Bulletin No. 39. November, 1891. Agricultural Experiment Station -OF THE- AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE, AUBURN, ALABAMA. APPLES, PEARS, PEACHES AND PLUMS. BY J'. S. NSW.MAN.. The Bulletins of this Station will be sent free to any citizen of the State on application to the Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn) Ala, THE B~ROWN PRINTING CO., PRINTERS, MONTGOMERY, ALA. APPLES. In March, 1885, forty-five varieties of apples were planted, two trees of a kind, for the purpose of determining their adaptation to this soil and climate and to observe their tibility to or exemption from disease. Observations have been made from time to time since 1886, the results of which are tabulated in condensed form for reference. It will be seen that the susceptibility of the same variety to disease varies in different seasons. Of the list planted, the following have made the most satisfactory growth, viz: Winesap, Limber Twig, Horn, Simmons' Red, Astrachan Red, Elgin Pippin, Ben Davis, Carter's Blue and Kittageskee. The following have done well bnt have not made so satisfactory growth as the list just named, viz: American Golden Russet, Cannon Pearmain, Early Harvest, Hewes' Virginia, Rawls' Jennet, Stevenson's Winter, Thornton Seedling and Rornanite. One of each of the following varieties has died, but the remaining one is very thrifty: Carolina Watson, Chattahoochee greening, Hiley's Eureka, Tuscaloosa seedling, Yellow English and Yopp's Favorite. pronounced failures on this soil, viz: The following B~uncombe, Equinetelee, Family, Laurens Greening, May, Q onee Greening, Palmer, Pryor's IRed and Rhodes' Orange. The remaining list are not failures, but have not done well. Nineteen varieties bore fruit this year, ripening as follows : suscep- are NAE AEO ARNT. Date of ... NAM~E of' VARIETY. Date of Ripening. RLT.Ripening Astrachan Oct. 8th. Simmons' Red ........ Carter's Blue........ Aug. 25th. Stevenson's Winter...Oct. 15th. Oct. 15th. June 5th. Shockley ............ Early Harvest ....... Ben Davis.......... Red. June 1st. Romanite............. Oct. 8th. Aug. 18th. Horn............. Horse.......July Red Oct. 1st. Taunton ............ 20th. Tuscaloosa Oct . 8th. Terry's Hughes' Virginia .. Oct. 1st. Winesap.... ....... Kittageskee .......... Liinbertwig.......c. 8th.' Yellow English. Seedling. ... Winter........ ...... Oct . 1st. Oct. 1st. Nov 1st. Oct. 8th. Oct. 1st. .. .. June....July 15th............ .......... 4 Neither the soil nor climate of this section is favorable for growing apples, and hence it is especially important to select proper varieties. Most of the varieties which have proved successful here are Southern seedlings. Indeed all of the late ripening winter varieties are natives of the South and must of necessity be so, since those brought from the North will ripen a month earlier here than there. The list of successful varieties given above affords ample field for selection to furnish a family supply throughout the entire year. Apples need a fertile soil, annually manured and thoroughly cultivated in such manner as to leave the principal roots undisturbed. Small grain should not be sown in an orchard, since it makes its heaviest demands upon the soil -just as the crop of fruit is being set and the trees need the exclusive occupancy of the soil. VARIETIES OF APPLES PLANTED IN MARCH 1885.-SOIL 1859 SANDY. NORTHERN EXPOSURE. 1886 NAMES OF VARIETIES. C 1890 May 31. Blight. June 18. June 18 1891 Blight,. I May 8th. Cedar Rust Blight Cedar Rust. Leaf Spot. badly .. slight.. slight.. slight ... slight .... slight ... slight.. slight badly .. light..badly. light.. free ........ badly.. badly...free badly.. .. slight.. slight ... slight.. slight ... slight ... badly ..... badly. slight. slight .... 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 American Golden Russet................ Astrakan Red.free. Ben Davis..............:.............. free Bradford's Best........................medium... Buncombe.............................medium. slight Cannon Pearmain ...................... Carolina Watson....... ................ slight...... Carter's Blue..........................medium Chattahoochee Greening................slight. Seedling........................slight. Early Harvest.........................free. Early Red Margaret....................plight Elgin Rippin..........................free. Cook's Equinetele............................. slight .. 2 Family.................... 2 Golden Pippin .......................... .......... medium.. badly ... free 2 Habersham Late ....................... ... 2 [lames'.............................. 2Hewes' Virginia................... ..... 