Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-11-12

W. reported by Prof J.
c. Written in bull
Ietin 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-
sissippi valley. In this latitude, winter
killing of the fruit buds Of the peach is
usually due to the unfayorable effects
of freezing, after they have been slim
ulated into growth by warm weather
during winter or early spring. 1t is
seldom that the temperature drops suf-
fciently 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 have
swollen during previous warm days, or
that were not properly ripened in au-
tpmn. The early swelling and growth
II 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 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 per cent OF the IN
whitened buds escaped winter Killing
Whitened buds blossomed three 70 SIX
days later than unwhitened buds. Iher-
mometers covered with material the
color of the peach twigs registered, dur
irA bright sunny weather, from ~ TO
oY}r 20 degrees higher than thermom-
eters covered with white material OF
similar texture, thus indicating that
whitened peach twigs might De e1-
Dected to absorb much less heat thah
those that were not whitened. Inc
whitewash used was four parts OF
water. one part of skinned milk ano /
enough freshly Stacked lime to make /
as thick a wash as could conveniently |
be pumped through a Bordeaux spray /
nozzle without clogging. This WASH /
was spraved on the trees by means OF |
a bucket spray pump. The first appH- |
cation was made the last OF December /
and three subsequent sprayings were /
necessary to keep the trees thorough! |
coated until spring. The cost for ma
+erial and labor is about 10 cents per /
tree, when done on a small scale.
Shading the trees with canvas ha!
covers was about as beneficial as whlt-
ening but was more expensive. Bal
it,g" bv drawing the branches together
IN a vertical bundle and covering them
with coarse grass and corn stalks, pro
+ects the buds. Old trees with stlH
branches cannot well he treated in this
manner without injury TO the branches.
+.I avaring" or bending down the trees
in autumn and covering them Win
earth. has proven beneficial Shadlhs
the trees with broad sheds enabled
reach buds to survive the winter IN
injured. when so 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
" perfect flowers. and held their fruit
better than any other trees on the sta
tion grounds. This is the most enec-
tive means of winter protection trleu
at the station. but il is probably TOO
expensive for commercial orchards