Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-09-16
THE APPLE CROP.
An Interesting Interview with Prof.
Corbs t on Apple Growing.

Corbet tt on Apple Growing.
Professor L. c. Corbett OF the Expert
ment Station at Morgantown, who has
been visiting the orchards OF our county,
and who has recently been through New
York. Ohio. Penra and Delaware, SAYS
that for quality and quantity the Berkeley
county orchards. where spraying and
cultivation have been systematically car
ried on, excel any others he has visited.
i The Wilderness orchard Of Miller Bros.
which three years ago was in a very
| critical condition owing To neglect and
root louse, is now With clean culture and
scientific treatment for the pests, carrying
healthy foliage, and heavy crop Of fruit
Of superior size and coloripg. This or
chard, three years ago was suffering with
a root pest which threatened TO destroy it.
To-day, after treating it with tobacco dust
At Prof. Corbetts suggestion, the orchard
has been restored to health and ygor and
is upon a permanent paying basis.
In Hon. Alex. Clohan's orchard, where
for several years past the delicate Famuse
had lost much of its foliage and bore only
fruits TOO poor to be Of market value, the
use of Bordeaux Mixture as a spray has
almost completely eradicated the pests,
and foliage and fruits are in healthy con-
dition; as a result the owner is an ardent
advocate of spraying.
That was not all for the Professor
informs THE HERALD that by
the use OF the spray above mentioned.
Mr.. Clohan has succeeded in holding
healthy foliage upon plum trees which
| heretofore had lost their foliage by shot
hole fungus, thus nsuring crop of fruit
from these trees next season, barring wiz
ter killing. Equally good results are to
be noted in the orchards Of w. S. Miller.
the foliage and fruits of all sprayed sorts
are in perfect state of health, while IN
neighboring orchards where spraying was
not carried out the foliage of the trees is
in an unhealthy condition, and while they
will undoubtedly mature their fruits, the
extra strain upon the trees resulting from
a heavy crop and poor leaves will necessi-
tate longer period of rest for them before
they will bear again than would have been
necessary had they been properly strayed.
Another work which Prof. Corbett is
doing which cannot help proving very
growers of the county is the taking of
soil samples for chemical analysis. This
will not only afford just basis for COM
pairing the various orchard soils but will
aid to more rational use of orchard fer
tIlizers.
Prof. Corbett, when asked, How does
West Virginia methods compare with
those Of other states, SAID:
Fruit growing in West Virginiais aaitel
different from that in any other state in
eastern United States with which | am
familiar In New York and other eastern
states oreharding is seldom made the
one line of work. The orchard usually
consists of from 8. IL, IS or even 80 acres
of the farm, the remainder being devoted
to general agriculture. Here where or.
charding has gained foothoid i. is the
man reliance of the persons engaged in
it and as a result cultivation is. better and
more busness-like methods are in vogue.
Our people IN the eastern part of the
State can learn profitable lesson in har
vestlng and storing from the Northern
Panhandle, While the people OF THAI
region would profit by the systematic
spraying and cultivation practiced here.
"Well | suppose the San lose scale
creze is now off and we may anticipate 10
further harm from that insect, said the
newspaper man.
The Prof. said: u am aware that the
report was quite generally spread that the
severe winter had destroyed the scale and
consequently no further trouble was TO be
anticipated. The facts in the case are
quite the contrary. Instead Of the scale
having been killed it survived, and is now
as active and aggressive as ever. The
problem which contronts the Berkeley
county fruit growers is the same today
that it was three years ago when the
matter was first brought to my notice.
THE treatment has done COED but it
has not eradlcated the scale and | fear
that it will remain in the infested or
chards as long as the trees stand. !
have expressed my ideas regarding the
best method of handling the matter at the
Farmers Institute and | still maintain
that stand.
The present outlook presents this one
menace to the apple orchards OF Berkeley
county. Nature has provided an ideal
climate, soil and contour, but unfortunately
this pest was brought in unnOticed and
unknown and what to do with 1t remains
for the orchardists to decide.
'In your judgment, Prof, what are
West Vlrginias prospects in competition
with other fruit-growing states :"
"Since you have asked my idea of this |
can do no less than give you my honest
belief and some of the reasons for this.
West Virginia is destined TO be a leader
among the states growing export fruits.
First. because we are SO situated that
coast cities can be reached quickly and
cheaply. Second, we have ideal condi-
tons for the production of fruits OF high
color and good lecture. And third, we
have mere varieties fit far export than any
other state. We have the Green or New
Town Pippin, which is accredited the
highest place among export sorts. We
also have the Ben Davis, another hne-
appearing and good shipping variety and
as well the York Imperial with the FIRM
mess and lecture of the Pippin. but under