THE RURAL-NEW-YORKER’! 
March 4 
160 
MICHIGAN PEACHES ANNIHILATED. 
A FEW LESSONS FROM THE GREAT FREEZE. 
Fruit Belt Wiped Out —The famous 
fruit belt of western Michigan—a nar¬ 
row strip of land about five miles wide, 
extending along the shore of the lake 
from St. Joseph to north of Grand Haven 
—has been lately visited by a series of 
zero records. The exemption of this 
strip of land from severe weather had 
become noted everywhere; when the 
temperature, in other years, fell to 15 or 
20 below zero across the lake—or farther 
inland—the thermometer here seldom 
reached zero. Peaches had been a sure 
crop, in greater or less degree, for many 
years, and the industry had reached 
enormous dimensions. Last season buy¬ 
ers from points in the Far East, West, 
and North, flocked to South Haven, and 
loaded refrigerator cars as fast as they 
could be filled and dispatched. Day after 
day, and night after night, the boats 
left this port loaded down to the guards; 
and often, a string of wagons an eighth 
of a mile long waited their turn to un¬ 
load at the warehouse. The basket fac¬ 
tory worked day and night to keep up 
with orders, and every one was busy and 
content. Money poured into the country 
year after year—sometimes more, some¬ 
times less—but there was always a fair 
amount for the hard-working, intelligent 
grower, and the hard times felt in other 
sections of the country occasionally, 
were never noticed here. People had to 
have peaches—and we had the peaches ! 
Jack Frost’s Share. —Now all is 
changed. For three nights—February 
10 , 11 and 12—the mercury fell to 20 de¬ 
grees below zero; and, in a few other 
localities in the fruit belt, even lower. 
Everything froze—cellars and chickens, 
peaches and potatoes, house plants and 
household hopes. Blossom buds from 
such hardy varieties of peaches as Hale’s 
Early,Golden Drop, Smock,etc.,have been 
carefully thawed out and examined by 
experts, and not a single live bud found! 
The invincible Hill’s Chili makes but 
a trifle better showing, and even this 
trifle is rather doubtful. 
The wood of bearing trees does not 
appear damaged in the vicinity of South 
Haven, though farther north or farther 
inland, there are reports of trees killed 
outright. Bank-growing young trees 
ljave, no doubt, suffered more or lets 
everywhere. Small fruits, pears, plums, 
apples, etc., are not considered to be 
badly injured, though time will tell the 
story with more certainty. Strawber¬ 
ries are safe under the snow. But the 
loss on peaches alone, throughout the 
fruit region, is at least $1,000,000; the 
burden falls upon thousands of small 
farmers with only 5, 10. or 20 acres, 
tiny farms being the rule here. There 
cannot help being more or less suffering 
and hardship after such an unexpected 
calamity, for it means a long wait of a 
year and a half before a peach crop is 
possible, a long, long time to those with¬ 
out other crops or resources. 
Diversify Crops. — The great vital 
lesson to be learned from all this, is the 
one already learned by the orange grow¬ 
ers of Florida, the cotton raisers through¬ 
out the South, and the wheat producers 
of the Northwest—the lesson of diver¬ 
sified farming; the art of dividing 
eggs among several baskets. Of course, 
many growers here, as elsewhere, have 
had sense enough to do this, anyway. 
Such prudent ones don't need lessons, 
but most of us do. The farmer who 
has planted a variety of fruit — from 
strawberries to apples—is always “in 
it ” on something. But there are many 
who believe in bearing down exclusively 
on some one specialty, and depending 
upon it to pay off the mortgage, clothe 
and feed the family, and even feed the 
cow and horse; for with only a few 
acres, one is not likely to raise much 
more than the particular golden specialty 
in question. 
The second lesson taught by the great 
freeze is the folly of trusting implicitly 
in the infallibility of any one section of 
country. It may behave itself for years, 
and so lull one into a false feeling of 
security ; but sooner or later, the unex¬ 
pected happens, and he is left flat on his 
back. 
The third lesson is the uselessness of 
local conditions or surroundings in an 
unusually severe general Winter freeze— 
I mean the effect of comparative height, 
etc. This year found orchards on high 
ground and in favored spots—supposed 
to be practically frost-proof—faring no 
better than those less favorably situated. 
Of course, in a frost, or an ordinary 
freeze, the result would have been quite 
different. 
Lesson No. 4 : There is no absolutely 
“ frost-proof ” peach. 
WALTER E. ANDREWS. 
Van Buren County, Mich. 
SCRAPING APPLE TREES. 
DOES IT PAY ? 
Is there any real advantage in scraping the 
bark off old apple trees ? If so, wherein is the 
value ? Is not the whole practice against Nature? 
