Smyrna times., 1907-02-20
PEACH CULTURE.
Suggestions For Its Renewal In New
Jersey.


Jersey.
According to the United States CEN
sus report, there were in the United
States 80 $4,000 peach trees in 1890
and 99,919,000 in 1900, showing an in
crease of over 50 per cent. During this
time the number in New Jersey de-
creased from 4,414,0OO in 1890 to 2,747,-
900 in 1900, loss of SO per cent. Only
three states in the Union showed a
decrease-New Jersey, Delaware and
Maryland. Every other state increased
its peach orchards. In 1890 these three
states had % per cent of all the peach
trees in the United States. In 1900
they had only per cent. There has,
in fact, been panic among the grow
ers
The immediate cause of this condi-
tion has been the San Jose scale. But
this has not been the only trouble. As
is usual when any serious enemy
threatens crop, all troubles are charg-
ed to this pest. Damages from starva-
ton, lack of tillage, borers, leaf curl
and brown rot are very frequently all
punched and charged to the account of
the scale.
The New Jersey station has Just is
sued some suggestions based upon it's
experimental work on the renewal of
the industry in that state in the hope
that it may be of some help to the
large number of New Jersey fruit grow
ers who have the courage to raise
peaches in spite of present difficulties.
Summary of Experiments.
In ten years growth a peach tree
used plant food at the following rate
per acre: Nitrogen. SIG pounds; phos-
phoric acid, 1873 pounds: potash 3O7
pounds; lime. 424 pounds.
The average of the last six years
was: Nitrogen, GA pounds; phosphoric
acid, IS pounds; potash, 40 pounds
In an orchard at the experiment sta
ton the scale seemed to be practically
exterminated by thorough spraying.
but when left unsprayed in 1905 there
was scale enough to kill some trees by
fall. The only safe practice with peach
trees in New Jersey is to spray every
year.
From 620 natural pits" planted last
spring 10S trees were produced From
321 pits of budded trees only seven
trees were grown.
Keeping the roots of peach tree in
hothouse and the tops out of doors
for over month in midwinter had no
harmful effect on the buds or top.
When the top was moved in it bios
somed in two weeks.
Measurement of the twigs of the
fruit trees at the station every two
weeks in 1906 showed that half the
twig growth was completed by the
middle of May and four-fifths by the
middle of June.
In the spring of 1906 an experimental
orchard of 1882 trees was planted on
the farm of Ex-Governor Voorhees, at
High Bridge. n. j., for the study of
problems connected with peach grow
ing.
Of. the 1,006 fall budded yearling
trees only five failed to grow. Of sew
enteen June budded trees six died.
Trees whose roots were dipped in
water before planting made the best
growth. Those exposed in the sun an
hour or more before planting made the
| poorest growth.
Trees pruned to whips at the time Of
planting, those on which one inch stubs
were left and those with three inch
stubs all did about equally well. They
grew better and were larger by fall
than those on which two-thirds of the
top was left.
Dipping the tops or tops and roots
in either single or double strength So
lutions of lime, salt and sulphur SEEM
ed to have no ill effects, except to in
jure buds that were opening. All made
about equal growth during the sum-
mer