The Delta independent., 1898-12-23
ulu1sr Protection Of the Peach.

UDivoDiiy Of the State Of Nissouri)
In this attitude, winter killing OF the
fruit bed OF the peach is usually due to
the unfsvorable effects OF freezing after
they have been stimulated into growth
BY warn weather, during winter or
early spsing.
This sasiy swelling and growth OF the
l. due 70 tke warmth they receive. is
practically Independent Of root action,
and nay 0nke place on warm sunny days
in wintss. while tie roofs are frozen
and doeoant.
Peach ftrit buds may safely endure q
temperatufe os ten or twenty below
sero. provided they mature well in the
autumn, oBe entirely dormant, and the
cold co0ss on gradually.
Zero esther may kill fruit buds that
have swealen during previous warm
days. q thst we're not properly ripened
in sutu0o.
Shsdiag or whitening peach to pre-
vent theie absorbing heat on sunny days
Opposes gse~th OF the buds and is con-
Shsdiag The tree with board sheds
enabled psoch buds to survive the win
ter uninjs2d. when eighty per cent Of
urprotse1oa buds were killed.
Trees pretected in this way blossomed
later, rs0ained in bloom longer. set
more fruit 10 proportion to tn. number
Of sppsrsa0y perfect flowers. and held
their fruit letter than any other trees
on the staAtDu grounds. This 10 the most
effective scans OF winter protection
tried st ~ station. but it 10 probably
too sspsalfe for commercial orchards.
Whitsoe6g the twigs and buds by
sprayiag Gem with whitswash is. on
account = hs cheapuess and beneficial
effects. ~ most promising method Of
winter psuoection tried at this station.
Whisson1 buds remained practically
dormast 0oti April. when unprotected
bsds sue1l perceptibly during warm
days la1e4in February and early in
White buds bloesomed three to
sis days kr than urpe,teeted buds-
Eighty sest Z vhitened buds pas
ed the wiStR saRely. when only twenty
Per cen; Of uDUhitened buds passed the
winter unhssued.
Thermonseen covered with purple
material registered. during bright sunny
weather. iron ten 10 over twenty degrees
higher than thermometers covered with
-,,ss -, 4. .rs>l - -:,r;l.r ,.,,,,. ,h,.
indicating that whitened peach tvigs
might be expected TO absorb much less
heat than thoss that we're not ~hitened.
Lp~ ten2seature and consequent sc
we're freezing b often the direct cause OF
winter killing d the fruit buds Of the
peach. Peach buds. however. have often
withs;ooi a temperature AZ ten degrees
Or even twenty degrees below zero. and
subsequently, produced iio~ers and fruit.
Ga the other b and. five degrees below
s,ro has sonstimes entirely killed the
p,ach buds throughout considerable
areas. THIS shove that other conditions
besides mere cold weather mus be
studied in attempting TO ascertain the
csuses OF Water killing OF buds or
plants.
Imperfect ripening Of the wood and
bu is in autunn renders them more
susceptible 70 injury from Geld weather.
This Imperfect maturity may be caused
BY late cultivstioo or by warm autumn
rains which prO,ong the season Of growth
Often the dry weather and cool nights
OF Angus, induce partial ripcnins Of the
wood and bsda Subsequent rains and
warm weather induce anauiumn growth
that j. .omewhst akin To spring s~sk.
enins; 81 mech - that occasionly some
Of the iio~es buds burs, into bloom in
autumn.
Sudden change of Temperature 10 al
ways more dangerous than gradual
change. \ ssd,len drop from our orii
nary winter ts@perAture To i've degrees
below zero. particularly IL accompanied
by a s,rons Wind. 10 Giore severe oa
p . 4 buds than . gradual fall TO ten
or fifteen deGr. - belov c. Sudden
thasing is ssosssme. more damaging
than sudden fssrsing. Buds aod twigs
ere also universally affected by bright
sunlight daring tim - of i,s tcnpcra-
ture.
Growth q os<As during warn Weather
in winter resasss them very susceptible
to injury ervo sabs~9uen; frrc1irg.
This is the oost cooecn cause os win
ter killing & Dssch bu'is in this state. II
very often hoeSses that . warm spell
- early as fs6sussy es,s<s the peach
bsas TO nahe eunsi lerzbIe growth. N
grovth s,sres - ssy extent the .uh.e