Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-06-10

to which the readers attention may
we'll 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 al
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 heterogeneous fertiliz
er, or by heavy pruning. which results
in a vigorous growth of new wood
Any condition that seriously reduces
the vitality Of the tree tends 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 a common cause OF de
pleted vitality. The conclusions oil
the Missouri experiment station ten
tatively summarized are as follows:
Where nitrogen was applied to
peach trees good crop was produced
and harvested. On plots receiving nc
fertilizer there was practically no crop
There was likewise q failure oil
peaches In the surrounding region
where no fertilizer was applied. The
cold winter of 1ail.12 was disastrous
to peach trees In Missouri Injury to
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.
ICED plats the injury from this cause
was very great. 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-
ton did not result In increased yields.
The results of the investigations on
fertilizers for peaches seem to indicate
clearly that heterogeneous fertilizer or
a method of cultivation and manage
ment which favors a 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 Is secured. Our results
seem to disprove the theory that trees
must make their main growth early
in the season and then be checked or
retarded in their growth In August or
September In order to ripen their
wood before going into winter. In
some experiments at 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
verely pruning back the winter before
or by thinning the fruit, they have
uniformly carried their fruit buds
through the winter much more safely
than with trees that shed their leaves
and ripened their wood early.
A very careful correlation of these
results with the conditions which are
generally considered essential In the
growth of peach trees in the northern
districts is necessary In order to I'M
derstand their significance. There is
no real conflict or lack OF harmony In
the methods advised for the different
regions, though in the abstract they
may appear to be directly incompati-
BILE.
In the northern districts. the normal
winter is continuously cold and with
out any warm spells OF sufficient dura-
ton to affect the dormancy of the
trees. 1t usually remains cold until
winter finally breaks. When 1t warns
up enough to start the trees into ac-
tivity and cause the buds to swell,
there is comparatively little danger
thereafter OF serious frosts or freezes,
Moreover, the critical factor-the one
which largely governs the manage
ment OF the orchard in the present
connections low winter tempera-
lures which are sufficient to kill the
buds or injure the trees even when
they are perfectly dormant. To best
meet this low-temperature factor, 1t Is
recognized that the trees must be
dormant and the current
seasons growth well ripened
The United States Department OF
Washington, D. C., will
send interested fruit growers, free OF
charge, its Farmers Bulletin (No. 632)
On Growing Peaches" which gives In
detail much information on the prun-
ing of trees, renewal of tops. thinning,
crops and special prae-
tees.