The Delta independent., 1909-07-30
farm ano 0rcbaro
Orchard Matters.

A four year old peach tree that mas
been well grown should under favorable
conditions mature from three to four
boxes of fruit, seventy-five per cent Of
which should grade extra. After the
fourth year, the yield of Colorado
peach orchard, well pruned and cared
for, should increase approximately two
boxes the tree annually. Unless spe-
cially cared for, the average peach or
chard will little more than hold its own
after the tenth year. By allowing sew
enty-five to eighty peaches to the box,
the thinner can estimate how many to
leave.
The split-pit trouble in peaches which
often occurs in Colorado is not due to
any specific disease. The splitting of
the pit, the gorging of the cavity with
sap, is manifestly physiological trou-
BILE, but just what causes it, if there is
any single cause and in what way it
may be prevented are not yet known
although the theory exists here that it
is caused by forcing the growth by too
much irrigation at certain period of
development Some varieties may be
more susceptible to this weakness than
others and we are quite sure that an
over-splash of irrigation forces the
growth so as to split the stone.
During the last session of congress
the Porter bill designed to fix the ca
pacity of every apple box failed of pas
sage. Another bill to accomplish thH
same object has been introduced and is
known as the Lafean bill. Although
this bill proposes to increase the size of
the box only l62 cubic inches instead of
1856, as provided in the Porter bill, it is
highly Objectionable to all western
growers for the loss would prove enor-
nous. 1t has been asserted by eastern
dealers that our box should contain ap-
plies enough to make four heaping
pecks. as the yankee retailers use the
peck measure instead Of selling by the
pound as We do and they claim that
our present box does not contain that
amount. Our growers should have an
organization to protest the passage Of
this iniquitous bill.
The raspberry worm or slug is work
ing upon the raspberry foliage. This
insect has occasioned severe losses to
the owners of raspberry patches in the
eastern portion of Colorado during the
last two or three years. This is one of
the easiest pests to control if properly
managed. The larva is small. covered
with short hairs or spines and is so
near the color of the leaf that it is
often overlooked when quite abundant.
Its injuries are first noticed by the ap-
pearance of numerous small holes in
the raspberry leaves. These gradually
increase in size and number until often
times the leaves are completely killed
by the use of white hellebore. arsenate
of lead and paris green. If the fruit is
still upon the bushes, hellebore is the
poison to use. as it may be applied in
sufficient quantity to destroy the worms
without danger of injury to those who
eat the fruit. Hellebore is applied wet
by mixing one ounce with each three
gallons Of water and then applying as a
spray. 1t may be used dry by mixing
it with five times its bulk of -four and
sitting il over the leaves through n
cheesecloth sack or applying it by
means of a bellows until the leaves are
lightly busted with the powder. Helle-
bore is most effectual when used to-
wards evening as the slugs feed freely
during the evening and early morning.
If the bushes are not bearing fruit. ar
senate of lead may be used as n spray
IN the proportion of one pound to each
twenty-five gallons of water.