The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-02-24
STATE CONVENTION
or Horticulturists Now I'm Session I'm Paw
Paw Interesting Sessions

The society was welcomed to Paw Paw
b. A. u. Craven, on behalf of the local
horticultural society.
The first paper on the program was
Profitable Grape Culture, by l.. h.
Shepard of Paw Paw He said he could
explain this better in the vineyard than
in paper, but managed to give some
good ideas in comprehensive manner.
As requirements for good vineyard, he
placed good location first, high and
dry and with a good air drainage. Light
sandy soil will produce grapes of good
quality, but a heavier loan will give
double the crop and double the profit.
He advocated leaving one strong vine
and tying up when Que year old. Keep
up your nerve and crowd the growth OF
vines, getting them on trellis as soon as
possible.
M. II. Pugsley of Paw Paw then read
fine paper on Elements of Success in
Grape Growing. Like Mr.. Shepard, he
emphasized the importance of nerve. He
considered location as the chief point in
growing. but also the most disregarded.
A high plateau or tableland is better for
vineyard than hillside, although the
latter sometimes escapes a May frost
more than other situations.
The owner must know how to prune
vines in order to be successful. l0xl0
feet is the proper distance for setting
vines, Makes rows straight, and tie up
properly.
Prof. l.. r. Taft of the agricultural
college followed with an address on Mis-
takes in Spraying, Prof Taft is an au-
thority on the subject of spraying, hav-
ing been writing, talking and expert
menting along this line for the past IL
years. But in spite of the general dis
tribution of information in regard to
spraying, many mistakes are still made.
Some growers report almost perfect sue
cess, others almost total failure, others
all degrees of success between the two.
One mistake is in using one kind of
application for all classes of insects.
Destructive insects are divided into two
groups. First, the biting or chewing in
sects which are controlled by spraying
with poisons called the arsenites; second,
those insects with sucking organs, which
feed upon the sap of plants. This class
includes all plant lice, also many varie-
ties of scale insects. The best spray for
ordinary lice is tobacco water. Kerosene
emulsion is also used. For San Jose
scale, the best remedy is the sulphur,
lime and salt spray, applied at a temper
ture of from 125 to 100 degrees.
Another mistake is in trying every
new insecticide which may be advertised.
In fighting fungus diseases, a mistake
is in spraying too late.
The requisites for successful spraying
are proper preparation of the materials,
thoroughness, earliness and good ma
chiHery,
A song was then beautifully rendered
by Mr.. Flock accompanied by Mr.. Fox
ford on the violin and Mrs. Boyd on the
on the piano.
The remainder of the forenoon was de-
voted to questions which were answered
by the various speakers and others in
the audience.
The matter of spraying grapes was
brought up, and it was recommended
that grapes be sprayed at least once in
this vicinity, using Bordeaux mixture.
There was thought to be more danger of
brown rot than of the black rot, in this
locality.
The majority of the speakers seemed
to be in favor of tying up yearling grape
vines instead Of cutting them back, to
two buds.
After the dinner recess, Mr.. Foxford
gave violin solo, and j. II. Crane of
Ganges gave his Observations in Spray
ing. He said he had sprayed for II or 10
years Had good success in spraying
Niagara grapes. Also got good results
from spraying peaches for the curl leal,
especially in the case of Elbertas. For
this purpose it is necessary to spray
when the buds are perfectly dormant.
Plums should be sprayed just as the
buds are forming. After the plums are
set, they should be sprayed again to kill
the curculio.
Grapes should have two or three APP
plications, one just before the leaves APP
pear and one after the grapes have set.
He reported good results from spray
ing pears just before and just after
blooming This prevents the fruit from
dropping.
Apples should be sprayed before the
buds open, for scab; after the blossoms
fall, for the first brood of codling moth;
hnd the first week in August for The
second brood of these insects BY rsi1g
a large amount of lime, the trees are
coated so that it can be seen if the work
is thoroughly done.
A little more time was then spent in
questions aod discussions. Stable ma
nure was recommended for use upon
young vines, to force their growth, but
for bearing vines should be sparingly
used. Ashes are beneficial in securing a
crop of grapes.
Geo. Tucker OF Fennville next spoke
upon How l Handle My Apple Orchard
He plows his orchard as early as posi-
BILE in the spring, using a gang pillow and
never blowing more than three or four
inches deep. He sprays three times, us.
ing an excess Of lime. One year he har
vested 1000 barrels of apples from 33i