Arizona state miner., 1926-04-17
NEW FINDINGS ON
FRUIT PROBLEMS

From all indications, Small-fruit cul-
ture is again to become common after
decline during the past two decades,
according to A. S. Colby, associate
chief of pomology at the college of ag-
riculture, University of Illinois Some
of the problems which have proved a
barrier to this industry have been
given careful study and the answers
to them worked out, he said. Among
these barriers has been the wrong
choice of site and soil in establishing
plantations, wrong choice of varieties,
carelessness in following correct meth
DDS Of culture, an ignorance Of the
control methods in dealing with the in
creasing number of serious diseases
and a lack Of knowledge Of the eco
nOmic factors involved in growing and
marketing the crop.
Some Of the recommendations which
can now be made on these problems as
result Of experimental work at the
college Of agriculture, University of
Illinois and elsewhere are:
Q) Choose a site somewhat ele-
vated from the surrounding areas to
provide air and water drainage. The
exposure should be to the north or east
rather than to the south or west.
(2) The soil should be friable. full
Of humus moderately fertile and with
good subsoil drainage.
(3) The varieties should be chosen
with the following points in mind:
adapted to locality, resistant to dis
eases. vines productive and vigorous
and fruit large and Of good quality.
Plants should be ordered early in the
season before the nurseries are SOLD
out Of desirable varieties.
(4) The ground should be properly
prepared and the plants set far enough
apart to permit full development of
plant, consistent with ease and econo-
my of cultivation. A mulch Of straw
or some similar moisture conserving
material should be considered At the
agricultural college it was found that
mulch of straWy manure increased
the crop of red raspberries 81 per cent.
Pruning and training must be done
with an understanding Of the fruiting
and growth habits Of the plants con-
cerned, as they need modification with
variety of plant and soil conditions.
(5) Black rot in grapes, the sys-
temic diseases in raspberries, leaf spots
in gooseberries and raspberry anthrac-
nose are only a few of the serious
diseases whose rapid spread has caused
! concern in small-fruit sections.
Most grape troubles can be con-
trolled by a careful spray schedule.
The systemic raspberry diseases are
being studied and an effort being made
| through cooperation of the state
nursery inspection service to eradicate
them in the nursery row. We can con-
troll raspberry anthracnose and the leaf
spots of gooseberry through a spray
program worked out at the college. A
raspberry variety, the Quillen, resist
ant to anthracnose, has been found by
the college and is recommended for
general planting.
(6) Studies are being made Of the
economic factors involved in small
fruit culture. 1t is thought at this time
that one should be careful in setting
out large planting without a study Of
possible markets. Roadside markets
will become of increasing Importance
in the sale Of small fruits; cool and
cold storage problems when settled
will have an important bearing on the
sale of grapes in extending the sea-
sons, and only the best of care in
handling pickers will result in secur-
ing a good quality of fruit for market
after it has been grown.