If deemed advantageous, at what time of the year 
should it be done, and with what sort of an instru¬ 
ment? Is there any danger of scraping too 
deeply? If so, what is a safe rule? 
The Value Dourtful.— I have done it 
and have seen many others do it, but 
any little good that might have come 
from it was mostly in the imagination. 
It is doubtful whether the destruction of 
a few harmful insects is worth the 
trouble it takes and the probable dam¬ 
age. That the bark was put there by 
Nature for a purpose, is true, and un¬ 
less it is of real disadvantage under 
cultural treatment, it seems sensible to 
infer that it should be left on. It does 
surely prevent, in some measure, the 
rapid change of temperature in the trunk 
during violent changes of weather, either 
hot or cold. The direct rays of the sun 
are, also, warded off. It has been found 
that artificial protectors placed about 
the trunk, such as grass, corn stalks or 
laths are a decided benefit. A board 
tacked on the south side is an advantage. 
Scraping off the bark also necessitates 
the destruction of the eggs and chrysa¬ 
lids of some beneficial insects, such as 
the egg masses of the mantis, which I 
believe fully offsets the destruction of 
harmful insects. h. e. van dkman. 
Prof. Bailey’s Opinion. — If apple 
trees have been well tilled, sprayed and 
otherwise well cared for from the be¬ 
ginning, I believe it is unnecessary to 
scrape them. It is often advisable, how¬ 
ever, to scrape neglected trees. Scrap¬ 
ing has two chief uses : It destroys the 
harboring places of insects and fungi, 
and also tends to loosen the bark on 
hidebound trees. Trees which are grow¬ 
ing vigorously will ordinarily shed their 
bark and keep comparatively smooth, and 
thorough spraying will destroy the in¬ 
sects and fungi. In scraping trees,I should 
simply take off the loose and shaggy bark, 
not paring down to the quick. A verj 
good tool for this purpose is the imple- 
mf nt which is used by merchants to scrape 
the ink off drygoods boxes, and which is 
called a box-scraper. It is a three-cor¬ 
nered piece of steel, secured by its mid¬ 
dle to a short handle. An old hoe blade, 
which is worn down smooth and thin 
and has the handle cut off to about two 
feet in length, and held loosely in tht 
hand, is also a good implement for this 
purpose. L. H. BAILEY. 
A bill has been introduced at Albany which 
provides that oaths in court may be administered 
by permitting the witness to place his hand upon 
the Bible so that he need not kiss it. The reason 
given is that the ordinary leather cover of the 
Bible is a favorite breeding place for germs. A 
judge in this city adopts a more practical plan 
by having a Bible bound with a blue celluloid 
cover, which is washed off after each use, and 
thus rendered free from germs. 
The chief adulteration of tea seems to be the 
mixture of what is known as exhausted leaves. 
The tea leaves from restaurants, hotels, etc. are 
dried, colored by the use of Prussian blue and 
indigo, and mixed with the fresh leaves. It is 
said, too, that the Chinese occasionally employ 
ash and Dog rose leaves as adulterants, but such 
adulterations are rare. 
SEEDS, ROSES,PLANTS, Etc. 
'advertise themselves. The best always 
cheapest. Can supply all your wants from 
____Jh Flower and Vegetable Seeds to Street Trees at 
- rates. Try us, our stock and prices will 
please you. Have hundreds of car-loads of FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES. SHRUBS. 
ROSES, PLANTS, ETC. Correspondence solicited, catalogue and price list free. 
THE STORRS & HARRISON CO., Box449 Painesville, O. 
A First Rate Catalogue 
of fruits large and small, forest and ornamental trees, roses, etc. Our new specialty, 
the October Purple Plum, is acknowledged the finest of all Japan varieties—color-plate 
picture of it, pretty enough to frame, with 64 -page catalogue, free. Write to-day. 
Established 48 years. STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS, Box 10 New Canaan, Conn. 
^^Risfger Fruit (Vopsgga= 
and better fruit will repay the grower who plants Black’s trees. Every 
tree we sell is selected from the very healthiest, most vigorous stock, 
1 and is free from scale. Certificate of inspection sent with each order. 
