The herald., 1896-09-05

long spell of cool weather found the trees
partially dormant and the damage was
wrought on the young tender oranges
and lemons before the sap could start
to flowing freely. But on the other hand
we can see orchards that still have fair
crop Of fruit Why is it? Is easily asked,
but not so easily answered. The most
universal remedy that Is recommended
is water, and in so far as 1t Is used to
put the tree in good condition is doubt
less effective. To do that, 1t should be
applied two or three weeks prior to the
hot or cold weather, or in other words
the tree should at all times be In strong
growing condition.
To accomplish this, water in abund-
ance down deep in the ground Is neces-
sary. But superficial surface irrigating
is of little avail. You will notice those
irrigators who are applying water in
small quantities every week or two
merely running the water in the furrow
till 1t reaches the lower end, are the ones
who scarcely ever have crop, whether
we have hot or cold weather or the best
Of condition. And right here I might
say that the ideal season never comes,
for there is always something abnormal
with which to contend.
MY own trees I plan to irrigate every
six weeks. running the water eight or
ten hours in each furrow. On heavy soil
sential that the surface roots may be
sandy loan think 1t Is. Following the
irrigation I cultivate deeply and thor
oughly. I deem the deep cultivation es
sential that thes urface roots may be
destroyed. This is still better accom-
plished in the wet season by deep plow-
ing. am aware here that am on dan
gerous ground for many others do not
agree with me in plowing, but I am
thoroughly convinced that deep plow-
Ing is beneficial in all seasons, and es-
pecially SO in dry ones. The roots are
forced to go lower to where the supply
or moisture is more permanent, conse-
quently such trees are not so quickly
affected by any hot wave or sudden
change. Therefore, I would say that the
first requisite Of always securing good
crops of oranges, Is deeply rooted trees
that are irrigated so thoroughly that at
all times there is in store plentiful sup
ply of moisture. Should stop here and
say this is the one thing needful, pre-
sumo there are some who might declare
| 1t a fallacy, and quote their own eXper-
ience in proof. In fact in my inquiries I
consulted one orchardist who had irri-
gated thoroughly three different plots,
respectively four weeks, two weeks and
one or two days before the first hot wave
! this spring, and yet a large percentage
| of his crop went to the ground Had he
fertilzed? Yes, quite heavily with un-
| rotted stable dressing. which probably
contained sufficient potash and phos-
| phoric acid, but doubtless nitrogen in
very limited quantities. Had he applied
small quantity Of nitrate Of soda,
| venture the assertion he would now
have fair crop. In mentioning nitrate
! of soda do not claim it is the best way
| Of securing nitrogen, but I have used it
| and know 1t to be good.
Bone meal, or potash, or stable dress
! ing, I always plow in during January or
| February, but nitrate of soda ! sprinkle
| on the surface and cultivate in just as
the trees begin to blossom. My trees are
eight years old. on which never apply
over one pound (often only half pound)
and I have always felt well repaid for
this exteremly small outlay. For ]. have
felt that / secured fifmer and finer fruit
as well as the assurance of a better crop.
have never experimental by treating
different plots of trees with different
fertilizers for the reason that am COM
| PEELED to realize as much as possible
( from each one of my few trees. so leave
the experimenting to those better able
| and to the experiment stations. but from
my observation heartily believe that
many of our fruit growers are losing
money by one-sided fertilizing, that is.
| continually using one kind of fertilizer
that does not contain all the necessary
| elements.
| AS a second requisite to preventing
the dropping of fruit you will see that
believe irt a well balanced fertilizer.
| Two other points l might mention as
| having influence on the health of the
tree and consequently it's power of hold
ing its fruit: one is the small branches
under and inside the trees which have
fulfilled their usefulness and ceased to
bear. These should be removed. They
are like parasite on the tree, producing
nothing, yet demanding certain
| amount of sap to maintain their life.
That may be of small moment and hard
ly worth the expense of it's removal, yet
If tree is straining under all it can
bear under favorable conditions 1t might
be determining factor a. time when
the tree is subjected to trial.
AS the last requisite I Will mention
freedom from scale. This is too self
evident to need mention here, as indeed
are all the points have made in this pa
per, for all our fruit growers are intelli-
gent enough to be aware of the blighting
effect of this pest. But investigate the
orchards, and you will see that they do
not act upon the knowledge they pos
| sess.
1t is but step from success to failure,
and these small points may mean much
| At least we should not depend entirely
on water as II 1t were magic cure-all.
| Semi.Trcp'c Fruits
! (Read before the Farmers Institute. At,-
| ,,.k O.. T