The Red Cloud chief., 1903-09-25
The Michigan Fruit Station.

The Michigan experiment station is
located at Agricultural College, near
Lansing. II has a branch at South
Haven devoted entirely to experiments |
with fruit. The cause for the exist
ence of this branch station are the
peculiar soil along the shores of Lake |
Michigan and climatic conditions quite
mike other parts of the tat More
over this region Is n famous fruit pro-
iucing region. and experiments made
at Lansing would not be likely To ap-
ply fully to- the so-called fruit.belt.
A representative of the Farmers Re
view last week visited this fruit sta
ton and found II In n most flourish.
ing condition. The officer In charge Is
Professor 7. A. Farrand. who seems to
understand the conditions of his ter.
ritory most fully.
The station is somewhat limited for
space and has at present only ff.
teen acres of land, all of which Is In
use. The first paintings were made
II years ago. The paucity of area has
compelled the crowding Of some Of the
trees beyond what We believe to be
| duN lSdDi'. IToltShDT TdTGutu hto
been compelled for this reason TO set
his plants and trees nearer together
than he would IL he had the 70 he
needs. II was noticeable that all the
soil was In u high state OF cultivation,
the marks of the weedcr teeth being
everywhere visible between the trees.
All the fruit trees are headed low.
The Professor says this IL the only
sensible way Of heading trees The
apple. pear, plum and cherry trees
branched Just above the soil and n
would have difficulty in reaching their
trunks, because Of the branches. We
did not notice a high-headed tree on
the place.
Professor Farrand says that peach
and pear trees should be set at least
20 feet apart, though on their ground
they are but 16 feet apart. As most
OF these trees are twelve years old
their branches are already too close
in man. instances. The apple and
pear trees are sprayed with Bordeaux
mixture on the formula $3.50. with
four ounces of Paris green added.
This Is Ave pounds of lime, five
pounds Of copper sulphate and so gal,
Ions OF water, besides the Paris green
h. mentioned. For peaches they spray
before the leaves are open for the
{ curl leaf, using two pounds Of sulphate
and SO gallons Of water. After the
fruit is set they spray with half
strength Bordeaux mixture, or on the
+, formula 5.5-100, using no Paris green
q However. Paris green could be used
, II desired. Peaches are thinned tC
o G and 8 inches apart. This is a more
, eve thinning than IL followed In
many Of our orchards, where the
breadth of the hand is used as the
:, rule for space between peaches.
q The Professor recommends thu
4 Longhurst peach as a very good one
The tree is hardy and very productive
hut is not Is handsome as the Al
n berta. II Is most excellent for can
ming. However the growers o
q peaches near South Haven are goinl
!, largely into Albertas. KalamaZoOs an
- Engle Mammoths are most excellen
n varieties and are doing we'll on tn
~ station grounds. 1t Is noted that tn
early peaches are inferior in quality.
II 1t is the belief of the director tina
n apple trees should be set 10 less tina
n 80 feet apart. As to the varieties d.
ing the best on their grounds he mel
tons Jonathan, Grimes. Golden, Star
=. and Yellow Transparent. Ben Davi
does not do well here, as 1t can ne
be grown to perfection. Apples {
,r this variety do not color up SO we
10 in this part of Michigan as they d
10 in southern Illinois and localities G
~ the same parallel. Duchess OF Olde,
berg is doing well, Wagner Is doir
well, and nothing Is better tina
Wealthy. The GreeniDg Is hardy b'
70 1t IL late in coming into bearing. &c
he den russets bear better than RoxbuI
~ russets, but the day OF both OF the
IN has gone by, says the director. T
tovka, a Russian, bears heavily, b
is a poor grower.
Among the pears Seckel was doiT
,r remarkably well. The trees wei
-, heavy with fruit and the size WI
~ very much better than is usual wit
49, this variety. In fact, one seeing the
~ on the market would hardly belieN
." them to be Seckels, So much II
good care and culture. The Bartlett
Ell are proving the best on the groun
!" The Keifer has come to stay. Due
80 css is a good late pear. Flemis
~ Beauty is regarded Of little or 7
W value for general cultivation. as
scabs badly. and the ordinary grove
will not spray 1t. When thorough
SPRAYED Il Is all right, as 1t is