Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-12-04


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 unfayoraple eHects
of freezing, after they have been stlm-
ulated into growth by warm weatner
during winter or early spring. IL Is
seldom that the temperature drops SUI
fciently low to injure dormant peach
buds. Peach fruit buds may safely en-
dure a temperature of 10 or ~ degrees
below zero, provided they mature Wen
in autumn. are entirely dormant, ana
the cold comes on gradually. Zero
weather may kill fruit buds that have
/ swollen during previous warm days OF
( 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, y
/ practically independent OF root action,
I and may take place on warm, sunny
/ days in winter, while the roots are
! frozen and dormant Shading or whit
4 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. Ihese
whitened buds remained practically
dormant until April, while unprotected
buds swelled perceptibly during warm
days late in February and early 10
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. 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
, whitewash used was four parts oi
water. one part Of skinned milk and
: enough freshly Stacked lime 10 make
: as thick a wash as could conveniently
be pumped through Bordeaux spraj
nozzle without clogging. This vast
was sprayed on the trees by means o
a bucket spray pump. The first appli
cation was made the last OF December
and three subsequent sprayings wer'
= necessary to keep the trees thoroughly
coated until spring. The cost for ma
y terial and labor Is about ~ cents pc
tree, when done on a small scale.
Shading the trees with canvas ha.
y covers was about as beneficial as whit
I eninz. but was more expensive. BAL
a ing" by drawing the branches togethe
in a vertical bundle and covering then
with coarse grass and corn stalks. pro
q tects the buds. Old trees with still
II branches cannot well be treated in thl
ie manner without injury to the branche;
E "Layering," or bending down the tree
81 in autumn and covering them wit
is earth. has proven beneficial. shadin
e the trees with broad sheds enable
" peach buds to survive the winter III
& injured. when 50 per cent Of unprotect
a ed buds were killed. Trees prGtecte
III In this way blossomed later, remain
te ed in bloom longer. set more fruit /
IN proportion to the number Of apparen
G. ly perfect flowers. and held their fru
in better than any other trees on the st;
r ton grounds. This is the most effe
at tive means Of winter protection trie
~ at the station. but It Is probably tc
m expensive for commercial orchards.