2' Hiley's Eureka.......................... 2 Horn 2 Horse . . .................. _................................. medium.. tfree .. medium.. medium ..... badly .free. slight........free..........ree . free.........slight........free. medium . badly ... slight. slight........very slight... free free.........very slight ... sight. tree.........slight........free. free. ........ slight ........ slight.. badly......badly........free. free ......... slight........light. free.........slight........free. free..........badly .free. slight........ very slight. . slight .... badly........ badly cut back slight .. slight ... very slight. slight . medium...b'dly. Cut b'ck slight . free.........slight.........ee. free.........badly........slight medium badly... very slight free. slight ... badly free... I free, 1 dead very slight badly badly l b'dly,lde'd slight. 1 free, I d'ad slight veiy slight slight. slight .. slight .. slight .. badly. slight free'......... badly ........ free ......... free ...... slight.........ee ... medium.. . badly ..... ... badly ........ medium ... badly ....... tree ......... badly ........ badly .. badly . slight .. 2Junaluskee............................ 2 Kittageskee .................... 2 Limbertwig............................. 2 May.................................. free .... medium slight .. hadly ........ fre.. slight .. free ... very slight... free ... slight .t very . slight ld'd,1 sl'ghit VARIETIES OF APPLES PLANTED IN MARCH 1885--SOIL SANDY. 1886 NAMES OF VARIETIEs. Cedar Rust Blight. 2 Uconee Greening. .......... .. .. medium. free......... P 1'almer or Pear........................slight.. free........ 2 Pryoi's Red...........................badly.. slight. Rawls' Jennet.........................free........free....... 2 Rced June.................. 2 Rhodes' Orange.................... slight.. medium. 2 Romanite....... ................. slight.. medium... 2 Shannon Pippin....... ..... tree........free........ 2Shockley .................. badly ... free ......... 2Simmons' Red ..... _ free ........ tree ......... Stevenson's Winter...................... medium... 2 Summer Queen............. ............ free........ free.... ... . l aunton .............................. slight ... medium ... 2 Terry's Winter ......................... slight ... slight ... 2 Thornton's Seedling...... .. ................ ........... 2Tuscal ~osa Seedling ....... .... slight... slight.... 2 Winesap ......................... fre....free......... 2Yellow English...................... free........ free......... Yopp's Favorite ............ free....free ... ... .. 1889~ May 8th. NORTHERN EXPOSURE-CONTINUED. 1890 May 31. Blight. June 18. Cedar Rust June 18. Leaf Spot badly. slight. light..slight slight ......... 1891 Blight. badly very slight ... slight . 2 very slight .. free. hadlycut back........... slight........badly. free.........free. . . .. 2 ............ 2 medium..,. badly ........ badly .. badly ..... ... slight . slight.......slight. badly. . ... slight .. very slight..,slight. badly........free. badly ........ free ... badly . free. .. t b'dly, lc't b'L slight . free ... tree .. very slight., slight . . slight. very badly badly..... badly. -light.slight. .... aly bdybadly slight ..... very slight. free.. free slight .. .. slight .. 1 ('d.l slight slight . slight . slight .. slight....badly.. slight ... free .. very slight, slight.. tree... slight ... slight ..... lb'lyl slight IV--~L' u . 't b'k free ... slight . badly . slight .. slight . VARIETIES OF APPLES PLANTED IN' MARCH 1885 -SOIL SANDY. _______ NORTHERN EXPOSURE.-CONTINUED. l 1891-October 20th. NAMES OF VARIETIES. z CI Cedar Rust I . Leaf Spot badly very slight . slight .. badly.. slight .. badly.. badly .. badly .. hadly.. slight .. slight . badly.. badly .. badly .. slight .. slight . slight .. badly.. slight . slight . slight . slight . slight .. badly.. I Growth of Tree. __________ - Size of Tree. - (Shape of Tree. I - Remarks. I - 2 Ben Davis.............. free ... 2 Bradford's Best .................. free 2 Buncombe ......................... free. Cannon Pearmain....................free 2 Carolina Watson. ........ free. 21 Carter's Blue.. ................. slight 2' ('hattahoochee Greening .... .. free 2 Cook's Seedling.....................free 2 Early Harvest.. .. ....... . 2 Early Red Margaret.................free. 2 Elgin Pppin........................free. 2 Equinetelee.......................... free . 2 Family ......... ................... free 2 Golden Pippin........................t ree . 2 American Golden Russet..............free 2 Astrakan Red ........ free. ree. vigorous very vigorous. vigorous not vigorous not vigorous vigo ous... very vigorous very vigorous not vigorous. not vigorous. vigorous . not vigorous very vigorous cut large. large .. small .. small .. medium... large.. large.. medium.... small.. large .... medium.. . 2 Habbersham 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Fames'.. ............ .. ... Hewes' Virginia ...................... Hiley's Eureka ..................... Late. . ................. ....... "..................... .................... free . "., Horn ....... Horse ............................... Junaluskee .. free .. free .""". free .. badly .. free.. ........ not vigorous. vigorous not vigorous not vigorous.. vigorous .. vigorous.. vigorous.. vigorous.... back. medium... large..... very small medium.. small.. large.. large ..... medium medium.. . Erect. Curved erect Curved erect Curved erect Planted took Erect. near shade Curved erect trees. Curved erect Erect., Erect. ( Planted too Erect.. near shade Curved erect trees. Erect. Curved erect Curved erect. Erect. Curved erect Erect. Erect ..... . Cut back . Curved erect. Curved erect Horizontal. Erect. 1 Kittageskee Limbertwig ..................... .... fre fre.......... free. vigorous May................................. free.. ..... medium... . Drooping. large.. vigorous .. Drooping. .not vigorous.. small ... Curved erect. VARIETIES OF APPLES PLANTED IN MARCH 1885-SOIL SANDY. ro P 0 NORTHERN EXPOSURE.-CONTINUED. II N I1891-October Cedar ~20th. I- NAMES OF VARIETIES. Rust. Leaf Spot. Growth of tree Size of Tree. Shape of Tree badly... badly.. not vigorous.. vigorous Remarks. 2 Oconee Greening.................. 2 Palmer or Pear .................... 2 Pryor's Red 2 Rawls' Jennet. .......... free ..... free .... free . slight... slight .... badly .. not small . . 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Red June ......................... Rhodes Orange ..................... free . very badly Romanite ........................ badly .slight. Shannon Pippin......... ........... free ... badly. Shockley :.................. . badly .. badly ... Simmons' Red....................... free .. badly Stevenson's ...... ............ free slight.. Summer Queen............ ......... free ... badly.. small.. not vigorous. . small vigorous .... large .. not vigorous. .. Erect Erect. Erect CJurved erect ......... ...... Winter. 2 Taunton ............. Terry's Winter.. ..................... [horuton's Seedling................... Tuscaloosa Seedling................... Winesap................. Yellow* English....................... Yopp's Favorite .................... . ,,--- free.. slight badly free ... free ... free.,... free ... free ... badly . free.... badly ... slight... badly. badly small ... Horizontal. medium .. Horizontal vigorous.. medium ... Curved. erect. vigorous medium .. Erect large. Curved erect vigorous ... vigorous..... medium .. Curved erect vigorous. medium .Horizontal. (Plantedto)C small Curved erect near shad medium. Curved erect vigorous . trees. .... Curved erect Planted 1889. not vigorous.. small ... Curved erect. large...Curved erect. vigorous .. large..... Curved erect vigorous .... vigorous.. medium .. Erect. vigorous .... 9 PEARS. In 1885 thirty-four varieties of pears of the European type and six of the Oriental were planted under very favorable auspices as to the preparation and fertilization of the soil. If the varieties were cultivated both as dwarfs and standards; two of each were planted, or four of the variety. If proga. gated only as dwarfs or only as standards, then but two of the variety were planted. There were at the same time six varieties of the Oriental type planted, six Lecontes and two of each of the others. The object of these plantings was to ascertain the varieties best suited to this soil and climate. Until 1888, when many of the varieties blossomed for the first time, the trees were models of symmetry and beauty, having been used for class instruction in pruning. The open flowers afforded means of access to the germs of the disease known as "Pear blight," and the work of destruction was commenced. Each successive summer claimed its victims, until now only 26 of the 99 trees of the European type re main, and some of these have been mutilated by the removal of blighted limbs. To what extent the disease was transmitted from tree to tree through the agency of the pruning shears, cannot be estimated, but it is more than probable that the spread and intensity of the disease was increased by this means. The fact that healthy trees may be inoculated by the germs adhering to the knife, used in pruning diseased ones, has been clearly demonstrated at the New York Experiment Station.That the spores are wafted from diseased to healthy trees and carried by insects from flower to flower seems to be also well established. One Smith's hybrid and one large Duchess of the Oriental varieties have been destroyed by blight, while the other specimens of these varieties have been entirely exempt. The two which died stood near the diseased trees of the European type, while the exempt trees were more remote from them. The importance of promptly removing all diseased branches, by cutting far enough below the blighted part to be sure of leaving only healthy tissue, cannot be too strongly urged. 