22 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



use only barnyard manure. It will tend to make the tree grow to wood 

 too much; and it is considered best to add a little muriate of potash and 

 phosphoric acid. The barnyard manure makes the tree grow too strong 

 and prevents it from hardening up. Trees of that kind were some of those 

 most seriously attacked. 



It was especially noticed that pears and apples that were on lower ground 

 that was rich in nitrogen made a good growth, probably a little over the 

 average. Many of the pear trees that were on somewhat low ground, leaved 

 out well in spring, and were apparently in good condition as far as external 

 appearances were concerned, but toward the end of summer the leaves had 

 reddened long before it was time for the fall coloring, and in a short time 

 the whole orchard would be colored. I have seen whole orchard's leaves 

 just as red as they could be; and upon examination the head of the tree 

 would be in good condition, but just above the snow line (we had about 

 six inches of snow) the bark was girdled with a band of sap wood as black 

 as coal, and the tree was literally choking to death. 



Japanese and European plums were also affected that way. Japanese 

 plums were most all killed, except in good locations. 



A hedge on the northwest was of great benefit during this freeze. Where 

 orchards had protection from the northwest, many of them were saved. 

 This was especially noticed at our station, where we had hardly any trees 

 killed except a few of the peaches. The younger peaches were killed. Jap- 

 anese plums were saved, with the exception of Red June and the Satsuma. 

 The Abundance seemed to stand the freeze better than any of the others. 



One peculiar thing at the station about the freeze was that the Pecan 

 which is a southern tree and grows well Avith us, but never bears as it is 

 probably too far north, it came through the freeze in good condition. The 

 Japanese Walnut did not do as well, although it always bears well, its entire 

 top was killed. It seemed peculiar that a southern tree should stand the 

 freeze, while the Japanese Walnut should be killed back. 



The small fruits are only temporarily disabled. Most of the raspberry 

 plantations were cut back and are in good condition for next year's crops. 

 The gooseberries and currants were treated likewise and will be in good 

 condition. The grapes are most all frozen back to the snow line; I have 

 seen too many cases where they were neglected and the sprouts allowed 

 to come at the bottom without any care at all. The trunk should have been 

 cut back to the snow line and the sprouts allowed to come out and all but the 

 stronger sprouts cut off after they had started well. The side shoots of 

 this remaining shoot were cut off so as to give it all the opportunity to 

 grow up to the wires again; and after it has grown long enough it should 

 be tied up. 



It seems to me the effect of the freeze in general, the good effect, the ultimate 

 effect, will be that it will rid us of a lot of the real estate orchards that have 

 been set down on the low land and anywhere regardless of location to sell. 

 The country was boomed as a peach belt and people put peach orchards 

 everywhere in this belt. Strangers would come from the city and other 

 places who did not know very much about fruit growing nor where a peach 

 orchard should belong, alid they would find them most generally where 

 they ought not to have been. The good ones were generally held on to; 

 the others were sold; and it hurts the reputation of a country to have orchards 

 like that, to have people come in and make bad work of an orchard, to give 

 it poor care. It makes a slovenly looking place. But I believe the ultimate 

 'effect of this freeze will be to wipe out these localities. It will diversify 



