1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
421 
PEACH TREES THAT SPLIT. 
WHAT CAUSED THE TROUBLE ? 
What causes the trunks of peach trees to crack and split ? 
Some trees have split in the center, that is, half way between the 
branches and the ground, while others split from the branches 
down. These trees seemed to be all right early in April, but as 
soon as the sap began to rise, they commenced splitting. Some 
fruit growers here say that the soil contains an excess of lime or 
other mineral. These trees are four years old this spring, and 
most of them have borne one crop of peaches, and have hereto¬ 
fore done well. The soil is somewhat gravelly, very fertile, and 
the trees have made a strong, healthy growth. The Alexander, 
and Early and Late Crawford are worse affected than the Globe 
and Early Rivers on the same ground. o. w. H. 
Antlers, Colorado. 
May Be Due to Freezing. 
I am not familiar with the conditions in Colorado, 
but if this case were in New York, I should say 
unhesitatingly that the splitting of the peach trees is 
due to the severe winter. Just how the hard freezing 
ruptures the bodies of trees, is a disputed question 
with plant physiologists, but it is well known that 
these cracks follow a hard winter. The only thing to 
be done with such injuries, is to keep the wounded or 
exposed tissues antiseptic, and let Nature heal them 
over. They are kept antiseptic by painting with 
Bordeaux Mixture or paint, or covering with wax. 
L. H. BAILEY. 
A Vigorous Growth Becomes Frozen. 
I have no doubt that they were split by hard freez¬ 
ing. G. W. H. says that the trees made a vigorous 
growth. The wood being porous and full of moisture, 
the hard freezing expanded the wood, and caused it 
to crack. I think that, if G. W. H. had examined the 
trees closely during the winter, he would have dis¬ 
covered the crack then ; and as the trees begin to 
grow in the spring, these cracks will gradually 
widen. Trees with split trunks will send out a 
feathery, unhealthy growth during the summer, and 
will have every indication of the “yellows,” so-called. 
I am inclined to think that, were it not for the hard 
freezing of trees after a warm spell in the winter, 
peach growers would never be troubled with the 
“yellows.” The more vigorous the tree, the more 
liable it is to split or be injured by frost; so if the 
Colorado soil makes too vigorous a growth, stunt it 
by summer pruning. Try a tree by cutting off half 
the growth made about the middle of July. 
EDWIN HOYT. 
Moderate Growth; Low Heads a Preventive. 
I am greatly at a loss to account for the splitting of 
peach trees in this manner. The malady is a common 
one with the sweet or mazzard species of cherries, 
especially at the West, upon the trunks and larger 
branches of high-headed trees. In such case, how¬ 
ever, it invariably occurs in winter, during severe 
paroxysms of cold, and is generally believed to be due 
to the hardening of the bark and young wood from 
exposure to the heat of the sun in summer, and its 
excessive shrinkage during severe cold. Trees with 
heads low enough to shade the trunks, and not too 
rapidly grown, are usually exempt. In the case of 
the peach trees of G. W. II., especially if high branched 
and rapidly grown, the cause may be similar. The 
shrinkage under the bright sun, in the very dry Col¬ 
orado climate, may, perchance, produce a parallel re¬ 
sult in summer, though I have not previously known 
an instance of the kind. If such be the true cause, 
the obvious remedy would be, moderate growth, with 
low heads. t. t. lyon. 
A Mulch Might Help. 
Not knowing all of the peculiar conditions of cli¬ 
mate at Antlers, Col., during the past winter, it is 
quite impossible to tell whether the trees were injured 
by severe and continued cold, or not. This I have 
seen occur several times in Kansas, where the condi¬ 
tions are somewhat like those of Colorado. Protracted 
periods of low temperature, especially in a dry 
climate, often injure tender trees like the peach, and 
because of the evaporation of the water naturally in 
them. During any severe cold spell, the bark on the 
twigs and smaller branches may be seen to be 
shriveled; but as soon as the temperature becomes 
more normal, the sap of the tree, which is said by a 
few careful experimenters not to freeze, soon replen¬ 
ishes the water supply, provided the earth is not so 
hard frozen as to prevent the roots from absorbing it. 
Hence, a mulch of leaves or any trash, or a covering 
of snow that prevents deep freezing of the soil and 
keeps the soil moist, will act beneficially. 
I have often seen peach trees killed or badly dam¬ 
aged, by evaporation to the snow-line, and all sound 
below it. If the wood is of a soft and tough nature 
like the cottonwood and other species of the genus 
Populus, the elm and the box elder, they will with¬ 
stand the unusual shrinkage of their wood from evap¬ 
oration without splitting; but the peach, cherry 
and other trees with firm, yet easy-splitting wood, 
will crack easily. I have seen fruit trees so much 
dried out during long, cold spells on the western 
prairies, that one’s finger could almost be thrust into 
the split places, and which afterward closed up with 
the return of mild weather. 
