Smyrna times., 1884-04-16

=
pounds per acre, containing 100 trees"
1t will be observed that the applica-
tiOn made as here stated, is only halt .
that called for by our method of treat |
ment. The fact that the application
resulted in favorable symptoms is most |
gratifying, and the failure to arrest the |
disease may have been due to INSULT
cheney of fertilizer. In answer to
special inquiries, Mr.. Appleton further
writes as follows
II find it difficult to give specific
answers to the printed inquiries con-
tanned in circular, as the experience of
growers is so various; even orchards
from the same nurseries, planted at
the same time, on similar soils and sub
ject to the same cultivation and gener-
al treatment, often show different re-
suits, some prematuring early with un-
mistakable symptoms of the yellows,
while other show comparatively little
evidence of disease, living and bearing
years after the former have been taken
out.
AS | stated in my former letter,
this has been a peach section or dis
trict' for the past twenty-five or thirty
years, during which time the yellows
have been more or less prevalent in
different orchards, in some cases a few
showing symptoms from the first year,
but generally appearing after the trees
have commenced bearing. Some wears
tree or a block would become dis
eased, and the tree or trees all bear
premature fruit the first year after
showing symptoms of the disease. but
|
limb or branch, and gradually spread
until the whole tree has become dis
eased, l have had trees thus affected,
and after picking the fruit had the
branch or part of the tree showing yell
lows cut off. The next year it would
appear i'll other parts of the tree, usual
ly the same or adjoining limb. BY re-
peating the cutting have had trees to
be from three to four years gradually
yielding to the effects of the disease.
Orchards here have failed rapidly since
the severe Winter of 1881, at which
time the mercury fell to 14o below
zero, which is almost unprecedented in
this locality. The only other instance
remembered by peach-growers was in
1856, when most of the bearing
orchards were killed or rendered short
lived.
1.-The experiments noticed in nv
former letter commenced in 1877. and
the trees where the application
(muriate of potash and dissolved bone J
had been made resisted the Winter
better, and lived longer than where
not applied"
The following question from the
| &c 8 80
to introduce it here, together with the
reply:
- would be glad to have your opin-
ion on the effects of the severe cold on
peach trees, the opinion here being
that all trees planted previous to 81
will be short-lived and premature rap
idly"
The effect of severe cold upon trees
must have tendency to reduce their
vitality below normal limits, and the
extent of the depression must depend
upon the relative severity and dura.
tiOn of the cold period. If this latter
be sufficiently severe as compared with
the usual low temperature, then the
resulting depression of vitality may
assume more or less permanent char,
acter, and the tree not only fails to re-
cover, but grows rapidly worse, this
being especially true if there is no de-
parture from the ordinary methods OF
cultivation to meet the special require
ments of the case. Thus, with regard
to the effect of the almost unprecedent
ed cold of 1881, it is quite possible thai
, the trees may prove premature, short
lived and perhaps be more subject t.
the yellOws, because they have doubt
, less been brought into a condition
which would invite disease; and We
, this latter might not appear even unde
such circumstances, if the conditions o
: the soil are highly favorable to health
| 1t seems quite probable, howeve
that the effects of the cold might b.
neutraliZed very largely or wholly, b.
a proper course of treatment. Thor
: ough cultivation will do a great deal
t but there will also be needed a gooC
= supply of food in form which can b.
: readily taken up and assimilated b.
: the plant. Here again, care must b
, exercised. Applications of stabl
| manure or of other highly stimulated
fertilizers, or, in fact, of any manure il
Y which there is a relative excess O
: nitrogen, are not the best, because, b,
t their great stimulation they promot
= an undue yegetative growth withou
Y that solid maturity of the parts whic
: is essential to a sound and Vigorou
constitution. We should rather seek
v by the use of mineral fertilizers. il
e which there is a suitable amount O
0 nitrogen, to recover the system in tn
s most substantial manner. Aside fror
e he e Al
i potash, this is primarily one of tn
v objects which the formula for peache
n is designed to accomplish, and whic
@ there is good reason to believe it doe
/, not accomplish, even as testified b
i Mr.. Appleton himself, when he says h
v has observed his trees thus treated {
v stand the Winter better.
l. Turning now, to Orange and Ulste
a Counties, New York, it will be intel
q esting TO see what progress the diseas
il has made in the peach region alon
q the Hudson River. Mr.. w. ID. Barne
If of Middlehope, under date of Angus
is IA, 1888, writes as follows: H
d have noticed my own trees car
$, fully, and don't think any of thos
W with the yellows have been trouble
10 with the curled leaf. So far, don
v think the curl leaf affects the ripeniu
b of the fruit at ALL To-day l noticed
e. few vigorous trees with the fruit ripel
j. ing prematurely ON single limb,
le perhaps on half the tree, without an
IS perceptible difference in foliage {
ia bark.
N e. Last Friday (1Oth) drove throug
ct Marlborough, and all the orcharC
e, seemed badly affected. In some evel
9. tree was sick. In one, containing tv
in or three-year old trees, all were We
he low. There never has been such .
j. opportunity to study the disease und
e. so MANY varying circumstances of SC
s. and culture" .,..,
is The following are taken from not
Ee made by the writer upon the conditiC
ID of orchards: .s.a
er IAN inspection of orchards made
the 18th of June, shows that the Gu
l., is fully as prevalent this year as las
The belief seems to have gained grouI
st with many that this affection is due
lg the action of frost, and that parasit
d. growths or similar causes have nothil
ne to do with it. Nothing is done to o
ch rest its ravages, as 1t Is generally co
nd sidered of no special detriment to q
he tree, since the curled leaves are so,
1t. replaced by others of healthy growt
h upon which the formation of new wo,
IS depends. It is a marked featura