! The finest stock of Pencil Trees it is possible to grow—the Mercer 
Cherry, the Japan Chestnut, and Japan Walnut, are all de- 
I scribed in our handsome, illustrated, 1S99 Catalog. Everyone who 
[raises fruit, nuts or berries should write for a copy— mailed free. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., HIGHTSTOWN, N. J. 
and especially Fruit Trees, should be grown with a 
view to Long Life and Fruitfulness, such are made 
Constitutionally Strong by guarding the Parentage 
in Propagation. Men of thought know this to he 
FACT, not theory. If you want proof, write us. Many 
>f our customers after trial increase their orders. A trial order will make a. lifetime customer of 
rou. We promise onlv best values. Among the new but weU-tested FRUITS we are offering the 
lapncrnir A 11 Dl A Plf DCDDY We also offer a whole Peach Orchard 
RnERSbKeAU BL-A-wIvO trCIX I ■ for #5, and many other things that will 
nterest vou. Free catalogue if this paper is named. Cash Premiums with Choice Seed Potato®*. 
ESTABLISHED 184 7. 
mu rv a. Art 
Every tree, plant or vine bought at Reid’s Is well* 
rooted, vigorous, and true to name. Every care ill 
taken in growing to insure absolute certainty to the' 
buyer. Save one-half on anything you need In ths 
nursery line, by buying at Reid’s. 
We’ll help you to choose by sending complete catalog, • 
mates, or any Information you may ask for, free. 
REID’S NURSERIES, BRIDGEPORT, OHIO. 
A CHANCE 
Some years ago P. T. Barnum said "The American people like to te humbugged,” but it’s different 
now and every man wants the worth of bis money when he buys. If you are tired of being humbug¬ 
ged by tree agents and novelty pushers, and would like to find a catalogue that tells the truth, you 
will be interested in our new 80 page book Orchard Improvement. Better see it before you 
buy. No novelties, uo fake wholesale (?) prices, but business trees for business farmers, honest 
trees at honest prices.^ QflNSVILLE, HEW YORK. 
S3^h Xrppe Yes, 100,000 to Sell 
V? da V> II II W V? 9 THIS SPRING. 
Tbpv arc good stock— all new and standard sorts. Price low. No elinrge for boxing. Free catalogue. 
Fulf line St nursery stock. ARTHUR J.COLLINS, Mr " ” ----- 
ioorestown, Burlington Co., N. J. 
EVERGREENS 
100, 6 to 8 In. $1; 18 to 18 tn. $8.50. 
100, 8 ft. $10 prepaid. 100, 4 to « ft. 
" varieties, $15. 45choice Fruit trees, 20 
varieties, $10. Ornamental A- Fruit 
Trees. Catalogue and prices of 50 
great bargain lots SENT FREE. 
£3T Good Local Agents Wanted. 
HELL, Specialist, Dundee, III. 
We Burn 
all inferior plants and trees — the kind some 
offer at low prices, but not cheap. We send 
out nothing but A 1 stock, and we have 
everything any fruit grower can need. No 
“ extras ” for packiqg. Catalogtie free. 
T. J. DWYER & SON, Box 1 Cornwall, N. Y. 
CHINQUAPIN. 
NUTandTnrrO 
FRUIT Intto 
300 ACRES—61 YEARS 
Superior stock of all desirable 
varieties of Chestnnts, Walnuts, 
Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums: 
shadeand ornamental trees ;small 
fruit plants, etc. Catalogue free. 
PARRIS’ POMONA NURSERIES 
Parry, New Jersey. 
“SUGAR” Prune, 
“CLIMAX” Plum, 
THE TWO 
RECORD BREAKERS. 
Other grand new Creations in Fruit and Flowers. 
1869 Catalogue free. 
LUTHER BURBANK, Santa Rosa, Gal. 
The President 
Wilder Currant 
heads the list as a producer and 
a money-maker. Plant no other. 
Prices given on application. 
S. D. WILLARD, Geneva, N. Y. 
giS TREES 
800 vurletU-K.Aiso Grapes,8mall Fruittgetc. Best root- 
sd stock. Genuine, cheap. 2 sample currants mailed for 
lOe. Deso. price-list free. LEWIS KOKSCli, Fredooia, N. Y. 
THE READING NURSERY 
and its illustrated catalogue, to be appreciated, 
should be patronized. Price-List Free. 
JACOB W. MANNING, Prop., Reading, Mass 
BIG EARLY PEACHES 
are Waddell and Carman. Free catalogue. List of 
big sweet chestnuts, Japanese plums, big berries, 
asparagus roots, etc., cheap. 
J. II. 1IALE, South Glastonbury, Conn. 
The New Frost-Proof PEACH 
IRON MOUNTAINkvkS^ k h s E k E 
PEACH, PEAK, PLlTSl, APPLE Trees. New Fruits 
and Berries—Specialties. Lowest prices. Catalogue 
free. J. H. LINDSLEY, White House, N. J. 
TREES. 
BISMARCK Apple, October Cherry and Japan 
Plums very cheap. Catalogue free. 
C. F. MacNair & Co., Dansville, N. Y. 