The trees on G. W. H.’s place may have been cracked 
by one or more cold spells last winter, and closed 
again without having been noticed; but upon the 
coming of hot, dry weather, the cracks again opened. 
We must always remember that cold air is very 
hungry for moisture. If a current of it be added, the 
conditions are made still more trying to trees, and all 
vegetation in their dormant state, and a long continu¬ 
ance of severe cold, windy weather, is almost sure to 
result in damage. This is the main trouble with 
fruit-growing in the Northwest, east of the Rocky 
Mountains. h. e. van deman. 
POTATOES IN FIELD AND MARKET. 
VARIETIES, PACKAGES, MARKETING. 
The season for old potatoes in this market, is now 
practically closed, though they are doing somewhat 
better at the close than for some time back. Still, 
not many are wanted at this time of year. It has been, 
without doubt, so far as financial returns are con¬ 
cerned, the worst for, at least, a score of years. The 
reason of this was, of course, an immense crop that 
far exceeded the demand. Almost none were imported 
except the comparatively small quantities from Ber¬ 
muda and Havana, and these brought excellent prices, 
notwithstanding the large supply and low price of 
domestic stock. The crop was large in almost every 
part of the country. It is not unusual to have a 
large yield in some parts of the country, but there 
is usually a shortage in others, so that things are 
equalized. 
But the trouble was not entirely due to over pro¬ 
duction ; under consumption in some quarters was 
also a factor. In this city, and in many other of the 
great cities, hundreds of families were almost starv¬ 
ing for lack of food, while within a half day’s journey 
by freight, potatoes were selling for 10 cents per 
bushel, and in many parts of the Empire State, would 
not bring enough to pay for hauling to market. Thou¬ 
sands upon thousands of bushels were dumped in the 
fields, or got rid of in the easiest possible manner as 
so much waste. 
Wherein lies the trouble ? It is the same with these 
as with many other food products—imperfect distri¬ 
bution. The railroads absorb too much for carrying 
these products ; their rates are as high when potatoes 
are 10 cents per bushel, as when they are $1—but 
they are always too high. Another thing, the poorer 
classes buy in too small quantities. Many of them 
are forced to this, because they have no facilities for 
storing any great amount of provisions. Potatoes 
could be bought during the past winter at SI or less 
per barrel in this city, and although the retail price 
was somewhat lower than usual, it was still high. 
Perhaps 10 cents for a four-quart measure, would be 
about the average, but at this rate, two or three prices 
are paid. 
The first of the new potatoes to reach here come 
from Bermuda, and arrive generally, at least, about 
the holidays. They bring good prices, sometimes as 
high as 910 per barrel. Then later Havana sends a 
good many which bring about as much as those from 
Bermuda. After these come those from Florida and 
New Orleans at somewhat lower prices. These far 
southern States usually send considerable quantities, 
and are increasing their shipments yearly. As the sea¬ 
son advances, the supplies come from Georgia, the 
Carolinas, then from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and 
New Jersey. Norfolk is now sending a goodly num¬ 
ber. These are mostly packed in barrels. Sometimes 
new potatoes are received here packed in sacks. This 
is a mistake, for until the skin sets sufficiently so 
that it will not be disturbed by bruising, potatoes 
should be shipped in barrels. 
A barrel of potatoes is a variable quantity. When 
sacks are used, they are supposed to hold a barrel 
each, but really hold 165 to 168 pounds. A full barrel 
of potatoes is 180 pounds, and this is the amount taken 
when they are sold in bulk. Sometimes handlers who 
sell by the car-load, have such facilities for handling 
that they can sell in bulk as well as in any other way. 
Varieties are things that the average marketman 
knows little about in anything, and much less about 
potatoes. Not more than a half dozen varieties are 
usually mentioned in market reports. Early Rose is 
always a great favorite, and anything that resembles 
that variety is sold under its name. Beauty of Hebron 
is also well liked, while Burbank is not so much of a 
favorite, and sells for a lower price. It is many years 
after the introduction of a new variety before it will 
be found in market reports, and not one variety in 
1,000 will ever be found there. 
The prospect for the coming crop is, so far, favor¬ 
able to a good yield. So far as reports go, they seem 
to indicate that about the usual area is planted. The 
weather over a large part of the country, though dry 
early in the season, has been favorable to growth, 
and the crop is growing finely. It is possible that 
there may be another crop as large as the last, though 
this is not probable. But large or small, the work 
should be done as cheaply as possible, care should be 
taken in marketing, and the cost be reduced to the 
minimum. Some growers last fall sold a great many 
to private customers early in the season, and secured 
a good price. It may be wisdom to do this this year 
so far as practicable. One would often do better to 
dig and sell the crop before it gets its growth, than 
to let it mature and receive much lower prices. So 
many contingencies may arise that it requires good 
judgment and a thorough knowledge of market con¬ 
ditions to hit the market just right, and then one is 
often likely to miss. 
