The Osceola times., 1881-08-13
FACTS FOR FARMERS.
Destruction ON Peach Trees of the Disease
Known as Ye,lovs


The causes Of the failures 10 spcceo,
with peach trees in sections where the,
formerly iloulished are the operations O
the borers and the yellows. Nearly ever,
fruit grower now understands how Il
detect and destroy the borer, and if the
trees are damaged from that source the
grower is 10 blame; but the disease
known as the yellows is allowed TO take
full possession, owing to lis being classed
among the diseases OF peach trees in.
stead OF its real character being taken in.
TO consideration.
The yellows on the peach tree means
starvation; that those essential inoredi.
ents of the soil on which the tree has
heretofore existed are about consumed.
that nature ha; performed her part add
the 'inIe he's a-yived for the grove, tn
begin. Must sc then manure our trees ?
is the natural question. Yes. but not
with strong stable manure after tbe
yellows have set in. In fact. when once
the disease, as II is called, shows signs
On the tree, 1t is then rather late TO be-
GIN. The remedy is to ward il off
When peach trees are in good cond ton,
IN order to avoid yellows tbey should
have every fall good sprinkling around
the tree from the trunk out ward to four
feet or more) Of Stacked lime, and the
roots mulched to protect them durin,
winter and summer. Early in the spring
they should receive a good dressing of
unleached wood ashes TOO much can
not be applied, and the whole orchard
well narrowed over two or three times.
Alter the fruit has been gathered an ap.
plication OF good, well-rotted compost
should be applied to each tree BY scat
terlng il around the surface.
Peach orchards do well with any fer.
tillzer composed of fsuperphosphate, pot-
~, "'9sier and dried blood, The not
ASH is that which enables the tree to
make its wood. while the most benefit is
conferred on the fruit by the phosphate
blood. Ofcourse, dried bloou and guano
answer the same purpoce, but the dried
blood, for some reason, seems to suit the
trees better. The cleanings from the
priyy, if dry dirt has been used in it as a
disinfectant and absorbent, is superior
10 any other known fertilizer for peaches.
Lat any one try it who wishes, and the
most inexperienced observer will be
able TO select the trees 80 treated from
those manurtd in any other manner
But such fertilizer must not be IN raw,
unfermenied, heating mass but such a.
has been carefully mixed and divided
with muck or fine road dirt. In add.
ton to the good cultivation necessary
the borer must be killed, and trees an
nually pruned. Nothing shows such
benefit from pruning as the peach trees
and often. when seemingly dead. after
being closely pruned, it will shoot out
airesh as though about to start new
life. 1t is tree which seems grateful
Tor kindness.
Ashes, lime and privy cleanings will
not only prevent such signs of starvation
as the yellows; will not only enable the
trees to live twice the time allotted them,
and will not only be an honor and pride
to the grower, but will cause him to
double the number Of his crates at haI.
vest time, will give employment to more
pickers, will keep his teams busy and
furnish finer and better fruit and higher
prices. If every fiuitgrower would give
the same attention TO his orchard as to
his cereal crops there would be less
complaint.