The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-22
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD
THE FAR VI.
Longevity and Yigor of Peach Trees.

Longevity and Yigor of Peach Trees
Correspondence IIearthstone and Farm.
The writer has planted and reared to maturity
three large farm orchards, and as many vine.
yards, including not less than 800 peach trees of
choice varieties To no one feature OF this horu-
cultural experience has he had cause to give
more careful consideration and nursing
than to the preservation of the peach
tree from low vitality and early decay.
All fruit trees grow and bear vigorously in fresh
and virgin soils, but the peach most of all Con
tinued cultivation and removal OF crops from the
ground despoiI it of vegetable rnold and
other constituents necessary to full and
healthy maturity. On old titled land these
must be restored, and orchards cultivated and
fortified specially and skillfully as crops OF
grain or vegetables. 1t is against nature that
the same ground should mature and grow two
heavy crops to healthy maturity year after year,
and this violation of natures obvious laws &C
counts for SO many stinted fruit trees IN
orchards, and such dwarfed and imperfect fruit
upon them This we might easily and conclu-
sively show here if space admitted; but it is a
subject for special treatise of itself.
The universal and death dealing enemy Of the
peach tree is the borer The readerdEill under
stand what it is. If he does not, and has lot
of peach trees in charge, let him serape way the
earth one or more inches deep, Immediately at
the junction of the tree and ground, and he will
find punetured places in the bark at inter
walls around itRe trunk, with a gum
my substance gathered ielly-Gke about
each wound. Carefully serape and clean out
these wounds and save the gum in an old vessel
On examination he will find number of worms
OF borers, from the size and appearance Of
small white threads, a fourth to q half inch long
and larger, to rusty-looking worms three
fourths of an inch long, and as large in girth as
n small straw. Minute examination shows that
all have horny and nipper-lke cutters, with
which they bore through the bark and into the
wood. The tree is thus tapped and the sap
furnishes both food and shelter to the usid-
Seus enemy. 1t feeds on the liquid parts,
1t in all extremes of weather. Next examine
the body Of the tree to the limbs and then the
body of the larger limbs and other colonies may
be found here and there imbedded in the oozing
Rusn. "A peach tree thus neglected and sgivenfup
to the borers will usually survive not live seven
years while its natural life, if protected and
cared fer, Should be twentyto thirty years. In
the neglected condition it will probably not bear
moro than two full crops Of fruit and this be
imperfect. In the healthy and natural state it
should bear seven to ten fair crops.
There is but one sure remedy and that is
mechanical and simple. Twice. year, in April
aud September, the owner should, with the point
of an old-fashioned butcher knife or SIMILAR in
strument, scrape away the earth some two
inches or more deep at the base of the tree, find
cut every colony of borers carefully and clearly
scrape out the gum in which the worms are
imbedded, and save this in a tin vessel, to be
emptied into the fire and burned as taken
out Then clean out the colonies in the body
md limbs of the tree also. Then having
saved Vhe strong SOap-SuuS IRON Ilfe sb&St
washing, mix enough lye or lime water with it
to double its strength, and with loose cloth
map fastened on the end of stick wash the
trees from the ground to the second limbs with
a good scrubbing that will clean off all old moss
and parasitic growth, as well as with the back of
n kite scrape off all old dead bark that may be
in the Way. Two men can go7everil00 trees in
a day, and clean out all tho borers and wash
them. Do this twice year, and the brightness
and beauty of your trees will be the admiration
of all neighbors, and they will gratefully repay
,yOur kindness with delightful fruit four-fold.
A little ashes or weak lime around the tree at
the root is some protection with the above treat
ment Without the treatment, nothing will
protect or save that | have tried. for the borer
cannot be reached in his shield of gum. 1t lies
there sucking the life blood of the tree winter
spring, summer and autumn. Nothing but an
Dihilaton will cure
The addition of lime enough to the wash to
leave very light, perceptible coat of thin white
on the tree has good effect but not full
white-wash If fortified some, the better The
quantity will depend on the wear of the soil
trom tillage Be sure not to waste it by put
ting it near the tree 1t should be spread from
circle five or six feet from the body to five or
six feet beyond the reach of the branches.