The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-04-04
HOW TO PRESERVE THEM.
Some rrac icsl Hints Concerning the Dis
eases Of Fruit Trees.

sumo Ffdc icsi HINTS concerning the Dis
eases Of Fruit Trees.
The Practical Farmer
Every tree and vine planted is subjected
to disease and the attacks of insects. II all
the VSfisties of fruit trees were diseased
alike sane remedy for prevention could be
devisN that would be safe and servicsabIe
but the climate and soil sometimes affects
the conditions and reader the methods
Practtced by fruit-growers in one section
uhHccesstul 10 another, thus calling for
different management in different l1cali-
TEE. The peach, which formerly -four
Ehed as well IN Pennsylvania and New
Jersey as in Delaware, has proved unprois.
able of late years, owing to the yellows.
The borer has done great damage, but the
b0rer can be prevented If the trees
are carefully watched. It has been
demonstrated that the yallows is the
result sof exhaustion of the soil
mot that the soil necessarily becomes
sterile. but the elements essential to that
healthy growth Of the tree aud production
OF hut have not been supplied. AS
pooof of this fact il may be mention ed
that IN some sections of New Jersey the
fTuit growers are again giving their stten-
ton to peach growing, as time has enabled
the soil to accumulate and store up the
elements best adapted for that purpose.
The success OF the Delaware peach growers
y
4 gantsges necessary to success, and the
avoidance OF the mistakes committed else
where.
Artificial fertilizers have done much to
prevent diseases of fruit trees, as by their
use the growers can supply the needed
requirements In any form and quantity
desired OF the essential elements, which Is
not the case when reliance Is placed
exclueiYelY upon barn-yard manure,
which, by its decomposition in the
soil, sometimes induces the dis
ease which is is sought to prevent. The
yellpWs attacks peach trees in any climate
but'singles out those that are impoverished
and OF feeble growth, though it lie contsg-
ious when brought in contact with healthy
trees.
The blight is the great enemy of the
pear tree. 1t has been found that the dis
ease attacks these trees that havs been
forced too rapidly in growth, and that Il
will not do to heavily manure and Guilt
vatc>the trees before they begin to bear,
thG pest conditions being light grass crop
in the orchard, assisted by artificial fer
| tiiiZers composed largely of potash. Potash
10 also beneficial to the peach, and in fact
| to all fruits, Increasing the amount OF
saccharine matter, although but little
| potash really enters into the composition
| Of the fruit
During the period of fru:ting ground
bone or sBperphosphate has proved bene-
fetal, the strawberry being an example.
While it is essential that the trees be kept
| in o strong, healthy, vigorous growth,
more damage has been done by forcing
them than in any other manner, Expos
ing the surface soil to the heat of the
sui's rays in summer is detrimental, and
hence the yslue of q grass crop Ia the pear
orchard, which shades the trees, but such
crop must be supplied with plant food to
prevent robbery of the orch ard. A cheap
and exceilens fertilizer il made by com
potfing mari, lime and old sod, allowing
the mass to reach q fine condition before
applying to the orchard, while stable
manure, though combining all the ele.
nsnts of plant food, should never be used
until thoroughly decomposed, the fresh
material being too heating. as well as con
tanning bacterial life detrimental to sue
cess.
The peach orchard is cultivated differ
sntly from the pear trees. IL is nov
claimed that the same culture given corr
answers for thu peach, but nothing viii
avail to win success unless the trees ara
cafefuIly pruned and the borer prevented
There il no reason WAY the peach should
not flourish outside OF Delaware, as IL
cultivation recently in New Jersey demon
strstes that many Of the obstacles hereto
FORE encountered are due rather to i'm
proper management than to other N
fuence9.