120 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
SUMMER MEETING OF NEW YORK STATE FRUIT 
GROWERS. 
This hustling aggressive society met at Soclus Point on 
August 25th. The secretary, W. L. McKay of Geneva, and 
President T. B. Wilson of Hall’s Corners have for some 
time been actively engaged in preparing for the event. 
In consequence it was well advertised and there was an 
excellent turn out of fruit men from central and western 
New York. Among those present were S. D. Willard, 
Geneva, S. W. Wadhams, Clarkson, * F. E. Dawlev, 
Fayetteville; John W. Spencer, Westfield; S. W. Smith, 
Albion; l)r. Ring, Appleton, B. J. Case, Sodus; Foster 
Udell, Brockport; Jay E. Allis, Medina; J. Clark Allis, and 
many other prominent orchardists from the Lake counties 
bringing them into the fruit region. 
FROST INJURIES . 
The principal subject was the damage by winter to fruit 
trees. This was discussed by Professor Craig, of Cornell 
University, Professor Beach of Geneva Experiment 
Station, and Mr. W. F. Fletcher, a student of the College 
of Agriculture of Cornell University. 
The effects of winter were very perplexing as no one set of 
conditions seemed to bring about the same results. Good 
soil drainage, tillage conducive to perfect maturing of 
wood coupled with airy elevated sites favored a healthy 
growth capable of withstanding low temperatures. 
LEGISLATION. 
This subject was discussed by S. D. Willard, President 
Wilson and Dr. W. H. Jordan. The gist of their remarks 
was that horticulturists and agriculturists should act unitedly 
The important agricultural acts passed by the New York 
legislature last winter indicated the possibilities and the 
power of the farmers when they stood together and worked 
hard for the passage of a special act. 
WINTER KILLING OF FRUIT TREES 1903-4. 
Abstract of paper presented at New York State fruit 
growers meeting August 24, by John Craig, Ithaca, N. Y. 
THE WINTER KILLING IS OF THREE KINDS. 
1. Dying back of tops including destruction of fruit buds. 
2. Injury to stems. 
3. Injury to roots. 
1. Injury of this kind usually occurs when plants are indeterminate in 
their habit of growth—in other words the woods does not ripen, and is 
not in a condition to stand severe cold. It freezes back. Among the 
plants subject to this type of injury are peaches, sweet cherries, 
deutzias, etc. This type of injury is often induced by an excess of 
moisture during the growing season, which forces an abnormal condi¬ 
tion of vegetative activity of the tree late in the season. 
2. Injury to stems. 
a. Bark bursting, this is recognized in the form of suncracks so 
called, which often occur in summer as well as in winter. As a matter 
of fact, the injury is more frequent during warm weather than during 
cold. For example the temperature on the unshaded stem of a fir tree 
on a hot summer day was found to be 131 degrees F. when the ther¬ 
mometer was only 96 degrees in the shade. Four weeks later that side 
of the tree died. 
Thin barked trees suffer most and their injuries are marked by 
numerous cracks of this kind. These cracks often take on quite a 
seriously cankered condition. 
b. Death of cambium is due to hard frost. The cambium dies 
because in the course of the action of the frost too much water is with¬ 
drawn from the cell walls and the cells are affected in the same way as 
if a severe drought was taking place. Injury of this kind is'often 
correlated with abundance of moisture in the stems; in other words 
when the water is abundant it is more easily withdrawn than when it is 
scanty, as in the case of well ripened wood. Many of the peach trees 
in the eastern part of the state did not ripen evenly and well last autumn, 
for some parts of the tree contained an excessive amount of moisture. 
3. Root Killing—This refers to the destruction of the roots of fruit 
trees in winter during periods of unusually low temperature when the 
ground is lightly covered, or not covered at all, by its usual blanket of 
snow. Deep rooted plants are more likely to root-kill than shallow 
rooted ones because the former derive heat from the soil by direct con¬ 
duction. 
Among the shallow rooted types of trees particularly subject to 
root injury are quinces, dwarf pears and mahaleb cherries. 
ACTION OF FROST OF VEGETABLE TISSUE. 
1. Probably every plant has its minimum temperature danger limit. 
These limits differ with different classes of plants. It may be also said 
to differ with individuals within the classes. It is also dependent 
somewhat upon vegetative condition. 
CAUSE OF DEATH OF THE CELL. 
2. The action of severe frost on vegetable tissue results in the with¬ 
drawal of water from the cell walls. The amount is somewhat pro¬ 
portionate to the amount contained in the plant structure, and to the 
severity of the frost. Fruit growers note that Apple and other fruit 
twigs shrink during the periods of very cold winter—when exaporation 
passes a certain point death ensues. In this respect this kind of injury 
is due to loss of water by evaporation. The reason the cell dies appears 
to be due to the fact that it is unable to reabsorb the water. Starch 
paste action of under frost separates from the water. Following the 
death of the cell, oxidation ensues, then decomposition of the tissues. 
It has been noted by travelers and plant students that the limit of 
forest growth in elevated regions is often determined more by evapora¬ 
tion due to excessive cold than by the immediate effect of the low 
temperature,. 
3. Root killing. The periderm of the roots is much thinner than 
that of the bark covering. In Michigan last winter peach trees were 
root killed severely on dry ridges where the snow blew off. These ridges 
it is to be remembered are the recommended and favored sites for 
peach orchards in that state. 
Conditions in New York: Fruit buds in central New York appear to 
have been killed pretty generally when below the 300 foot contourline 
above lake level. In eastern New York the buds were generally safe 
above the 600 foot tide water level. In these sections the greatest 
injury occurred on exposed western slopes below the level referred to, 
but when ever the wind had an unobstructed sweep, freezing back was 
found to creep up above the 600 foot elevation. 
Considerable injury occurred also on plateaus where the soil was wet, 
and where growth consequently continued late in the autumn. Trees 
in sod as a rule suffered less than trees under clean cultivation. 
Pears: These were weakened by Psylla last autumn. The twigs 
were imperfectly stored and the cells died because of evaporation of 
water. This weak growth resulted in an abnormal hardening of the 
bark which in many cases fastened down so tightly to the wood is 
apparently to prevent the upward passage of the food supply. 
Treatment: scrape bark; wash with alkali; cultivate and feed to 
stimulate growth. 
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS. 
Cutting back, when the top is winter killed .is the thing to do. 
When the stem or root is injured, the top should not be cut back the 
first year, because the development of leaves assists in the storing and 
reinvigorating of the roots under these conditions. It is probable that 
the top should be headed back the second year after root growth has 
been in some measure re-established. Root-killing was very prevalent 
in the grape growing sections of central New York. Growers are 
advised to head back all weakened or injured vines securely this 
winter. The vineyards will need the best of cultivation to bring 
them back into good condition. 
Professor W. B. Alwood, for sixteen years, entomologist horticul¬ 
turist, mycologist, vice-director, etc., of the Virginia Agricultural 
College, has resigned to engage in business. Mr. Alwood’s record as 
an investigator is well known and his retirement brings great regret. 
