The state herald., 1915-06-11

to which the readers attention may
well be directed.
These exceptions to the general
practices have been brought to light
largely through investigations carried
on by the Missouri agricultural ex
pertinent station. They consist pri
marily in SO managing the orchard as
to maintain the trees in active growth
until rather late in the season. This
may be accomplished by continuing
the tillage later than is ordinarily ad
vised by using a nitrogenous fertiliz.
er, or by heavy pruning, which result,
in vigorous growth of new wood
Any condition that seriously reduces
the vitality of the tree tepIs to make
the tree. especially the fruit buds, sus
ceptible to injury by winter tempera
lures. The production of an excessive
crop of fruit is common cause of de
pleted vitality. The conclusions OF
the Missouri experiment station ten
tatively summarized are as follows:
Where nitrogen was applied tc
peach trees a good crop was produced
and harvested. On plots receiving nc
fertilizer there was practically no crop
There was likewise a failure OF
peaches in the surrounding region
where no fertilizer was applied. The
cold winter OF 1ell-i2 was disastrous
to peach trees In Missouri. Injury te
peach trees caused by the cold sc
weakened their vitality that disease
like the bacterial shot-hole leaf dis
ease was common. On the plats fertil
lied with nitrogen there was little bac
terial disease. On adjacent unfertil
lied plats the injury from this cause
was very grea,. The trees in. the
plats fertilized with nitrogen also re
covered from winter injury much more
successfully and quickly than unfer'
tilted trees in the same locality.
The application of phosphorus and
potassium either singly or in combina.
tion did not result In increased yields.
The results OF the investigations on
fertilizers for peaches seem to indicate
clearly that u heterogeneous fertilizer or
a method OF cultivation and manage
ment which favors vigorous tree
growth when combined with pruning,
spraying. and thinning fruit on over.
loaded trees will increase the crop.
The above treatment tends to make
them carry their fruit buds through
winter and frosts OF spring much more
safely than where an average or weak
growth only IL secured. Our results
seem to dlsprove the theory that trees
must make their main growth early
In the season and then be checked or
retarded In their growth In AuguLt or
September In order TO rlpen their
wood before going into winter. In
some experiments nj this station
where the trees have been encouraged
to grow vigorously right up until some
OF the green leaves froze on the trees,
either by the use OF fertilizer or by Sc
vercly pruning back the winter before
or by thinning the fruit. they have
uniformly carried their fruit buds
through the winter much moro safely
than with trees that shed their leaves
and rlpcned their wood early.
4 very careful correlation OF these
results with the conditions which mr.,
generally considered essential In IN,
growth OF peach trees IN the northern
districts In necessary In order TO un
derStand their Significance. There Il
no real conflict or lack OF harmony II
the methods advised for the dlirercn
regions. though In the abstract the,
may appear 10 be directly ineompati
bic.
In the northern districts, the norma
winter Ia continuously cold and with
out any warm spells OF sufficient dura
tlon TO affect the dormancy OF tn,
trees. II usually remains cold unit
winter finally breaks. when Il warm
up enough to start the trees into nc
uvity and cause the buds 10 swell
there IL comparatively little DANCE
thereafter Of serious fros,s or froezoa
Moreover. the critical factor-the on,
which largely governs tho manage
mcnt OF tho orchard In the prcacn
conncotlon-lH low winter temp.ra
turen which are sufficient 10 kill tn
buds or inluro tho trees even whei
they arc perfectly dormant. To boH
meet this low.tomperature factor. II Il
recognized that tho trees must b.
thoroughly dormant and tho ourren
aeaaon'a growth well ripcncd.
The United States Department o
Agriculture. Washington. d. g.. vii
send Interested fruit growers, FREQ o
charge. ita Farmers Bulletin mo. G72
on Growing Peaches" which gives II
detail much information on the prur
lng Of troaa. removal Of tops. thinning
lnierplanted cropa and tpeelbl praC
tees,