit of those not present at
the time.
AS an instance in point, Mr.. Bryan
spoke of peach orchard that his father
had given over to his care. 1t was pruned
high, was ten years old-a fine crop of
clover had been taken from it after being
seeded down one year--it had been regular
ly ploughed. He discontinued ploughing,
cut all branches and shortened all limbs.
1t was at this time in good, healthy, pro-
missing condition.
Mr.. Saunders recommended cutting one
half one year and the balance the following
year, and thus secure crop each year, and
if peach orchards were treated in this way
once in six or eight years, they would not
"run out' so early as they now do in
many sections of the country.
The president continued from the report
referred to upon the best methods of de-
stroying the grub or borer, which was con-
frmed by those present, showing that the
collar of the tree should be exposed during
the winter, so as to harden the bark, form
ing the better protection against the worm.
Fish offal and muck are useful applications,
as well as lime and ashes.
Colonel Daniels asked for the best time
to pursue the worm.
DR.. Rowland snow; any and all
times"
Judge Gray thought much time and labor
would be saved by carrying out the idea
expressed of removing the earth from the
. collar and main roots in the fall-the grub
is near the surface and there it works.
THE APPLE ORCHARD.
The following valuable paper was then
read by Chalkley Dillingham;, of Accotmls,
Va, which was listened to throughout with
marked interest
Most works upon this subject, up to the
present time, is from Northern and West
ern sources, and, although well adapted to
their own latitude, are not, in all respects,
suited TO the country north of Mason and
Dixon's line. In the first place, the selec-
ton of varieties for us should be entirely
different among the long keeping sorts.
The best varieties of the long keepers Of
the Northern states are but inferior autumn
fruits with us. We, therefore, have to Sc.
lect such varieties for this purpose as have
originated in our own latitude and south Of
us. The Wine Sap of Pennsylvania is ar
exception, being one of the most popular
winter apples for Virginia, but, be it re.
membered, that varieties originating in the
counties of Pennsylvania succeed well witt
us. The York Imperial is another south
,;,,ta, and Il