The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-05-27
FARM Z. T AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
Is ~ AGRlCULTURI6TS
someCp-so-Date Hints About C1i-
Hvatioa Of tho ssA ana Yields
Theresr--Horticultaro viticulture aad
Elorlculture. z5s3& "

Elorsc1aturs. .,ss2.& # .'.~.
a Eajury to lIisso1ri Orchards.
The secretary OF the Missouri state
horticultural Society sends out the
following: ~.qaz Z = ~
I realize that the general impression
OF our people and of our newspapers,
Is that the reports made about the loss
OF the fruit crop and injury to the
trees are far overdrawn, but such is
not usually the case. On the con-
trary they are usually under estimated,
and oftentimes the injury is much more
SERIOUS than reported, instead of less.
The great and widespread damage by
the freeze of February is not by any
means over estimated. as the reports
dFom five hundred inquiries fully tes-
THY. There newer has been such seri-
Gus results from any cold winter as
this one, during the history of fruit
growing in Missouri. and now the
question comes to every one of us
more important even than the fruit
,%crop-"What to do with the trees?"
The intensity of the cold does not
seem to have been most severe in
the northern part of the state, for in
many instances the reports show a
lower degree in the southern part.
When we consider that Is degrees to
~ degrees below, means a freezing of
the life out of many of our trees and
causing the bark and even the bodies
TO burst, we may be sure of serious
damage. This has been the case in
this instance.
The peach buds are very nearly all
Killed, and we will likely have very
rev, II any, peaches in the state
Worse than this, the trees are badly
injured. The freeze has discolored
the wood and these trees should be cut
back severely If old trees, cut back
TO stubs about six or eight feet high.
II young trees, cut SO as to leave
stubs of branches about six or eight
inches long. In other words, de-horn
the trees. If the trees have bursted
slightly then cut off the bursted bark
and cover with grating wax. If the
bark has loosened all around the tree,
or so far around that it cannot re-
cover, then cut the tree off at the
ground and let a sprout grow and
make anew tree
The pear buds are also badly in
3ured and We can expect only a partial
crop of pears at best. Many of the
pear trees are damaged and they
should be cut back not quite so Sc
verely as the peach.
The plum buds-Japan variety-are
about all killed, and the trees injured
Id some instances as badly as the
peach. Treat them the same as the
peach. Other plums, of the Wild Goose
type, are all right for crop of plums.
The cherry buds of the Morello va
riety like the Ely. Richmond, are in
good condition for crop of fruit, and
the trees are very slightly injured.
Some of the Duke varieties are in
jured and nearly all the Heart varie-
ties.
The apple buds-only the tender va
rieties are killed. but most of the
hardy varieties are still in good shape
for crop Of apples. In many locali-
ties, however, the trees themselves are
badly damaged, caused by the rupture
OF the bark, and sometimes the tree
itself. II this bursting of the bark
is such that the bark is loose all
around the tree, then the tree had bet
ter be cut down to the ground, or to
the snow line, and a sprout trained
for new tree. If it be only slightly
loosened-an inch or so wide-then cut
on the loose bark, cover the part with
grating wax and then cut back the
top OF the tree, though not quite so
severely as the peach. If the wood is
simply discolored, then a severe ton
pruning will be sufficient and they will
very likely recover. It is astonishing
how quickly some of these trees will
recover if they are cut back enough
so that the sap can reach the branches
before it becomes sour, as it must do
Il it has to go to the tips of the limbs
when cut off.
The strawberry crop is not material
1y damaged because they are usually
well mulched. @s q !, = :" :
The raspberry crop will be short
4ully Oue-udl1. ne canes have heen
badly killed in many localities. and
where such is the case they had better
all be cut off close to the ground ana
burned up. @.t.-
The blackberry crop will be short
only about one-fourth among onr
hardy varieties. When they are killad
treat the same as the raspberry.
The grape crop will still be good
only excepting some Of the tender va,
rieties. -
II there ever was time when the
fruit grower could h.ve a general
cleaning up in nearly all parts Of the
orchard and garden, then this year Is
the time. When you cut of this wood
burn It up; by thus doing you will
destroy many insects, their eggs and
much OF the destructive fungi which
do us so much damage. We NAV he
partially free from their destructive
ravages for a few years il we make
this cleaning up a general and thor
ough one.
In conclusion, while we cannot ex-
pect q great crop of fruit this wear.