Norwich bulletin., 1914-04-21
ORCHARD DEMONSTRATION ON GRoToN FARM
Given by County Advisor Lincoln on
 |, E. Crouch's Place.

The first practical demonstration Of tree pruning and spraying by County Advisor Murray D. Lincoln Of the County Improvement league was held Saturday from ? to D. m. on the l. 10. Crouch dairy farm at GrotOn. This farm is to be the scene of continu- ous test of what can be accomplished with an *old orchard under scientific
 management. MT. Lincoln oversees the pruning and spraying and the owner | will furnish all labor, materials and fertilizer required
 l The demonstration consisted of act
 ua1 pruning of a large but neglected apple tree, the director giving reasons i for each act and answering questions which were almost continuous from about 50 deeply interested spectators l It developed that there are three i main principles to be observed in 1 pruning to remove dead and diseased wood, to relieve crowding so as to admit lint and air to all parts of a ! tree to shape the tree for convenience i in harvesting and for strength and l symmetry. Orchard owners were warned to out close to the trunk or the parent branches because sap will not turn aside to nourish and heal a i stub left two or three inches long or ! longer All cuts over two inches in i diameter should be painted to exclude i dampness and prevent rotting during | the healing process. and nothing is
 better for that purpose than white Head.
 1 When rough, it helps tree to have i the bark scraped. Insects lodgeIn the 1 cracks and damage the trees. A smooth bark makes the spraying more effec- i tive also. Some branches were left l which may be taken out in a year or i two for it is better to cut too little
 than too much. Some pruning may be
 done during the summer after the tree l has shown where the fruit is located. | This. orchard of about 40 trees is to l be followed up and records kept of all time and money, fertilizer and
 spraying materials used: and the value | of the fruit in past years compared with the quality of fruit and money
 returns from the same trees during the 1 treatment
 The spraying which followed the l pruning was done by Mir. Lincoln also. A lme-sulphur solution was used. This l is made by boiling about four parts of ] lime with two of sulphur in water until 1 thoroughly combined and about the l consistency of crude oil. This is di- 1 luted with water for actual use. In 1 the winter, when trees are dormant, one part of the solution to eight of water may safely be used. That used | Saturday was one to Il; in the summer | one to 50 is sometimes used, but there 1 is danger of scalding the buds and fo- l llage by too strong solutions and early l Spfdy1GS IS aQN1Seu TOT most purposes. l Professor Clinton, formerly of Storrs 1 college, supervisor of extension work in several states under the United States government, was an interested spectator. Professor Clinton strongly approved the way in which Director | Lincoln handled the work and said he would hope to have MT. Lincoln made l local representative for the U. s. agri- 1 cultural department. Such an appoint
 ment carries a franking privilege which will he helpful to the director of the l league.
 : After the spraying Mr Lincoln gave 1 3 short illustrated talk on grating and 1 j35ttldirg f he can ind a young or 1 eilard he hopes n go into the graft 1 ins; and budding more fully at an early | flate. Mr l4inccln Is looking for new = l iE seeded grass fields to Illustrate the ] possible increase in yield per acre un-
 tet' ri i2llt treatment and plans to denl-
 onstrate and experiment in all parts i of the county where he can be O. ser vice His versatility on all subjects
 i pertalniHg to a agriculture and country life and his interesting way of explain
 ing why at each step of the work holds
 l the attention of the spectators in g
 way sure to result in better manage
 ment of orchards and farming in the
 county.