Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-01-15
Illinois Horticulturists Meet.

bana, Dec. II to 10. The attendance
was good. The fruit exhibit was un-
usually good and occupied two rooms
in the agricultural building.
Cultivation and care of the orchard
was treated by w. s. Perrine in an
interesting paper. He said that bear
ing orchards should be cultivated and
have cover crops to keep the soil In
condition. If hilly orchards are to be
cultivated at all, 1t must be only to
seed at once, to prevent washing. the
orchard on level land should be. sown
to COW peas. ..
Prof T. J. Burrill talked on the bit
ter rot of the apple and the efforts
made to control it by spraying. Spray
ing infected trees showed some re-
suits in favor Of spraying, but not
enough to warrant it's advocacy. Prac-
tically all that can be done with the
spray Is to prevent the bitter rot by
covering the apes with the spraying
solution before the coming OF the
disease. Prof. Stinson of Missouri
said that in his state it had been found
to be a most difficult matter to pro-
tect the trees against bitter rot. One
season the spray seemed to prevent
rot, while the next year the spray
would be found to be ineffective.
H. L. Doan talked on cultivating and
pruning the peach tree. He advocated
planting 20 feet apart each way.
Peach orchards should not be cropped
after the third year. 1t is easy to
produce an over-growth on strong
lands. These trees bear tardily and
ire not productive. They run to
wood. Peaches that overgrow are
likely to suffer in winter.
The farmers garden was discussed
by ]. l.. Hartwell. He said that in
addition to the tools needed, every
farmer should have some kind OF
horse cuItivator, a wheel hoe and a
garden seeder. A greasy rag is
necessary accompaniment of this out
fit and should be applied to every tool
as often as used. I have seen but
few spades that are not rusty, and the
average farm hoe is entirely unusa-
BILE.
Mr.. James Handy spoke on the
benefits or organization. He said
that local organizations although COM
prising but few members, could be
profitably established In all neighbor-
hoods.
Pruning of the apple orchard was
the subject of an illustrated lecture
by Prof. John Craig of Cornell Uni
versity. He said that trees should
not be allowed to develop according
to their natural tendencies. He had
seen such orchards knotted and
broken after many years. Low
heading, he said, was becoming the
accepted method of shaping trees in
this country; as this gave we'll
shaped head and protected the trunk
from sun-scald.
Prof. S. A. Forbes, state entomolo-
gist, reported on his inspection of nur-
series in Illinois, during the past year.
The total number inspected was POI,
three others remaining to be in
spected. There are 294 nurseries in
the state. The total cost of inspect
ing these 291 nurseries was $1,106.11,
an average expense of $3.50 per nur-
sery. This is 40 cents more than the
average cost of last year, which was
$40. During the past year 24,231
trees received a thorough insecticide
treatment, and 1,119 trees were de.
stroyed as worthless on account OF
the extent to which they were in,
| tested by the San Jose scale. About
20 miles of Usage Orange hedge had
been inspected, of which about 16
miles of it was found to be infested
with the San Jose Scale.
Prof. John w. Lloyd told of the ex
periments made to ascertain the pos
sibility of controlling the second brood
of the codling moth. He advocated
spraying as the only thing that would
in any way check the insect at thi:
time.
The growing and the keeping o.
fruit for exhibition was treated Of by
E. A. Riehl Of Alton. Trees should be
in perfect condition as to health anC
vigor If they were to be expected tt
bear fruit that would be exhibitable
This means that the orchard must re
ceiye good cultivation, not only dur
ing the year when the show fruit i.
borne, but for several years previou!
to that. With both apples and pea:
we must spray against both insect ant
fungous pests. Stacking helps the frui
by keeping off insects and improving
the color of the fruit. Pick the frui
when it is mature. but do not allow
it to hang too long on the trees ant
become over-ripe. Peach trees shoult
be so pruned that the branches will
permit the sun to reach the fruit early
in the day. which will help to color VI
the fruit. Peaches to be shown SHOULD
also be thinned.
]. w. Stanton talked on the market
ing of fruit and the organization o
shipping associations. He believed
that the fruit grower lost much of tn,
results of his labor by having to sci
at disadvantage. More shipping as
sociations should be formed, and thos'
associations should cooperate. H,
mentioned successful associations a
existing at Villa Ridge and Anna
Dishonest packers should be expelled
from the associations whenever dis
covered, as their methods always in
jured other shippers. ....
Prof. Craig of Cornell talked OF
, cover crops for the orchard. illustrat
, ing his remarks by means of Lantern
! slides. Experiments had shown tina
under cover crops frost does not pene
trate as deeply as where the groun'
. Ms left bare. A blue grass sod !
: Spund to be good protection, and Il