Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-05
OFFICIAL CIRCULAR
SECRETARY GOODMAN on THE FRUIT
CROP PROSPECTS.
Damage Done by tho Recent Cold
Snnp Has NOt Bccn Underesti-
mntcd-SOnc Crops VIII
BE Total Loss.

Secretary L.. \. Goodman, of the Horti.
cultural Snc!e;y. has issued the GLOWING
circular relating to the damage 10 crops
during the recent cold snap. and the out
look FOR the coming season:
Il realize that the general impression OF
our people and Of our newspapers is tina.
the reports made about the loss OF The
frIsit crop and injury 10 the trees are far
ovcrGriwn. but such is not usually The
case. On the contrary. they are generally
underestimate. and oltentimes the injury
is much more serious than reported, N
stead of less.
The great and Widespread damage by
the freeze Of February is not by any
means oycrestimatod. as the reports from,
30 Inquiries FULLY testify. There never have
been such serious 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 tla fruit crop-what
10 do with the trees?
The intensity of the cold does not seem
10 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 %
degrees 10 20 degrees below means "A treez-
Ing Of the life out Of many of our tres
causing the bark and even the bodies
10 burst, We may be sure of serious dam
age. This has been the case in this i'll
stance.
The peach buds are very nearly all
killed and We will likely have very few, if
any, Itachcs in the state. Worse than this,
the trees are badly injured. Tnc freeze
mas ulsyolor.d the wood and these tr. q;
should be cut back severely. If old trees,
cut back to stubs about SIX Or eight feet
hlSt. II young trees, cut so as TO leave
stubs OF branches about six or eight incnes
iGEg. IN other words. dehorn tine trees.
IL the trees have burst slightly, then cut
of the burst bark and cover win graf f.
Ing wax. If the bark has looseue! all
around the tree. or SO far around that it
c:tnn0t recover. then cut the tree off at
me ground and let 4 Sprout grow and
make Il new tree.
The pear buds are also badly injured
pears at best. Many OF the pear trees are
damaged and they should be cut back not
quiIs so severely as the peach.
The plum buds-Japan variety-are about
an Killed. and the trees injured in come in
stances as badly as the peach. Treat them
me same as the peach. Other tees. of
the Wild Goose type. are all right for a
crop OF pltims.
The cherry buds of the Morello variety
l,ke the Early Richmond, are in good con-
a,tio', for a crop Of fruit, and the trees
Duke varieties are injured and nearly all
the Heart varieties.
or the apple buds only the tender varie-
rieties are still in good shape for I crop
OF pies In many localities, however,
me ,ieGs themselves are badly damaged.
caused by the rupture of the bark, and
sometimes the tree Itself. If 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
tree, II it be only slightly loosened-an
inch or SO wi!e-then cut off 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.
II the wood i, simply discolorcd, then Il
severe top pruning will he suitiGient and
they will very likely recover. II is as
tonishlng how quickly some of those 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. if
it has 10 60 to the tips of the limbs when
not cut off.
The strawberry crop is not materially
"Th" raspberry crop will be short, fully
one-half. The canes have been badly killed
In many localities, and where such is the
case they had better all be cut off close
10 the ground and burned up.
The blackberry crop will be short, only
about one-fourth among our hardy varie-
ties. When they are killed treat the same
as the raspberry.
The grape crop will still be good. only
excepting some of the tender varieties.
If there ever was a time when the fruit
grower could have a general cleaning up in
nearly all parts of the orchard and garden,
then this year is the time. When You cut
off 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 may be part!-
ally free from their destructive ravages for
II few yeaIs II we make this cleaning up a
general and u thorough one.
In all this work this spring. let us re-
member that. although there may be life
enough to start a tree if the top is cut off.
yet, if it is all left on. the tree will eN-
haust itself in the attempt to start Il
growth. and then finally give up the at
tempt and the tree dies.
In conclusion. while We can not expect
a great crop of fruit this wear. yet we
should get good prices for everything we
have TO sell. The great extent OF the coun-
try where the damage has been severe
gives US promise Of i very short crop,
and 1t will surely pay us to take good
care Of all We may have. Never was there
Il winter when so large a portion of our
country was SO badly damaged by one
storm. 1t extended from the Atlantic TO
the Rockies. and from the Gull 10 the
northern limit of fruit growing. The fruit
is not killed in all this district. hut is badly
injured. and no portion has entirely es-
capped, hence We may look Tor a scarcity.
do not neglect your trees. but give
them the proper treatment and in many
Instances they will be in good shape to
give Us n crop next year. and surely so in
two years"