The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-28
CARE FOR THE ORCHARDS.
ADVICE GIVEN PEACH GROWERS
ny THE CENTRAL RAILROAD.


the Trees a Kerosene spray
shocia he rsed to Free Orchards
from the san Jose Scale--This
Pest Causes Many Growers TO Con-
cIude That the Peach Industry Is
Improbable.
Tho Central Railroad. through its land
aud industrial agent, Mr. II. l.. Pritch-
ard, is already giving advice and infor-
matlon that may tend to cause every pre-
caution 10 be exercised against ills to
which peach trees are heir. thus increas-
ing the probability for fine yield of the
fruit. The latest bulletin issued by Mr..
Pritchard has the following relative to
peach trees:
1T is estimated that the Georgia peach
crop Of last year was cut short one-third
by the brown rot This disease Is primar-
lily caused by small vegetable parasites
called fungi The fungi require a moist
atmosphere for their maximum develop
ment and the excessive rainfall during
May and June OF last year caused a rap.
id development of che rot fungus upon the
growing fruit. A portion Of the fruit rot
ted upon the trees, while some rotted In
TRANSPORTATION.
For several years past some of tho
more progressive fruit growers have been
spraying their trees with Bordeaux mix
ture, which consists OF mixture of sui
plate of copper and lime. The fungi
causing the fruit rot develop their spores
upon the trees during the spring months,
and when the peaches are nearly mature.
The spores find Judgment upon the fruit,
The object of the Bordeaux mixture Is to
prevent the development of these spores.
and IN this manner check or destroy the
disease. Last Year was an excellent one
In which 10 test the value OF the Bordeaux
mixture as a remedy for peach rot. and 1t
Is pleasing to know that the remedy
proved to be all that has been claimed for
II. Inc growers who sprayed their trees
with Bordeaux mixture had little or no
loss from rot, while their neighbors lost
considerable.
1T is well known that the fungi caus-
Ing the peach rot live over winter in the
mummifed or dried up fruit which hangs
TO the trees after the leaves have fallen.
Inc peach trees contain more of these
mummies this winter than usual. and un-
less they are picked off and burned. the
peach rot viii have an unusual chance
for development in the orchards another
season But simply picking off the dried
up fruit to be thrown upon the ground
under the trees, will do but little good.
The mummies should be burned, so as
TO Gear the orchards OF this source OF
danger. This work should be done at once
by all who wish perfect fruit, whether the
trees are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture
or not.
tH hC fo. s.ss~
warfare against the San Jose Scale. This
scale is a serious fruit pest and is causing
some of the growers TO give up the In
dustry. Others are spraying their or
ehards each year and keeping the scale
In check. The scale is thus causing the
shiftloss grower. the one who has thought
that is was only necessary to plant out
the orchard in order to reap good har-
vest to go out of the fruit business
Thus the scale has put check to over
production, and made the business more
profitable than formerly.
The cost of spraying IS really only
slight The trouble is that very few
growers understand the Importance OF
spraying thoroughly. Unless each tree Il
sprayed so as to cover all parts witt
the spraying liquid, the work had b. 81
not be done at al, for so many of tho
insects will escape treatment that the
spraying will have but little effect Spray.
ing is something that each grower Sin uld
do himself instead of putting Il in the
hands of incompetent Nlaborers. Last
year many of the Georgia fruit growers
sprayed their orchards thoroughly and
are doing 80 again this year. These
growers have kept the scale in check
other growers who had the scale last
year either did not spray at all. or else
did not do it thoroughly, and their or
chards are now being killed by the scale.
These growers cannot see any money in
the fruit business"
1.-THE best remedy for the San Jose scale
consists OF winter treatment by means
of a spray OF 20 per cent. kerosene oil
Where the trees are badly infested they
should be sprayed once during December
or January, and then again in March just
before the buds open. Where an orchard
is at all infested the whole orchard should
be sprayed and not simply few trees
near where the scale is known to exist.
If single tree In an orchard is infested
II is probable that every tree II infested
or at least there is danger that such is
the case. Even an entomologist is not
able to examine tree and then state pos
itively that the scale is not present.
Doubtless the San Jose scale Is pres
ent in many orchards where It's presence
is not known. Fruit growers should
send any twigs or branches that appear
unhealthy to the state ehtomologist. Mr.
w. VI. Scott Atlanta, Ca, to ascertain
IL the scale is present.
New trees are being planted out this
season by all the best fruit growers
These growers have made money In the
past. and have the prospect of making
still more in the future. The San jose
scale need keep no one out>of the bust
ness. The scale and the rot are obstacles
that can be overcome by intelligent meth
ods.''
Mr.. Pritchard also publishes the follow
ing relative to broom corn, which is
being raised in quantities In some Sec
lions of Georgia and Alabama:
Broom corn has been grown during the
past year at several points on the lines
of this company with decided success.
The soil and climate seem peculiarly well
adapted to Its growth, as indicated by
the yield and quality OF the brush The
acreage of this crop throughout Georgia
and Alabama for the past season shows
a marked Increase over that OF all pre-
yious years. and as a result several broom
factories have recently been established
at convenient points throughout the two
states, of Sufficient capacity to utilize
every pound of brush that may be grown
IN this section during the coming sea-
son. The erection of factories in this ter
ritory Is convincing proof of the adapta-
bility of the soil and climate to the guc-
cessful growing OF this crop and also
demonstrates beyond all reasonable
doubt, that the manufacture Of brooms
from brush grown in the South IL no long
err an experiment but an assured fact
The establishment of these factories will