The record-union., 1896-11-20
INVESTIGATING THE TREES.
Inspection Of Orchards in the Costumes
District.
HoSt of Them Well Cared Por, But
Need Renovation, and Spray
ing for Insects.

In company with J. N. Stephenson,
County Horticultural Commissioner,
Secretary Lelong of the State Board of
Horticulture, visited on Wednesday
several fruit orchards at Costumes, re-
garding which Mr.. Lelong says.
THE orchards visited are some of the
largest in the district, and in all pre-
Sented a fine appearance. These or
chards are among the best that have
come under my observation in this part
of the State, and with few exceptions
are very Well cared for The shortness
of time prevented US from visiting all
OF them. The soil is very rich and
productive, but the great distance to
the shipping station twelve miles, is
great obstacle they now have to en-
counter in the marketing of their pro-
ducts. 1t is to be regretted that no
road has seen fit to pass through this
fruit belt as it would open to settle
ment a great and rich district of which
the general public know very little.
While the greater part of the orch
ards are well cared for there are some
large old apple orchards that require
renovation, spraying, ETC., principally
for the apple scab, woolly aphis and
Goblin moth. One of the best object
lessons taught in the renovation of an
old orchard is illustrated by William
Belcher, careful and painstaking hor-
tioulturist. His trees are very old, hav-
ing been set out in 1854, and were very
tail; in fact, so tall and with such
spreading heads that treating them
with sprays. etc, became almost i'm
nraPfiCol In 17n of 1909
Belcher cut the trees back, all dead
branches were cut out and the trunks
and large limbs sprayed with lime sui
phur and salt remedy and the Bor-
deaux mixture, which had a very bene-
fcial effect in destroying the woolly
aphis and scale, also the lichens and
moss. The trees put forth new growth
and now present a healthy appearance
As the fruit is borne on wood of sec
ond years growth a crop could not be
expected this coming year (although
sometimes a few fruit buds form on
wood Of the current year,, but the year
following there will be a large crop of
fruit, which will more than pay the
cost Of renovation and outlay and care
for two years. From that time on they
will bear regular crops, as has been
the experience of growers in other parts
OF the State where the practice Of rem
ovation has been resorted to.
There are quite a number of similar
old orchards that ought to be treated
likewise, and the example shown by
Mr.. Belcher should encourage the own
eTs to do So While the orchards visited
showed very little scale they were bad
ly infested with leaf blight, woolly
aphis and Goblin moth, and the trunks
are covered with lichens and moss The
rough bark should be removed this
winter and all Goblin moth larvae de-
stroyed. The trees should be cut back
and sprayed with the lime, sulphur and
salt remedy. In the spring they should
be sprayed with the Bordeaux mixture
and Paris green for the leaf blight and
Goblin moth. Most Of the orchardists
seen are quite willing to follow the in
structions of County Commissioner
Stephenson, provided their neighbors do
likewise to which end Mr.. Stephenson
is exerting himself /"