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Minor winter injuries to the twigs and wood of fruit trees 

 sometimes occur, which have the effect of a slight check to the vege- 

 tative growth of the tree. This may not be apparent in the color 

 of the foliage, but is shown in the slight forcing effect on the fruit. 

 Sometimes the fruit upon certain twigs of a tree will be forced to a 

 large size, while others will be below normal in size and may even 

 fail to ripen. Even very large and very small fruits may occur on 

 the same twig in cases of minor winter injuries to the wood. 



What methods of orchard practice can now be followed to 

 prevent or lessen the various winter injuries to fruit trees? 



All forms of winter injury are most severe upon low and poorly 

 drained land. 



Peaches especially should be set upon elevated sites in all sec- 

 tions not influenced by large bodies of water. There were prac- 

 tically no peaches in Connecticut or northern New Jersey the past 

 season below 600 feet elevation, while there were good to full 

 crops upon standard varieties at 600 to 900 feet elevation. 



The state experiment orchard at High Bridge had the best crop 

 in its existence, while the peach section of Annandale and Lebanon 

 produced but little fruit. The orchard at High Bridge is at an ele- 

 vation of 650 to 700 feet, while most of the orchards about Lebanon 

 do not exceed an elevation of 400 to 500 feet, and many are not 

 above 200 to 300 feet. The past season clearly demonstrated the im- 

 portance of proper elevation. 



Very dry soils may be listed with poorly drained soils as a thing 

 to be avoided. 



Hardy varieties of fruit should be given first consideration. 



Vigorous and well-grown stock should be purchased. Any 

 weakness of the tree itself makes it more susceptible to winter in- 

 juries. 



Thorough cultivation and proper fertilization during the grow- 

 ing season is essential to promote vigor. Trees weakened by neglect 

 are more susceptible to winter injuries. 



A good thick cover crop in the orchard retains moisture, pre- 

 vents deep freezing and may lessen or prevent root injuries. 



Much collar injury may be prevented by mounding the soil up 

 about the trunks of the trees just before freezing weather in early 

 winter. This applies especially to peach trees. 



Apple trees which have a portion of the bark killed at the col- 

 lar line should receive prompt treatment. The injured bark should 

 be cut away and the wound coated with a good fungicide such as 

 Bordeaux Mixture. Fungi which cause decay of the bark occur 

 generally in the soil and will quickly attack injured bark, while if 

 the injured part is removed and a fungicide applied the development 

 of the rot and further injury to the tree may be prevented. 



If the injury is serious annual treatment of the wound is 

 recommended, and a mound of soil should be made about the trunk 

 every year just before winter. 