MONEY IN PARKER EARLE STRAWBERRIES. 
Last year, The R. N.-Y. told how T. C. Kevitt grows 
the Parker Earle strawberry. This variety is a great 
yielder, but it must be fed and watered in order to 
obtain even a fair crop. It sets an enormous number 
of berries, but if the plants are permitted to go 
thirsty, the berries will be mostly small and poor. 
Mr. Kevitt grows the plants in hills entirely. He 
thinks that it is a mistake, even to let Parker Earle 
run in matted rows. Some of his plants cover a space 
nearly 18 inches in diameter, with a perfect fringe 
of fruit all around them. When asked what variety 
he would select next to Parker Earle, Mr. Kevitt said, 
without hesitation, Brandywine. 
Mr. K. will have, this year, not far from 10,000 
quarts of berries for sale, and they were all engaged 
beforehand at 20 cents a quart at retail. People 
often come to the grounds and pay 25 cents a quart. 
These berries are all sold in Passaic, N. J., and the 
way in which this trade has been dev eloped, makes 
an interesting story—too long for this week. We 
shall tell all about it later when we get a picture of 
one of these heavily-mounted Parker Earles. 
Of course it is only now and then that a grower can 
hope to obtain such prices; yet, all over this land, 
there are hundreds of small cities and towns which 
offer chances for some business-like fruit grower to 
develop a fine retail trade. It is going to take time 
and patience to work up such a trade, but Mr. Ke- 
vitt’s success shows what can be done if one will go 
at it in the right way. Mr. K. gives one point about 
the Parker Earle which be says helps its sale. It can 
be hulled easily. There is a high, smooth neck on 
this berry, and it is easy to remove the stem without 
crushing the fruit or digging down into it as is the 
case with some varieties where the calyx hugs close to 
the fruit. “ Customers speak of this,” and that is 
good evidence that they like it. The liability of 
Parker Earle to suffer from drought, has led Mr. 
Kevitt to study up the irrigation question. One of 
his neighbors has solved the water problem at very 
slight expense, and when we obtain a picture of his 
homemade device, we shall tell how it was done. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
A young man connected with Tub R. N.-Y., who is using Booth’s 
“ Hyornei” for catarrh, says that it is the best thing he ever saw. 
We have received from W. W. Clough, Medway, Mass., a couple 
of pamphlets devoted one each to P. Rocks and Wyandotte fowls. 
They comprise the experience and advice of many old breeders of 
the different varieties of these breeds, with hints on matiug and 
breeding them. Either will be sent by Mr. Clough on receipt of 15 
cents. 
Probabi.y no other word in the English language is more 
abused than the little word “best.” Every man is prone to con¬ 
sider his own creature the “best,” and many who know better, 
seem to think that they must make the claim anyway. Of course, 
there can be but one “ best” of anything, and considering the 
varied uses for most things, it is difficult, if not impossible, at 
times, to know which has merit above all the rest. There is no 
question, however, about parchment butter paper. Like other 
things, there is only one “best,” and that is Elliot’s. A. G. Elliot A 
Sons, manufacturers, Philadelphia, Pa., will send samples and 
prices. Don’t let the butter go out without it. 
Are you one of .the fellows who trust to luck, and bewail fate 
when the bugs destroy your fruit and other crops? If you are 
you have, probably, neglected to purchase a spraying outfit. The 
time is now short. This is about the last call ! Don’t neglect it 
any longer ! Don’t hesitate because you don’t know which 
sprayer to buy ! The poorest one you can get is better than none 
at all. Send to the Field Force Pump Co., Lockport, N. Y., and 
you can get anything you want or need in this line. This was 
one of the first houses to make a satisfactory spraying pump, 
and it has kept up with the improvements. If you have a single 
fruit tree, you should have some means of spraying it, and the 
cost will be made good the first year, if properly used. 
Many business houses retain the name of the founder of the 
business after his death, or after the business has passed into 
other hands. The farm machinery business of Mr. Minard 
Harder, proprietor of the Empix-e Agricultural Works at Cobles- 
kill, N. Y., is an exception to this. Mr. Harder has conducted 
and managed the business for over 37 years, and in all this time, 
has kept his Fearless thrashing machines up to, or in fact, a 
little ahead of, the general improvements in thrashing machinery. 
Among the late features of improvement is a new cylinder. From 
personal knowledge of Mr. Harder’s methods and principles, we 
don’t believe it would be possible for an inferior machine to be 
shipped from his factory. He has, in these 37 years, earned a 
reputation for himself and his machines that insures the con 
fidence of customers in all parts of the country. Every one 
should send to Mr. Harder for his finely illustrated and descrip¬ 
tive catalogue, which is sent free, and become familiar with the 
merits of the Fearless machines. 
