Evening journal., 1903-01-31
ORCHARDS SHOULD Be
ATTENDED TO EARLY
Cultivation and Management
Essential to Success of All
Varieties of Fruit

ject 10 disease and attacks of insects.
II all the varieties Of fruit trees were
diseased alike some remedy for pre-
vention could be devised that would
be safe ana serviceable, but the cli-
mate and soil sometimes effect the con-
ditions and render the methods prac-
ticed by fruit growers in one section
unsuccessful in another, thus calling
for different arrangements il different
localities. The peach, which for
merly flourished as well in Pennsyl-
vania and New Jersey as in Delaware
has proved improbable of late years
in some sections, owing to the ''yel-
lows" The borer has done great dam |
age, but the work of the borer can be
prevented II the trees are carefully |
watched 1t has been supposed that
the yellows is the result of exhaustion
! OF the soil-not that the soil becomes
necessarily sterile, but that the ele-
ments essential to the healthy growth
OF the tree and production OF fruit
have not been supplied. AS a proof Of
this fact it may be mentioned that
in some sections OF New Jersey the
fruit growers are again giving their
attention to peach-growing. as time
has enabled the soil to accumulate and
store up the elements best adapted for
that purpose, but as yet there seems
to be no sure remedy for the yellows,
except to destroy all infested trees.
The success of the Delaware peach
growers IS due to their adoption Of
all the advantages necessary to sue
cess and the avoidance Of the mis-
takes committed elsewhere.
Artificial fertilizers have done much
to prevent diseases of fruit trees, as
by their use the growers can supply
the needed requirements in any form
and quantity desired Of the essential
elements, which is not the case when
reliance is placed exclusively upon
barnyard manure, which, by it's decom-
position in the soil, sometimes induces
the disease which it is sought to pre-
vent. The yellows attacks peach
trees in any climate, but singles out
those that are impoverished and of
feeble growth, though it is contagious
! when brought in contact with healthy
trees.
The blight is great enemy of pear
trees. 1t has been found that the dis
| ease attacks those trees that have been
/ forced too rapidly in growth, and that
Y 1t will not do to heavily manure and
, cultivate the trees before they begin to
0 bear, the best conditions being a
light grass crop in the orchard, as
sisted by artificial fertilizers composed
s largely Of potash. Potash is also bene-
s 1cial to the peach, and, in fact, to all
/. fruits, increasing the amount Of sac
charine matter, although but little
7 potash really enters into the compo-
a sition of che fruit. During the period
!. of fruiting, ground bone, or superphos-
y lphate, has proved beneficial, the straw
l. berry being an example. While 1t is
n essential that the trees be kept in q
y strong, healthy, vigorous growth, more
: damage has been done by forcing them
than in any other manner. Exposing
the surface soil to the heat of the suns
rays in summer is detrimental, end
i hence the value Of a grass crop in the
;. lpear orchard, which shades the trees
: but such crop must be supplied Witt
. plant-food to prevent robbery of thS
orchard A cheap and excellent fertil
= izer is made by composing mari, lime
: and old sod, allowing the mass to reach
a fine condition before applying to thu
\ orchard, while stable manure, though
combining all the elements of plant
food, should never be used until thor.
/. loughly decomposed the fresh material
being too heating, as well as contain,
? ing bacterial life detrimental to sue
n cess The peach orchard is cultivated
o differently from the pear trees. It /,
Il now claimed that the same cultu1S
given corn answers for the peach, buf
= nothing will avail to win success un,
= less the trees are carefully pruned an(
T the borer prevented. Many Of the OBJ
}. staeles heretofore encountered are dus
rather to improper management thar
= to other influences.
News and Views About Farm.
+ Let any farmer estimate the cost o.
3 a fence around a three-hundred-acrt
n farm, and he will not object to having
e the privilege of growing crops on his
r fields without fear of trespass from the
l. stock OF his neighbor. There is one
+ good point in favor of a 'no-fence'
G law, and that is it does not prevent
o ANYONE from having as much fence ae
@ he desires. He can build miles Of fence
5 but he cannot impose the same neces-
. slty upon his neigihbor. He can also
keep his stock on a smaller area, If he