Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1897-10-14

Numerous experiments in protecting the
peach against winter killing have been car
rieu on at the Missouri experiment station
during the past Two years. The results OF
these trials are reported by Prof. J. c. Whit,
ten in bulletin 3S of that station, The bulle-
tin is illustrated with cuts showing the differ
ent methods employed, and is for free dlStri-
button among the peach growers Of the Mis-
sissippi valley.
In this latitude, winter killing Of the fruit
buds of the peach is usually due 10 the un-
favorable effects of freezing, after they have
been stimulated into growth by warm wealth
er during winter or early spring. 1t is sell
dom that the temperature drops sufficiently
low to lniure dormant peach buds. Peach
fruit buds may safely endure temperature
Of ten or twenty degrees below zero, provided
they mature well in autumn, are entirely dor
mant, and the cold comes on gradually. Zero
weather may kill fruit buds that have swollen
during previous warm days, or that were not
properly npened in autumn. 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 ac.
ton, and may take place on warm, sunny
days in winter, while the roots are frozen and
dormant.
Shading or whitening peach trees to pre-
veat their absorbing heat on sunny days, OPP
poses growth Of the buds, and is, consequent
ly, a protective measure. Whitening the
twigs and buds by spraying them with lime
and beneficial effects, the most promising
method of winter protection tried at the sta
lion. These whitened buds remained prac-
tically dormant until April, while rejected
buds sweled percepl;bly during warm days
late in February and early in March. Eighty
per cent of the whtened buds passed through
the winter safely, while only twenty per cent
of the unwhitened buds escaped winter kill
ing. Whitened buds blossomed three 10 six
days later than unwhtened ones. Thermom-
eters covered with matetial the co or of the
peach twigs registered, during bright sunny
weather, from ten to over twenty degrees
higher than thermometers covered with white
material or similar texture, thus indicating
that whtened peach twigs might be expected
to absorb much less heat than those that were
not whtened.
The whitewaSh used was four parts OF
water, one part of skinned milk and enough
freshly Stacked lime to make as thick wash
as could conveniently be pumped through
Bordeaux spray nozzle without cloggng.
This wash was sprayed on the trees by means
of a bucket spray pump. The first applica-
ton was made the last Of December and
three subsequent sprayings were necessary
to keep the trees thoroughly coated until
spring The cost for material and labor is
about 10 cents per tree, when done on small
scale.
Shading the trees with can2as hay covers
was about as beneficial as whitening, but was
more expensive.
"Baling," by drawing the branches togeth-
er in vertical bundle and covering them
with coarse grass and corn stalks protects
the buds. Old trees with stiff branches can
not 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
board sheds ena bled peach buds to survive
the winter uninured, when eighty per cent oI
unprotected buds were killed. Trees pro-
tected in thS way blossomed later, remained
in bloom longer, SET more huit in proportion
to the number of apparently perfect flowers,
and held their fruit better than any other
trees on the station grounds. This is the
most effective means Of winter protection
tried al the station, but il is probably loo ex'
pensiye for commercial orchards,