The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-12
Proceedings OF the Fruit Growers Associ
alton of the Gulf States.

The association met as per adjournment, h.
w. r. Lewis, Esq, in the chair. The Presldent
then announced that s. F. Gard, the weIl-known
grower Of oranges, was present, and would Dc %
pleased to answer any inquiries on the subject VI
ORANGE CULTURE.
Mr.. Manard asked if there was any dlnerence
in the hardness OF the creole orange. In reply
Mr. Gard stated that he believed all were hardy
alike. and depended almost entirely on the care
and culture Of the young trees A late CROWN Is
| always Injurious to them; he therefore ceases
cultivation of the young trees during the mortn
of August, looping Oh the young ana suoouien'
| THE ORANGE OR SCALE INSECT.
The debate now turned on the formidable PEST
| OF the orange planter, known IS the coccus OF
scale insect In fact, many writer's on .ne SUI
iact ar frnit have recommended that the surest
way 10 eradicate it is to cut the tree down and
pass it through the ordeal OF fire.
| M. Gard finding it necessary to destroy some
wasps which were endangering the comfort OF
| some of his workmen, chose to do 80 by hrlng
| load of powder from gnn into each nest. 10
/ his establishment, the tree, which was badly IN
tested with the scale insect, and showing signs
| Of its ravages began to recover, ana IN couple
| of weeks was restored to health and vlgor. On
examination he found the insect entirely eradi,
Gated Filled with astonishment, he repeated
the experiment, and with equal success IN every
instance. .
We are now prepared to state on the authority
of Mr.. Gard, that safe and perfect cure OF all
infected trees has been discovered, and con-
graduate our fellow fruit-growers on this valua-
member asked Mr.. Gard il he considered
the sour tree any harder than the sweet seed
ling, and whether tree budded or grated i'm
proved the fruit? Mr.. Gard replied the only ad-
vantage he could discover. was, that the sour
orange did not possess so much tap-root, besides
had more laternal roots, and, perhaps, from tnlS
reason was better suited to our low aluval lands;
as to hardness the same degree OF cold that
would kill the sweet orange would destroy the
sour orange also. He also stated that the Oldest
trees in the State are sweet seedlings, one OF
which, on his place on the Lafourche, was planted
in the year l765, and some twenty trees, also
sweet seedlings, over fifty years old, producing
from 5000 to 5000 oranges yearly to each tree.
By a Member.-It has been claimed by many
persons that the sour orange is less liable from
attacks OF the disease known as the sore shin,
which attacks the tree just above the collar and
in time causes its death. In reply Mr.. Gard said
that no tree in his orchard had suffered where
the surface roots were near the top OF the coil;
he considered that it was caused entirely by deep
planting: has examined thousands OF trees and
found in every case the tree had been planted too
deep, and after witnessing the destruction OF
nearly 400 trees set in holes dug but six inches,
he had adopted the plan of placing the roots i'm
mediately on the surface, raising mound OF
earth around them and throwing the balance OF
soil to the tree with turning plow. Note. this
mode Of planting refers to alluvial lands; on
sandy soils shallow holes should be dug. Trees
which there two species, white and black; the
former coat themselves with . glutinous SUBJ
stance and eat through the bark into the woody
portion, and at times ascend the tree and attack
the limbs.
ASHES, REMEDY.
The remedy which carries death and destruc-
ton to this pest and which has never ia led is
unleached ashes. 1t will destroy many and drive
the balance away: member advocated the use
OF concentrated lye eight boxes to q barrel Of
water, and applied with q fountain pump; the
latter will also eradicate the moss from trees and
leave the bark can and healthy. It has been
| tested by member Of this association, Alfred y.
Lewis. of West Pascagoula, Miss. The assOcia-
ton recommended the following species OF the
Creole orange:
/. Tobasco large. round, sweet excellent.
2. Lafourche !; large, round, sweet, excellent,
| deep yellow flesh.
3. Havana large. conical, sweet. excellent.
4. Sicily, small, sub-acid, early and keeps well.
S. Mandarin small, excellent for amateur cul-
ture. The above are seedlings Of the imported
fruit acclimated in Louisiana, except the La
Gard on the coast of Terrebonne. The Brazil
liam was then recommended by Alex. Mcconnell
as an excellent fruit, and the tree free frem
| thorns.
GRAPES AND WINE.
The meeting having been detained beyond the
| usual hour, the discussion on grapes and wine
making was necessarily short.
In answer to q question propounded by the
Secretary, Mr.. Lewis informed the association
that the Concord grape was. as yet, the most pro-
fitable; he had planted Ivess seeding, but 60 far
it had not given him perfect satisfaction, but he
attributed his failure to the extreme poverty Of
the soil. Had not, as yet, found any white grape
that he considered success-had tried the Mar
tina Croton and several others, but failed to re-
ceiye satisfactory returns. The Iona Eumelau
and Rogers's Hybrids we're failures.a
Mr.. s. M. Virgins stated that he had planted
largely of the Concord, and had never failed to
had arr06
5000 pounds OF grapes to the acre, from this va
riety He recommends the following list for gen.
eral culture:
Concord, for market and wine.
Ives's Seeding, for market and wine
Delaware, for market and wine.
Cynthiana, for red wine.
Norton's Virginia. for red wine.
Herbemont and Jaque, for white wine and
table.
Scuppernong, for wine.
Mr., Wiggius also recommended the Isabella
and Aliens Hybrid in small collections where
special culture could be given. But he must
differ from Mr.. Lewis in regard to the Ives Seed
ling grape, he considered it far the superior OF
| the Concord as wine grape, and especially
valuable on account Of it's colOring up two weeks
before the Concord. That, together with it's car
rying qualities, made it in his opinion the most
| profitable grape grown in the South.
Mr.. Mcdonnell desired to know if Mr.. Virgins
did not consider the Scuppernong the best wine
grape; the answer was that, although he, MIR.
W., acknowledged its value on account Of its
healthiness, etc., but that he had yet to find any
one in the Gulf states who had made any money
out Of the variety when planted on large scale.
Mr.. Virgins recommended the planting of the
Cynthiana and Norton's Virginia for red wines,
and any Of the Herbemont type for white wines;
they are all that could be desired. being rich in
saccarine matter, and making wines equal, in all
respects, to imported wines, having both body
| and flavor.
He had, like many others, spent large sums Of
money in testing new and untried varieties Of
grapes, and hoped that the time was near at
hand when the association would have an ex-
detrimental farm under it's control, where new
plants could be properly tested for the benefit Of
the hortculturists Of the States bordering on the
| Gulf Of Mexico.
Mr.. Sambola suggested that if the proper steps
were taken, an appropriation might be made by
the Legislature Of Louisiana to assist in so laud-
| able an enterprise.
The following list OF fruits were recommended
| AZ Sacrotarv for oaneraI culture in the Gulf