WINTER INJURIES TO FRUIT TREES. 



Prof. M. a. BIvAKK, Horticulturist, New Jersey Agricultural Ex- 

 periment Station. 



Mr. President, Members of the Adams County Fruit Growers' 

 Association : Ever since I have been located in New Jersey I have 

 heard a great deal about the good qualities of Adams County, and 

 I certainly agree with all the statements I have heard. I have also 

 heard that this is the real home of the York Imperial apple, and you 

 certainly have some very fine ones on the stage this morning. 



Sometimes we say things that are not presented in such a 

 manner as to mean just what we intended they should, so I have 

 written a paper which I am to present to you this morning on 

 "Winter Injuries to Fruit Trees." 



The winter of 1911-1912 was a most severe one, both from 

 the standpoint of low temperatures, and in the variety and amount 

 of winter injuries to trees and shrubs of all kinds. 



The weather during December, 191 1 was so mild that the fruit 

 buds of the peach made considerable development throughout the 

 eastern peach districts. These conditions were followed by unu- 

 sually low temperatures in January and February, combined with 

 dry cold winds. 



The foilage of such hardy trees as white pine and hemlock 

 suffered marked injury, and California privet was severely killed 

 back in numerous instances. 



Bark splitting and collar injuries were unusually common, es- 

 pecially upon peach trees, although the cherry and the apple re- 

 ceived severe injuries in some instances. 



The sap wood of peach trees was discolored even in the extreme 

 southern end of New Jersey, yet, very little twig killing occurred 

 even in the northern end of that state. 



The warm weather of the early winter followed by extremely 

 low temperatures combined with high, dry and cold winds, account 

 for the severity of the damage done. 



A discussion of the various forms of winter injury to fruit 

 trees would seem to be a matter of considerable interest to fruit 

 growers at this time. 



The various forms of winter injury to fruit trees can be classi- 

 fied as follows : Root injuries, twig and wood injuries, trunk split- 

 ting, bark splitting, collar injury, sun scald and bud killing. 



This is rather an imposing list, yet unfortunately, with the 

 possible exception of root killing, I think that all fruit growers of 

 considerable experience can recall an acquaintance with the entire 

 list at one time or another, 



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