INDIANA HOKTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 34:9 



LESSONS -FROM THE ORCHARD IN SEASONS OF DROUGHT. 



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W. B. FLICK, LAWRENCE. 



All those who depend for a livelihood on the cultivation of the soil 

 have learned one great lesson, and that is, how helpless is man when con- 

 tending against the elements. He seems to be the creature of circum- 

 stances, largely depending on the weather. He may manure, prepare the 

 soil, plant and cultivate to the highest degree of perfection, and still, 

 unless favorable conditions of weather accompany his efforts, his crops 

 are failui-es. God gives the increase. I do not want to be understood as 

 discouraging man's efforts or advocating a do-nothing policy in the face 

 of these calamities. I believe that much can be done to lessen the effects 

 of extreme weather conditions. But we have much to learn. The droitght 

 of last summer was the most intense if not the longest in dui'atinn that 

 we have had here. Never before have I seen the leaves scorched as during 

 this period. Two pear trees on my grounds looked as if a hot tlame had 

 played through their branches. The leaves turned black and crumbled 

 into dust between the fingers. Also some grape vines were similarly 

 affected. All these, after rains come, put out new foliage. The eft'ect on 

 some trees was not noticeable at all. They were green and glossy through- 

 out the summer. Some Avere found on ridges of rolling land and others 

 in hollows. Some were in the cultivated orchards, while others grew in 

 the grass. So that elevation or cultivation, I judge, have nothing to do 

 with the difference in effect; but I think that on account of favorable 

 conditions the root system of some trees went deeper down than others, 

 thereby enabling them to draw moisture from the deeper subsoil. In 

 orchards which came under my observation the fruit began early to drop 

 and continued so throughout the season. This fallen fruit was not caused 

 by the codling worm altogether, for no markings were found on them imtil 

 about the middle of August, and therefore we concluded that it was mostly 

 caused by the drought. 



At picking time from one-half to two-thirds of the fruit had fallen, 

 but the remaining specimens were large, smooth and highly colored— effect 

 of thinning. It will pay to thin apples, it seems, especially so in dry sea- 

 sons. I have found it so in peaches, plums and pears, and am convinced 

 by this season's lesson that it will pay with apples. The effect of the 

 drought on the foliage of unsprayed trees was noticeable in that the leaves 

 fell early, while the sprayed trees retained their foliage until heavy frost. 

 The growth of most trees was meager. 



How to most effectually prevent the effect of drought is an open ques- 

 tion Avith me. With small fruits— berries and bush fruits— there is some 

 chance for irrigation, even here in parts of our State, and at a profit; but 

 with the orchard it is hardly practicable. 



