Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-03-16
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AGRICULTURISTS.
eone Up-to-Date Hints About Caitfv.-
tion of the Soil and Yields Thereof
Horticulture. Siticulturs and Floricul-
ture.

Forecasring the apple crop. To |
what extent may we anticipate the ap- |
pie crop? Without microscopic ex- |
animation we can only give an opinion |
as to the yield of fruit We may expect |
next year. The buds are guide to |
some extent, but not an accurate one
Round, plump buds on the fruit spurs
generally indicate embyro flowers, but
the hower-buds in some varieties are
so much smaller than they are in 9TH
ers that they are almost certain to de-
ceive one who has not made a care
full study of the subject. A sharp razor
and a high-power pocket lens, with a
little experience will enable one to
say positively whether a given Dud
does or does not contain flowers, but
without these helps little positive in
formation can be gained
The development of the flowers. Ow-
ing to a lack of definite information,
l shall say little on the second division
of my subject. The embyro flowers IN
the apple appear to be nearly or quite
as hardy as the leaf-buds, hence the
f1ower-buds rarely winter-kill- Wnen
the weather becomes sufficiently warm
in spring the buds swell and all OF the
parts enlarge. The forming mowers IN
autumn are overtaken by cold weather
in all stages of development from these
nearly ready to expand to those just
beginning to form, hence the flowers
on the same tree commonly vary two
weeks or more in their time OF bloom
ing. The abundant water with which
the wood is stocked in spring stimu-
lates an exuberant growth and puts
stop to flower formation in buds in
| which it has not commenced IN
autumn Very rarely this rapid growth
appears to cause a fiower-bud to re-
vert to = leaf-bud, but this certainly
does not often happen in our orchard'
J trees.
After the flowers have expanded the
subject of pollination assumes i'm
portance Prof. Waites experiments
have shown that the varieties OF apple
are very often sterile, or nearly SO, TO
their own pollen; that is, they Will
not bear fruit unless they receive pol
len from another variety. This fact Is
of great Importance in the plantlns
and top-grafting of orchards. Expert
ments seem to show also that pro-
llonged rain during the blooming sea-
son NAV injure the virility of pollen. as
we'll as prevent insects from distribut-
ing it. A very light frost while the
flowers are open is almost certain de-
struction to the pistils, but there are
doubtless causes that affect the vlr1l1ty
of the flowers that lie deeper than any
[ have mentioned, and that are very
little understood. We know that the
fruit on all trees does not always set
we'll, even when weather conditions
seem favorable. and that the fruit
often drops badly shortly after set
ting. 1t is not enough that the sta
mems shall yield pollen, and that TINS
pollen shall be deposited on the stlg-
ma. The pollen, the stigma and the
embyro must all be in a healthy con
dition, or formulation does not result
1nese subjects call for much further
Investigation.
Practical deductions. Let us now
consider some of the practical deduc-
tions from the foregoing statements. L
have often alluded to favorable condi-
tons for flower formation. What are
these conditions? They involve the
whole environment of the apple tree.
Though largely climatic, they are TO a
considerable extent susceptible to
treatment. We must have, first, fav-
orable growth conditions to produce
, plenty of healthy leaves and buds, and
we should remember that all leaves
, and buds are formed on new growth
, This means a moderate temperature,
: plenty OF moisture early III the ScdSOn
. and especially during late autumn and
winter, wise pruning and fertilizing
, and freedom from injurious parasites
We can promote a moderate tempera-
ture by planting on north or north
East slopes, if our country is rolling
: By early plowing. we prepare the land
to catch and hold the spring rains. Il
, these are scanty, we can keep the sur
tace fine and level to check evapora
ton; il they are excessive we may
keep it rough to prevent washing, ant
to favor evaporation. Wise PRUNING
promotes normal growth and admit:
light to the fruit spurs Norma
E | growth requires that the pruning shall
be moderate and regular, that is, per
= formed every year. 1t does not re
} move large limbs unless they are dis
: eased, nor does it head back suficien
. to start the fruit spurs
, thins out the outer, smaller branche
. and saves the older wood witt
, its fruit spurs. 1t is preferabl.
I performed early in spring Wise fer
!. tilizing means sufficient nitrogen t
! promote normal growth in season O
Z average rainfall, and sufficient phos
( phoric acid and potash to develop an
mature a good crop of apples with it
' seeds. The problems of fertility mus
In the Lature of the case be largel