Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-11-04

letin thirty-eight Of that station.
The bulletin is illustrated with cuts
showing different methods employ
ed, and is for free Distribution
among the peach growers Of the Mis-
sisslppi valley. In this latitude, winter
killing Of the fruit buds of the peach Is
usually due to the unfavorable enects
Of freezing, after they have been slim
ulated into growth by warm weather
during winter or early spring. IL Is
seldom that the temperature drops SUI
fclently low to injure dormant peach
buds. Peach fruit buds may safely en-
dure a temperature of 10 or 20 degrees
below zero, provided they mature well
In autumn, are entirely dormant, and
the cold comes on gradually. zero
weather may kill fruit buds that nave
swollen during previous warm days. or
that were not properly ripened IN au-
tumn. The early swelling and growth
of the buds is due to the warmth they
receive from the sun on bright days, Is
practically independent of root action
and may take place on warm, sunny
days in winter, while the roots are
frozen and dormant. Shading or whit
ening peach trees to prevent their ao-
sorbing heat on sunny days, opposes
growth of the buds, and is, consequent
ly, a protective measure Whitening
the twigs and buds by spraying them
with lime whitewash is, on account OF
its cheapness and beneficial effects, the
most promising method Of winter pro-
lection tried at the station. THESE
Whitened buds remained practically
dormant until April, while unprotected
buds swelled perceptibly during warm
days late in February and early IN
March. Eighty per cent OF the whit
ened buds passed through the winter
safely. while only 20 lsr cent of the un-
Whitened buds escaped winter killing.
Whitened buds blossomed three to SIX
days later than unwhitened buds. Their
mometers covered With material the
color of the peach twigs registered, dur
ing bright sunny weather, from 10 to
over 20 degrees higher than thermom-
eters covered with white material OF
similar texture, thus indicating that
whitened peach twigs might be ex-
pected to absorb much less heat than
those that were not whitened. The
whltewash used was four parts OF
water. one part Of SKINNED milk and
enough freshly Stacked lime to make
as thick a wash as could conveniently
be pumped through Bordeaux spray
nozzle without clogging. This wash
was sprayed on the trees by means OF
a bucket spray pump. The first appli-
cation was made the last of December
and three subsequent sprayings were
necessary to keep the trees thoroughly
coated until spring. The cost for ma
terial and labor is about 10 cents per
tree, when done on a small scale.
Shading the trees with canvas hay
covers was about as beneficial as whit
ening. but was more expensive. BAL
ing" by drawing the branches together
in a vertical bundle and covering them
with coarse grass and corn stalks, pro-
tects the buds. Old trees with stiff
branches cannot we'll be treated in this
manner without injury to the branches.
"Layering," or bending down the trees
IN autumn and covering them with
earth, has proven beneficial. Shading
the trees with broad sheds enabled
peach buds to survive the winter un-
injured, when 80 per cent of unprotect-
ed buds were killed. Trees protected
in this way blossomed later, remain
ed in bloom longer, set more fruit in
proportion to the number Of apparent
ly perfect flowers, and held their fruit
better than any other trees on the sta
ton grounds. This is the most effec-
4 tive means of winter protection tried
at the station, but it is probably too
expensive for commercial orchards.