Page i6 



BETTER FRUIT 



February, 1^20 



Observations on Treatment of Winter -Injured Trees 



EXPERTS in horticulture both in 

 the Pacific Northwest and else- 

 where who have had experience 

 with fruit trees that have been injured 

 by low temperatures are advising or- 

 chardisfs to proceed with caution in 

 their treatment. It is pointed out by 

 these authorities that the winter is not 

 vet over and until such time as it is 

 and the extent of the injury more defin- 

 itely known, it will be the part of wis- 

 dom not to take action hastily. 



Growers Should Be Cautious 



Reports from the various sections of 

 the Northwest are to the effect that 

 stone fruits, particularly peaches, have 

 been more severely hurt than apples 

 and pears, and that the latter are ap-. 

 parently injured to a greater extent 

 than apples. In the Willamette valley 

 district of Oregon, where almost record 

 low temperatures for this district were 

 recorded it is not believed by Prof. C. 

 I. Lewis, former chief of the division of 

 horticulture of the Oregon Agricultural 

 College, who investigated this section, 

 that the injury is as great as at first re- 

 ported and he is advising growers not 

 to act on hastily made conclusions 

 which would subject their orchards to 

 too heavy pruning. 



In the Hood River district which was 

 subjected to still lower temperatures 

 than the Willamette valley, Gordon G. 

 Brown, horticulturist at the Hood River 



By W. H. Walton 



Experiment station is advising the same 

 plan of operation. In writing of the 

 injury and the treatment for it Mr. 

 Brown says: 



Apple and Pear Injuries. 

 "Now that the trees have thawed out, 

 many of the older orchards are showing 

 serious injury as a result of the recent 

 freeze. In most instances the injury is 

 definitely located in the trunk and main 

 body of branches where the cambium 

 is prominently discolored. The injury 

 appears for some distance above and 

 below the level to which the snow had 

 settled. As a rule the greatest destruc- 

 tion took place between the two and 

 four-foot levels. An examination of the 

 cambium tissue at greater heights above 

 the ground showed that the trouble 

 lessened and gradually disappeared al- 

 together. Hence, an examination of the 

 smaller, younger growths, which in 

 many cases show no injury whatever, 

 does not offer any clue as to what may 

 be found in the main body of the tree. 

 This injury is found both in apples and 

 pears and the peculiar fact is found 

 that the injury apparently hears no 

 definite relation between trees on dif- 

 ferent soils, sites or under different or- 

 chard management. Apples appear to 

 show considerable difference in resist- 

 ance to injury. Baldwin and Arkansas 

 Blacks appear to be highly resistant, 

 while Jonathans, Ortleys and Spitzen- 



bergs to be less so, and the Ncwtowns 

 give indications of being the least re- 

 sistant of any of the varieties examined. 



Pruning Recommendations. 



"Despite the fact that the injury is 

 quite severe, the situation has a very 

 hopeful aspect. It is found most prom- 

 inently on the south or southwestern 

 portions of the tree. However, the op- 

 posite side of the tree or limb is much 

 less affected and should be able to func- 

 tion when the growth starts. Therein 

 lies the hope for trees so injured. 



"Should the most severely injured 

 portions fail to resume growth normal- 

 ly there is considerable danger from 

 sunscald next summer against which 

 the grower should guard. Applications 

 of Bordeaux whitewash to such parts 

 next summer should prove effective in 

 such cases where the body of the tree 

 is exposed directly to the sun. Other- 

 wise heart-rot fungus may gain entrance 

 to the tree. 



"^^^^ere trees are severely injured I 

 believe heavy pruning next spring will 

 he effective in strengthening the tree. 

 This in case the tree has an excessive 

 amount of top. In cases where the trees 

 have made normal growth and the top 

 is already thinned out I do not believe 

 the case calls for special treatment. 

 'V\Tiether applications of nitrate of soda 

 will help is very problematical since it 



Continued on page 34. 



"FRIEND" SPRAYERS 



FASTEST AND BEST MADE 



''Time once lost can never be replaced" 



SOME OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES 



Large Wheels Light Draft-Short Turn-Hillside Design-Tanic Low Hung - Cannot 

 Overturn-Extreme Flexibility— "Friend" Pressure Controller- Quick Accessible and 

 Detachable Valves and Pump Parts -Adjustable Paclting-Direct Propeller Agitator 

 Auto Type Engine- Large Reserve Power. 



Lime 



SIZES FOR ALL ORCHARDS CAPACITIES 5 TO 20 GALLONS PER MINUTE 



"Friend" Users are "Friend" Boosters. 



MANUFACTURED BV 



"FRIEND" MFG. CO. 



GASPORT, N. Y. 



FOR SALF, BY 



HOOD RIVER SPRAY COMPANY 



Distributors for Oregon 

 HOOU RIVER, OREGON 



MANUFACTURERS OF SPRAY CHEMICALS 

 Miscible Oils - Bordeaux Paste - Distillate Oil Emulsion - Lead Arsenate 



Sulphur - 



VHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT 



