Newark post., 1911-08-02

manner of means. New ones are con-
ctantly presenting themselves for solu-
ton. Some of them like the peach yell
Lows, the little peach and the crown gall
have been inherited from the orchardists
OF previous generations These prob
lens are of just as much economic i'm
portance as they ever were and in All |
probability it is but a question of time |
before some research worker delving in |
to what is now the unknown, will find |
the keys to one or all of the mysteries
of the diseases that have ruined the
fruit industry in many sections of the
country.
While the investigators at the Della
ware Experiment Station are keenly
alive to any developments that may
give them a lead on these old troubles,
the HOrticulturist especially is throw
ing most of his energies into the solu-
tion Of some Of the newer problems
that are confronting the fruit growers
not only of Delaware, butOfthewhole
State. One of these is the function of the
| separate elements of plant food, nitro
gen, phosphorus and potassium play in
| the production of the peach. Prof M..-
] Cue has attacked the question in very
| ingenious manner and has devised
| method of work that not only elected the
| highest compliments from the oepais'
ment of Agriculture of the National gov
ernment, but has attracted the attentitd
| of nearly every horticultural investiga
tor in the country 1t is probably TIVE
most elaborate piece of research work
of it's kind that has ever been under
| taken, and If present indications can
| taken as any criterion can not fail IT,
throw much light upon this important
Question.
| Another phase of fruit growing that
| Prof. McCue is attacking with charac-
teristic vgor is the value of different
kinds of cover crops. 1t is well known
that successful fruit growers plow theri
orchards in the spring, and give them
clean cultivation until about the first
of August. In this way moisture is con-
| served, plant food is liberated from the
SOIL nitrifcation is stimulated and the
maximum growth is received. In the late
summer it is necessary to SOW some
crop among the trees to check their
growth and allow the young tender
growth to mature and harden before the
winter freezes set in. Moreover the
cover crop on the land prevents the
plowed down the following spring, add
humus and fertility to the soil. The eff
, feet of leguminous and non legumno Gus
, crops upon the soil when used in con
nection with the fertilizer that the ap-
piled to the orchard is not very thor
| cug..!y understood. Neither do we know
I the exact effect of the various legumes
upon the size, color. keeping quality ant
| 90, ~ he Tr,,f IT, ho fop
Z that Prof. McCue is now working out
For this work he has an ideal equip
: ment at the State farm in the way o
9 orchards of both peach and apple o
9 commercial extent The trees in all lh
| plots are exceedingly thrifty, and tn
9 chairman of the State Board of Agricul
ture has remarked that it is the fines
n peach orchard in the State.
Z Another piece of work that Professo
9 McCue has undertaken is to determlh
n the effect OF different methods of prun
# ing upon the development of the tree, IL
g accessibility as regards spraying an
: gathering the fruit as we'll as it's siz
il and color.
"a These are essentials when we consde
,r the difficulty of securing efficient Mel
on the farm, and the demand of the con
ts sumer for perfect fruit of large size an
IL high color. Many of the trees in Pro
l., McCue's orchard at the College farm at
n pruned with these points in mind, an
the fruit growers of Delaware are wai
- ing with considerable interest to 81
n what the result will be measured in re
,e turn per acre in dollars and cents.
,e The above are but few of the mar
a. problems that are engaging the after
A. ton and efforts of the Horticulturist
a Delaware College-when it is considers
lr that he is carrying wo-thirds as mut
re work in the class room as the averat
r. college professor, it will be seen tn
ce the one who is in charge of the develop
ment of the fruit industry in the Sta
,s must needs be careful, systematic al
~ energetic man.