River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-06-14
MAKING THE ORCHARD PAY
It Is Only az the Trees Are Properly
Trimmed, Sprayed and
Nurtured.

chard? 1t looks as though the an.
swer could be easily made. Either
cut down or spray, II profit is desired.
In this case there would be some USE
full timber for the stove or factory. in
the other there may be neglected op-
portunity for profit.
Here is the experience Of one man.
He rented an orchard which had been
neglected for many years After two
years it gave a profit, which contin-
ued to increase for some time. The
trees were no better than many others
which are now looked upon as of no
value. AS result of spraying, prun-
ing and fertilizing there are now fine
apples to show for the labor, yielded
by an orchard more than 60 years old.
But it must be admitted that it is
productive. Half-dead trees, poor va
rieties and unsuited localities are fac
tors to be considered. A good top cam
not be grown on a rotten trunk, old
trees are not profitahly grated, neither
will a barren or a cold, wet soil pro-
duce valuable orchard. There are
many considerations which make it adj
best solution of the orchard problem
in some instances.
So much has been said about the
San Jose scale that mention of the
subject is likely to cause feeling of
WEAKNESS. Nevertheless, it has come
I. to stay, so the sooner that is recog-
nize6 the better. Currants, gooseber-
ries, and some other small fruits are
attacked by it as we'll as the orchards.
But if all these were blotted out the
scale would still remain, as it has
taken to some of the forest trees and
shrubs. However, there is consola-
ton in knowing that it is comparative
ly harmless when it takes to the
woods, and there would be little cause
for complaint if it would only stay
there. 1t can exist on many wild
trees, but it is now claimed that it
does not increase in numbers unless
in favorable place, which is, unfor-
tunately, on some cultivated fruit.
But the scale is not so difficult to
lime and sulphur solution is a panacea
for the evil, but as me scale will hide
in CreviceS where the spray does not
reach it, there are almost certain to
be some of the insects left after the
most careful application, SO that ex-
termination is not to be expected at
present. One thorough spraying a
year will keep the insect from being
injurious, and will also clear the trees
from several of the fungi.
II did not spray this spring." re-
marked a man last year who had ex-
tensive orchards under his manage
ment. ''The trees did not blossom
much this spring, There would not
be fruit enough anyhow to pay for the
material, so we thought it poor econ
omy to spend more than it was worth
in trying to save it,
Was there economy in not spraying?
What is the other side of the ques-
ton? The fruit destroying insects
and fungi do not always depend alone
upon one kind of food for a living. In
vestigation has shown that many OF
them, perhaps all, are capable of
subsisting on something besides fruit.
The apple scab does not depend upon
the apple, can get along quite we'll
without it, in fact, so long as there is
green bark. There is reason to think
thai the codling moth lays three
fourths of her eggs upon leaves, and
that the larvae can develop there if
no apple is within reach. How far
this may apply in regard to other in
sects and diseases is matter for con-
lecture, but certain it is that the pests
do not seem to be starved out when
fruit is lacking. The curculio is
around in full numbers when there is
a large crop of ~plums, though there
may have been none the year before,
and the various kinds of rot are, on
hand, regardless OF last seasons de-
ficiency.
Ali things considered, declares the
Prairie Farmer, it would seem like
poor economy to neglect Spraying.
When there is fruit spraying is need
ed to protect it, and when there is
none spraying is useful to insure the
next years crop. 1t is the stitch in
time which may save more than nine
for the future.
PLANTING RASPBERRlES.