Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-12-19
SOUTH PARIS, MAINE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1911
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPEED THE PLow."

| AMUNd THE FARMEKS.
"sPEED THE pLow."
Correspondence on practical Agricultural topic 8
Ia solicited. Address all communications In.
tended for this department. to HENRY ID
ocrat. Paris. Ne.
Lessons for Fruit Growers.
address of G. T. Powell at the meeting Of the
Maine State Pomological society.)
Each year az 1t passes has its par
ticular lessons, which If they are learned,
should be help in the coming years.
One Of the chief obstacles to the more
rapid progress of large number of
those engaged In farming is that of not
studying the conditions of each year as
they present themselves, and change
and modify their practice to more ef-
fciently meet the requirements of ex-
listing conditions.
The year just passing was preceded
by an unusually dry winter. Very little
rain fell in the autumn of 1910, and but
little snow covered the ground in many
sections through the winter, while there
was deficiency of rain fall through the
spring and summer. There was an un-
usual loss of trees and shrubs in many
places in New England and New York,
the cause for which was attributed to
the severe open winter.
EVERGREEN TREES INJURED.
Evergreens suffered most, and many
of them came out in the spring with
their foliage scared and brown, and
dead. 1t was generally accepted that
the steady cold weather of the winter,
and the long period of freezing tenn
perature had killed the evergreen trees
and shrubs. Evaporation in the winter
has been the cause of this.
The facts are it was not so much the
freezing as the evaporation of the sap
of the trees in the winter. Trees must
have an abundant supply OF moisture in
the soil in the winter, for the process OF
evaporation of sap goes on in the winter
the same as in the summer though not
to so great degree.
When trees are in full foliage in June,
with a steadily rising temperature, tons
of water are daily taken up by them in
divdually, and passed off into the at
mosphere by evaporation and transpira-
ton through the foliage.
In the winter when the foliage is ab-
sent the process of evaporation goes on
steadily and more rapidly when tenn
perature lowers and wind prevails.
1t is at such times that the peach buds
suffer and are often killed. The moist
ure is evaporated so rapidly that they
are left for time in dry condition and
it is then that the germ is killed. 1t is
the dry condition that is produced, not
the low temperature that kills the bud.
1t is quite generally conceded that
temperature of sixteen to eighteen de-
grees below zero will kill peach buds,
but such is not fact.
| TITLAGE AND CROPS.
In most sections where peach orchards
were given good summer culture, in 1910,
and the cultivation was kept up late,
there were excellent and full crops OF
fruit the past season, but where cultiva-
tion of the soil is neglected, the crop was
a failure.
The season of 1911 will long be re-
membered for its unusual deficiency OF
rain fall. Many farmers had to draw
water long distances for their stock dur
ing the winter months, while the hay
crop was heavily reduced by the pro-
longed drouth of the spring and sum-
mer.
One of the most valuable lessons that
farmers and fruit growers should have
learned from the year 1911 is that Of the
importance of the tillage of the soil.
At "Orchard Farm" with the excep-
ton of a few local showers, that moist
ened the surface of the soil few times
during seven months, there was not sui.
tcient rain fall to affect springs or
streams; yet we have never produced a
larger crop of apples, or of better quail
ity-and particularly of better size.
This sample of "Rome Beauty" apple
(exhibited), was taken from tree that
produced one and one-half barrels OF
apples, the seventh year from planting,
the trees being medium size OF two
years when planted. There were many
Mcintosh trees that produced the same
quantity; at the same age, the Northern
Spy texhibited) was taken from a tree
seven years planted and loaded with
fruit.
This orchard with others was given
early and continued cultivation up to
the middle of July. The indications
seemed to be those Of continued dry
period, and cultivation was then to be
relied upon to conserve such moisture
az was in the soil to keep up the growth
of the trees and the maturing OF fall
crop of fruit.
IcLovER AND BUCKwHEAT COVER CROPS.
i For nearly twenty years it has been
our practice to SOW clover for cover,
and green crop to be plowed in annually,
but for two years the summers have
been 80 dry at the time of seeding, In
July, that light growth only OF the
lclover has been obtained. The past sea-
son, to make more certain larger
humus crop we sowed buckwheat over
NEARLY one hundred acres OF orchards:
Much of it reached from five to five and
la half feet high, some OF which was
plowed In, in September, before the seed
formed, but as large crops OF fruit had
to be handled, the balance was cut and
left on the ground. This large growth
together with the mass of roots in their
decomposition will add much humus to
the soil.
We have long been an advocate of
clean cultivation, allowing no sod about
the trees. We also advocate low headed
trees for the first six years OF young
orchard. We are still In favor OF that
culture.
We are now going to adopt different
method after seven years of cultivation,
which will be not to plow or cultivate
nearer than seven feet from the trees, or
such distance as will avoid crowding
against the trees by the teams.
HIGHER COLOR DRsIRED.
With continued cultivation with the
Ileguminous crops plowed In for several
years, while good size In the fruit ia
obtained, 1t requires a longer time In
which to have the high color so desir'
able brought out.
1t is known that the trees that stand
lin sod do put higher color on the apple
though they are smaller in size and
yield.
Without doubt the grass takes up
moisture and checks the development
sooner which brings out the better color
and earlier.
If in the highly colored orchards the
apples are left on the trees until all get
good color, there will be large loss