Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-01-24
FRUIT TREE DAMAGE
SPOTTED AND EXTENT
Unknown SAYSDROWN

Emit tree injury in various Oregon
sa-d districts, due to the record
"a weather of December. 1919, rang
from slight damage to winter kill.
norris w. S. Brown, chief of horticul-
- at the Oregon Agricultural college.
n..afessor Brown advises growers to
- Iittle or no pruning before April or
~ hest give nature chance to res
80 The injured trees to vigor His re-
port follows:
s,orpgon suffered about the middle
of December from probably the sever
=. freeze on record in most of the
ait growing sections of the state.
,rho damage that resulted from this
,r;despread low temperature was rath-
:. snotted in its severity. some loca-
fans no suffering much as the ex-
trsme cold would seem to indicate.
Nature of Damage.
.Srhe most serious damage seems to
ha in the region of the tree immediate
sIv above the snow line taking in the
-,,ner mart of he trunk and the main
Tn,hs II is indicated by discoloring
of the bark. the cambium layer and in
some instances, the outer part Of the
mood. The tender growing point and
sonetipes the entire inside portion of
tho fruit spur may be affected Com
hi,ed with this bark and wood injury
many buds are affected, especially on
The sweet cherries and pears.
CaCuse of Injury.
.rTbe chief cause of the injury,
which is usually found to extend en-
tirely around the tree, is the combina-
tion of low temperature, coupled with
he presence Of considerable sap in the
lower part of the trees at least. Ano-
ther contributing factor which was
very serious YVES the heat generated on
the south and southwest sides of the
trees by the suns reflection on the
snow. This caused a drying out of
that portion of the bark and an injury
much worse in some cases than is
foun on the north side of the tree.
Seriousness of Damage.
at is not possible 10 tell at present
lust how badly injured the trees are.
Shortly after the freeze the division vi
horticulture of the college station sent
out a great number of letters to differ
ent growers throughout the state ask
ing hem to send samples of injured
material to the colleges A great many
limbs, twigs and buds have been sent
in for examination. Some of the twigs
containing buds have been placed in
the greenhouses in water, to see If
they have vitality enough to open the
buds and function properly. Tissuss
from the larger limbs were given care
full microscopic examination.
at is found from this work that
there is great deal of difference in
the severity of the injury, due to sew
eral causes, among them the condi-
iion of the trees at he time of freezing.
the variety, and the location of orch
ard All gradations in injury are
found
I'm few instances portions of the
tree above the snow line are entireiy
killed in others bark and wood is not
30 seriously hurt but that 1t will prob
ably recover, though the crop will not
set for next year. In other cases some
Of the limbs of the tree, especially
those on the south and southwest side
may be killed and the rest of the tree
may recover Portions of bark may die
on the side sOf some limbs, necessitat-
ing the cutting off Of this bark faser
and the subsequent painting of the
wood. or bridge grating or both.
Naturally, the question comes up
what treatment can we give these
trees The answer is that we can do
very little, except to give nature as
good a chance as possible to recoup
herself.
Pruning Not Advised.
Every fruit grower is wondering
Ehat is best be done about pruning.
The horticultural division recommends
after having examined a great many
samples Of injury and after several
members of its staff have visited in
Jured orchards in widely different
parts Of the state that little or no
pruning be practiced at this time. 1t
Will be better to leave the trees un-
Pfuheu until April or May, and then
nollce the conditions of the individual
nees before pruning. The reasonable
neSs OIL this course is apparent when it
4 considered that some Of the limbs
lhat might be r,rl,nnd n,,4 n. .l.i 80