The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-08-17
SUB-IRRIGATION OF FRUIT
TREES,

AT the recent meeting OF the fenn-
sylvania Horticultural Society, in Phila-
dclphia, there was much talk about
spraying fruit and ornamental trees,
shrubbery, etc, to destroy injurious in
sects, but | failed to hear single argu
nknt in favor of root spraying. The
farmers institutes in the fruit it-growing
sections of the State took up the subject,
and all agreed that it was wise to spray
the branches.
Admitting the necessity for spraying
the limbs and foliage, to keep down the
fruit dcstroyers, frequently this is not
the whole cause of failure Of crop; it
will be found at the root of the tree.
l have for many years contended that
root-spraying is highly essential, not
only to obtain good fruit, but to save
the tree; and whatever insect may be
at the root, this system will destroy it.
Where there is lack of fertilizing ma
tcrial, this would furnish it; or when
a worm is suspected, the use of an in
sectide will not injure the tree, and will
obviate the necessity of digging and
sacrifying the root with a knife, which
oftcntimes is more injurious than bene-
fetal. And again, in time of drouth,
what is more reasonable than using
water and ammonia, thereby producing
sufficient moisture to save the tree?
Spraying the roots will certainly cause
the growth of the tree to be doubled
in one season, and the increase in quail
ity and quantity should more than COM
pensatc for labor expended.
Growers frequently notice signs Of
diminishing vitality; in fact, this was
the gist Of argument at the meeting
spoken of, and the tree-doctors called
it blight for want Of better name.
Now what is blight? 1t is solely at
mospheric, or it is solely confined to the
soil? 1t has been noticed that in an
orchard some trees were termed blighted
while others standing beside them were
full of vigor. Why? Because the Wig
orous trees were capable of extracting
from the soil and atmosphere all that
was necessary for their sustenancc,
thereby preventing the weaker stock
from absorbing it; hence we hear Of
blight" You must give the weaker
trees that which is necessary to their
growth
Vegetable nature is very much like hu-
man nature-it will steal from its neigh
bor and in vegetable life we must give
back to the tree that which has been
taken from it. Lack of moisture may
prevent bearing the following year. The
full annual duty of tree is to perfect
its fruit and prepare for the next years
crop. a continuous moisture supply.
is necessary to maintain activity in the
tree, as it will make large draft upon
soil moisture while making new wood
and large fruit, and if moisture fails,
then it may be forced into do1mancy
before it can furnish good. strong buds
for the following years bloom.
| | believe root-spraying to be thor
oughly practicable, notwithstanding the
fact that it seems to have been neglect
cd. The keynote of success is to supply
/ the tree with fertilizer and moisture at
the proper time. Some years ago in
dammng water for an ice-pond, l OBJ
served a leak. Investigation showed it
followed the course of root and found
exit at the end. This convinced ME that
water could be artiicially supplied to
the roots By spraying process with sue
ccss.-F. c. Hall in The Country Ccn-
t,rmdn.