10 The branches should not only be cut off, but should be burned as soon as removed. The diseased branches, if left, become fruitful nurseries from which the spores of the blight are wafted in the air and become the means of spreading the disease. The pruning shears should be disinfected after being used upon blighted trees before using them upon healthy ones. The column, in the tabulated statement, showing the number of trees of the different varieties living in 1891-six years after planting-indicates with sufficient clearness which of the varieties named are worthy of cultivation. Of these the Duchess de Angouleme, Seckel and winter Nelis are conspicuously the most blight-resisting varieties. Of the Oriental varieties the Keiffer and Leconte are the most valuable. The Keiffer commences to bear at four years from planting, and bears annual crops of very large pears, which ripen late in September, when fruit is scarce. Though the fruit grades only "good," its reliability as to healthfulness of the trees and the size of the fruit render it especially desirable. Another feature in its favor is the fact that it is late in flowering, and hence escapes spring frosts which destroy the fruit on the Leconte and others. The Leconte is a more vigorous grower than the Keiffer and when it escapes frost bears an immense crop of very attractive fruit, which sells well, though grading only "good." The principal objection to this variety is its habit of very early blooming, which renders it quite unreliable as a crop producer. The other Oriental varieties have nothing to recommend them except their vigorous growth and handsome appearance. The tabulated statement which follows is a record of death, but a valuable guide to the pear grower. . .. .. :. ... VARIETIES OF PEARS, PLANTED EUROPEAN TYPE. Observations May z NAMES OF VARIETIES. 8. 18(. 2 MARCH, Observations 189. 1885. . Observations Oct. 15. ±u ay 31. Blight, Bartlett.................... Buerre d'Anjou.............. B'Clairgea........... No trees died. Blight, badly ... slight. 3 badly ... badly..... badly ... badly... _. badly .. I free, 1 slight badly... 2 slight, 2 free free........ tree........ free Oct. 18. N o trees died. June. Blight. badly ... 1891. j189. Oct. 20. t otal Total trees Notrees No. trees dead. living. dicd. 1891. No 2 free, 2 badly 1free, 3 badly free..:. badly ... free.......... B'Ciiffard..................... free ......... badly. . GlouMorceau ................. free ......... [lowell........... badly.. Kirtland Seckel ......... free ......... Lawrence ................... free... ...... Lawson ...................... free Louise Bonne d'Jersey........ tree ... Lucy Duke.... ,...........*' ... .... . tree........ Mt. Vernon ............... B'Deil....................... B'Easter.................. Belle Lucrative............... Bloodgood.................. Brandywine................... B' Superfin. ................ Buffum...................... Comet...................... Favorite.............. Columbia.................... Dearborn's Seedling.......... Doyenne d'Ete....... ........ Duchess d'Angouleme......:. . Duchess Pittmason ............. Flemish Beauty................. Clapp's 2 free, 2 badly free ..... .... [ free, 3 badly 2 free, 2 badly free .. .. . . 1free, 2 badly 3 free, 1 badly free......... free......... free ......... free. .... 2. ...... slight.. .. Il...... rb....... 1 1 free........ Ve4ight. free..... ... ht 2 freee 2hadly ..2 badly free, .. 2 2 2 1 2 .ree.......... ......... 3 badl1 badlg2 2 ..ee........ r free. ......... free r...... r.. free........ free. ....... 2 free, 2 slight I free, 2 badl 1 4 2 4 4 2 4 2 2 1 2 1 2 dwarf 2 1' 2 1 slight . badly . t free, 1 badly ree .. badly . I free, 1 badlN slight .... 1, free 2 badly ... 1 S3 I st'd'rd I 2 . sliI VARIETIES OF PEARS, PLANTED MARCH, EUROPEAN TYPE. S 1 1885-*CONTINUED. I1690. died. NAMES OF VARIEJTIES. lr~ I Observations 1889. May 6. Oct. 15. No trees Blight, died. I Observations May 31. Blight. - Oct. 18. No trees I-..1 1891. Observations 1891. 16391. Total June. Oct. 20. 1otal No trees No. trees Notrees Blight, died. dead. living. I 311 y -.- 3 Petite Marguerite.......... 