-3- 



Echo es of jF arm an d Home Weck^ 



The fruit groovers' F. & H. Week sessions held at the 

 State College July 2? and 28 v/ere well attended, a'oout 100 to 

 150 growers appearing at each session. Interest v/as well up to 

 that of former years. Among the highlights were an inspiring 

 talk by G. B. Ilitchings of Nev/ York State on his experiences of 

 the past 50 years, a thought prov,Qkirig discussion of consiumer 

 packages by John V/anhope of the Dept. of Agriculture and llarkets 

 at Albany, two talks by W. H. Upshall of Ontario on his work with 

 fruit problems in Canada, and a sumiuary of the organic matter sit- 

 uation by J. B. Abbott of "Verraont. 



V/ithout attem.pting to abstract the various talks in this 

 issue of Fruit Notes the more important conmients of two of tho 

 talks are here presented. Mr. Hitchings, a pioneer in the sod 

 mulch system of orcharding, Insists that any practice v/hich does 

 not prove profitable in his orchard is promptly abandoned. In 

 recent years he has cut out several sections of his orchard where 

 soil conditions are unfavorable. He has discontinued the use of 

 lim.e sulphur almost entirely in recent years. He grows only as 

 m.any Mcintosh as he can handle efficiently. Northern Spy, Gallia 

 Beauty, and a few other varieties meke up the balance. Several 

 years ago he planted Duchess and Early Mcintosh together, intend- 

 ing to cut the Duchess out. He is still ujiconvinced that the 

 Early Mcintosh is more profitable. He has had excellent results 

 v/ith some of the newer materials as a dorraant spray for bud moth, 

 rosy aphis, etc. Five to 25 years is the most profitable bearing 

 period. New trees are planted with peat moss. The second year 

 they ar given 2 lbs. of nitrate of soda each. The pruning is 

 done the first year with little more until the tree is 8 years 

 of age. He has only ^'^ tree breakage from v;eak crotches. Believes 

 in replacing the orchard after A-0 ye'ars . 



Professor Upshall, speaking on peach growing in Ontario, 

 recomxiended a sandy or sandy loam soil where the clay layer is at 

 least 5 feet belov/ the surface. If peach branches make an angle 

 of less than 30 degrees with the trunk there is almost certain to 

 be breakage. He recomriiends planting trees at least U feet tall. 

 These should be pruned back almost to a vrhip. At least A- main 

 branches should be left and those not wanted should be removed. 

 20 X 20 feet is a good planting distance. There should bo no 

 cultivation after the month of May. Organic matter is important 

 in a peach orchard. V/eeds often make a good cover crop. A peach 

 should be left on the tree until it loses its green ground color. 

 Such fruit is found to ship very v;ell even up to a distance of 

 1000 m.iles, A peach tree is a very heavy feeder and must be 

 treated accordingly. There is a tendency tov/ard lighter pruning. 

 Heavy pruning increases the size of fruit but means poor color and 

 a smctller crop. A grower should have a succession of varieties 

 for a two-month period. This tends to discourage the practice of 

 picking a late varictj^ like Elberta before it is fully mature. 



