The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-05-12
FAsRM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TIC
AGRicULTURls7S.
Some Up... Date Hints About Gull
tivation of the Soil and Yields
Observation-Disclosures vitiouiture and
Horticulture.
Treatment OF Winter Injured Trees.

horticulture.
Treatments OF Winter Injured Trees.
The Kansas Experiment Station has
sent out a circular concerning the
treatment of fruit trees that have been
injured. In part it says:
The recent cold weather has greatly
injured the fruit trees in many sections
OF the state. The peach, apricot and
Japanese plum have suffered most. In
our orchards of 81 varieties of peach,
the trees of Is varieties appear to be
entirely ruined. Twenty-one varieties
are Killed back to main branches or
trunk. Reports indicate that in but
rev portions OF the state the tempera-
eure fell as low as in this section, so it
IS probable that IN the greater part
OF the state the fruit industry has not
received such blow as it has here.
where trees are merely injured, the
real damage done to the orchards will
depend greatly upon the treatment
given them from this time. Trees
that are killed should be removed at
once from the orchard. # they can be
used for fire-wood we'll and good, if
not they should be piled and burned to
destroy any insects OF disease that
may infest them. Trees that are part
ly top-killed are weakened and deaden-
ed throughout, and should be heavily
cut back, the extent depending upon
the degree of injury. In many cases
it will be necessary to cut back to the
main branches OF even to the trunk,
but where the injury is less severe the
cutting may be confined to the smaller
branches of the tree. Though. the
branches of an injured tree may not
be killed, it is advantageous to cut
them back, because the wood that is
Drowned and deadened can never per-
form its life functions again. 1t be-
comes as heart-wcod and must be en-
closed by layer of new wood. The
quicker we can get this deposit of new
wood the better, and the more of it the
better. By cutting off the branches
of the tree, it is reduced in surface
and the new wood is more rapidly de-
posted on the parts that remain. The
energy that is spent in poisoning is
also saved to the tree by the severe
pruning. 1t is necessary to prevent the
vitality of the tree from dissipating
itself in any way, and to husband and
apply it so as to restore the tree quick
ly to its normal process of growth.
Professor Bailey, Cornell University
says upon this subject: "The proper
fr0ofr,nrt A
be determined for each particular
case; but it should be borne in mind
that the injured portion is no longer
of use to the plant, whereas it may be
a positive detriment by accelerating the
evaporation of moisture. The best
treatment for plants seriously injured
upon the extreE1ities is to cut them
back heavily
Trees treated in this way will rapid
ly regain their vigor unless the injury
is very serious. They will also quick
~ resume their normal habit of growth
and shape. Cutting back the last
years growth in the winter is espe-
clally beneficial to the peach, whether
1T has been injured by cold or not. as
Its branches tend to grow long and
Slender, and in bearing fruit near the
extremities they break and split and
are ruined. Where blackberries and
raspberries have been killed back to
the ground, the canes should be cut
out and burned. A difference in opin-
ion exists as to the best time for cu+.
ting back injured trees; some growers
prefer to have the work done before
the leaves open, others choose a later
time; but the safest way is to do it
early. AS soon as the degree Of injury
is known, therefore, we may wisely
begin the pruning. If left till a
later time, other work may crowd it
out entirely, with the result that the
orchard is lost. A saw and tree prun-
ers are the tools to be used. 1t will
be beneficial to carry along a key OF
white lead and apply coat of the lead
to the wounds made. This will keen
out the air, prevent the wood from
checking, and retard evaporation from
1t. All pruned-off wood should be re-
moved from the orchard and burned.
The process here described will not
save all the trees that have been in
jured. but il done with care it will
save many, and those that die after
the treatment is given will probably
die in spite Of it rather than because
Of 1t.
Seed Potatoes.
The Ohio Experiment Station sends
out the following: "Tha imnnrtanca