The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-13

In spite of the lack OF spring sunshine
and the attacks of animal and vegetable
enemies. the orchards of King county
are said to be now in better condition
than for many years. The fruit growers
are correspondingly happy.
william III. Brown, the King county
fruit Inspector has just returned from
one of his regular tours of inspection. He
found the condition of the trees every
where vastly improved and attributes the
fact to scientific methods that are gradu-
ally being adopted by the growers. Last
year there was much more spraying done
than heretofore, and the effort to keep
the trees clean was steadily maintained.
This years crop will not be full one.
but with fair weather conditions next
years should exceed all preceding rec
ords.
In reviewing this years crop, Mr.. Brown
estimates that apples will amount TO
about two-thirds of a full crop; cherries,
about one-half; prunes and plums will
not exceed one-third. Among the small
fruits. strawberries will bring about
three-fourths of a full crop, while rasp-
berries, currants, gooseberries and other
small fruits will probably be in full crop.
Speaking of the fruit trees, Mr.. Brown
says that in previous years, in all parts
OF the county, they have been covered
with fungi. besides being full of insect
life. such as green aphis. woolly aphis.
oyster shell, scale and other pests OF SIM
liar nature. The remedy he advised for
the fungi was spraying with the Bordeaux
mixture during the winter, before the sap
commenced TO rise In the tree; while there
were a number Of formulas for the de-
struction OF the insects such as lime,
sulphur and salt, kerosene emulsion and
whale oil soap and quassia- Acting upon
his advice, these remedies have been
freely used during the past year by the
fruit growers of King county. and the
result is that insect life on the trees has
been lessened fully so per cent.
A new disease has appeared In the or
chards. which Mr.. Brown says Ia preva-
lent all along the Coast. II is known
gress is arrested will prove serious
menace to the trees. 1t appears on the
trunk and limbs as a black spot ranging
Of mans hand. The number OF spots
gradually increases, and In time they
cause the death Of the tree. The true
nature of the disease has not so far been
tural department in Washington, ID. c.,
or in the agricultural colleges through
out the country It Is the same an disease
eminent to investigate at the request
of the fruit growers Of the Pacific coast
six years ago.
knowledge" said Mr. Brown, II am salts
fed that the cause of the black spot on
the fruit tree is the same fungi that
causes the black spot on the tree. The
roots of the fungi entering Into the sap
disease tho whole tree. When the tree.
In the spring. enters into new life, so
veyed by insects and the wind to the
fruit after II commences to grow.
THE time to XIII smut on wheat is be-
fore it is planted: the time to kill fungi
on fruit trees Is before the sap raises,
while the tree is In dormant condition.
This may be done by an outer applica-
the bark, then. cut the spot out down to
the living bark after which apply hop
grating wax, made as follows Two
pounds of rosin. l pound Of beeswax and
one pound OF tallow. This wax should be
applied in a boiling condition by means
OF brush or swab. after which the earth
about the trees should be shaken UP,
mixed In three scoop-shovels of Stacked
lime, three OF ground bone and three of
saw filings or old iron. Then three wheel
should be placed on top the soft ground
around the tree.
81 have thirty trees" added Mr.. Brown.
treated them in this way. and they
were completely cured This was two
years ago. and they put on complete
new growth last year, and this year grew
four feet / also split the bark in three
different directions, commencing at the
main stalk Of the tree at the limbs. thence
downward to the bare roots.
THE farmers OF King county are plant
ing a great many new fruit trees, and
encouraged by the demand and prices for
winter apples. have propabiy planted
more apple trees than all other kinds
OF fruit trees together. Tho principal
kinds now being planted are the Spitzen-
berg Baldwin and Northern Spy, The
farmers are in good spirits and have
probably put more acreage into fruit this
year than In any one year of the past
SIX"
During his tour Mr.. Brown visited
South Seattle, Sunnydale, Des Moines,
STONES landing. Star lake. Auburn, Stuck
river, Green river, Enumclaw, Boyce.
White river and Kent.