4 4 4 4 1 99 Seckel.............. ........ free Sterling. ................... 3 free, badly 'st. Michael Arch Angel .. .... 3 free, 1 badly ) Tyson..... .............. :...free ....... White Doyenne .............. tree .. . . I free,. 2 badly 1- I 2 21 light 3 free, 1 slight free, 2 slight free, 1 slight badly, 2 sl'ht slight . 2 1 2 Winter Nelis................ ORIENTAL TYPE. Slight... 21 I2 2 ... badly slight ... 3 free, 1 badly 2 free', 1 badly free........ slight .. free........ free........ 1 2 I 1 2 2 1 3 2 I 2 2 1 47 2 free................ free 1 free, 1 badly. free. . 1 free, 1 badly. 5 tree......... tree free 73 2 2 26 2 Chinese Sand .............. free........ . ...... ........ d . 2 Garber's Hybrid........ ..... . free .... free ......... 2 Keiffer's Large Duchess............. free ........ 6 Leconte .. . free....... 2 I Hybrid.. ............ . free *1Partly blighted. tiKilled by rabbits in1889. ........ ......... Smith's .. tree......... free Ill Planted 1889. §2 Partly blighted. IIKilled 1 by freeze March, 1890. 1 .1. 2 1 6 13 PEACHES. The following list of 37 varieties, two trees of each were planted in 1885. A careful examination, made November 1st, of each tree develops the fact that all are in vigorous, healthy condition. There are only four, out of seventy-four planted, missing, and two of these died when transplanted. For convenience of reference the names, class and time of ripening are tabulated. This, taken in connection with the description of varieties given in Bulletin No. 11, February, 1890, will furnish a convenient guide to those contemplating planting an orchard. The list furnishes varieties which will give a succession of delicious fruit from June 1st to November 1st. 14 NAMES, CLASS AND TIME OF RIPENING OF 37 VARIETIES OF PEACHES. U, NAMEs OF VARIETIES. CLASS. TIME OF RIPENING. z 2 Alexander 2 Annie Wylie........... 2 Bernard_... .... 2 Bustian's October....... 2 Butler Cling........... 2 Chinese Cling.......... 2 Chinese Free.......... 2 Coggin's Early......... 2 Columbia 2 Connor's White........ 2 2 2 .2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Semi-cling.. June 6th to 25th. Aug. 1st to 12th. Cling ....... Free........July 6th to 22nd. Cling.......Sept. 16th to Oct. 14th. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Cling.......July 20th to 30th. Free........July 10th to 25th. Semi-cling... June 6th to 29th. Free.......July 20th to Aug. 20th. July 17th to 22nd. Cling .. Free........Sept. 15th to 30th. ....... Cora.. Free........July 16th to 31st. Crawford's Early........ Crawford's Late......... Free........July 26th to Aug. 10th. .. Aug. 20th to 30th. Deming's September. Free. Downing Semi-cling.. June 6th to July 5th. Duff's Yellow. Cling.......July 16th to 31st. July 17th to 31st. Duggar's Golden........ Cling ....... July 16th to 22nd. ........... .......... Duggar's White......... Aug. 18th to 27th. Cling ....... Eaton's Golden......... Free. .... .. July 15th to Aug. 16th. Elberta ................. July 10th to 31st. Free. ....... Foster................. Ge~n'l Lee ......... Cling .... ... July 1st to 10th. Gen'l Taylor........... . Cling.......June 29th to July 22nd Hale.. .. . . . ... Semi-cling.. June 22nd to July 15th Oct. 15th to 25th. Hudson's November .. Cling ....... Aug. 13th to 19th. Indian Blood,............ Cling ....... .. Free......... Sept 10th to Oct. 10th Lady Parham ......... Aug. 1st to 20th. Lemon Cling............ Cling .... July 31st to Aug. 20th. Free ........ Mvuscogee ............... Sept. 10th to 25th. Mixon's Whitei. . . . ....... Cling ....... June 17th to July 7th. Semi-cling Rivers....... ........... June 26th to July 8th. Free ...... Royal George (Early) .. Sept. 10th to Oct. Stinson's October......... Cling ........ Stump the World........ . Free....... July 8th to 22nd. July 13th to 25th. Free ....... ... Thurber............. Free........ June 28th to July 8th. Tillotson. ............... Cling...... July 10th to 27th. Tuskena.............. ... r II~I I Ii 15 NOTE. TWILD GOOSE PLUMS ON DIFFERENT STOCKS. For the purpose of comparing the effects of different stocks upon the longevity of the Wild Goose variety, there were planted in 1885: 12 Wild Goose trees on Peach stocks. 12 Wild Goose trees on Seedling Plum roots. 12 Wild Goose trees on Plum cuttings. , An examination on the 23rd November, 1891, showed that there were living and in healthy condition On peach roots, eight out of twelve planted. On seedling plum roots, three out of twelve planted. On plum cuttings, one out of twelve planted. Several varieties of peaches budded upon cuttings of the Brill plum have proved very unsatisfactory. The scion in many cases is larger than the stock, and the growth dwarfed.,