The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-04-05
GRAIN AND FRUIT TREES
Wheat and Rye Crops Look Promls-
ing-Fruit Trees and Blight-Bonds

" heat ana Rye ITOpS Looh Iohi1S-
ing-Fruit Trees and Blight-Bonds
and Roads
To the Editor of The Robesonian:
All of the oats of our section were
largely killed by the cold and a good
MANY of the farmers have the second
crop growing now. However, wheat
and rye seemed to get through with
out any serious injury and these crops
now look real promising. We are try
ing the new Abbruzzi rye for the first
time and are well pleased with it.
1t is far ahead of the rye which we
have previously grown for grazing:
We now have both GROWN" in the
same field, the Abbruzzi being knee
high and the other not three inches
high. It seems that one acre of this
new rye should be worth at least
two and a half acres Of the old rye
as a fast grower for grazing pur-
poses.
The fruit trees begin to look like
spring is opening up for sure. One
thing We have noticed which is some
what out of the ordinary this spring
is that the pear trees have set a good
crop of fruit. For the past three or
four years pear trees have b1ghted
very severed $50 much SO that not
much fruit was retained ON the trees,
MANY trees even dying with blight
which also spread to apple trees and
caused much blight to them also.
We believe the cool dry spring has
been very much in favor of the trees
this spring. Blight starts from a
sticky fluid which runs from lay
over blight AFFECTED parts Of the tree
and this fluid being sweet the bees
gather to these parts to suck it and
getting it on their feet carry 1t to
. the blossoms which open about this
time, often killing every blossom on
the tree. But this stage of the pear
has passed for this season and we
think no one should expect his pear
trees to blight much this year if they
have not blighted up to date. Meth
er do we think apple trees will be
| affected by the blight this season.
as they usually become affected
through the pear trees which bloom
and get we'll on in the blighting
stage by the time apple trees begin
to bloom. We think the setting of
pear trees should be discouraged as
a protection to apples which are worth
so much more than pears.
Mr.. Blanchard stopped by and talk
ed with US for few minutes yes
terday. He talks interestingly and
gives good advice, which no one APP
preciates more than we, as we are
! always ready to learn. Mr.. Blanch-
ard is talking the soy bean question
quite freely and is anxious to help
those who have not tried this great
hog crop to get at least start.
We notice in about every issue of
The Robesonian something relative
! to the bond issue for roads to be vot-
ed on in the near future. Our coun-
ty is very much in need of good roads
or at least better roads in many sec
tions, but if such money is to be
spent in proportion or in like man.
ner as our present amount Of road
money is spent, we don't see how ii
could benefit a good many of the
public roads. We think that the
roads which are travelled most shoulo
be worked most, if necessary to keer
them in good condition. This i
nothing but right. though We think
that repairing bridges and keeping
!, holes in the roads filled in and il
passable condition should always have
attention first regardless Of who live:
on said roads-whether the man wht
has the road in charge his friend, o.
his not-to-much friend.
We know of roads, and in an in
7 stance or two much-traveled public
= roads, which on account of holes have
been almost impossible part of thu
: winter, while other roads of no mor'
( Importance have been clayed ans
= dragged at no little expense. W.
t don't call this common justice to all
S "R. F. D.
Fairmont, N. C.
q March 81 1917