Orchard and Small Fruit Culture in Mississippi

Mississippi State University Scholars Junction

Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Bulletins Experiment Station (MAFES)

1-1-1947

Orchard and small fruit culture in Mississippi

C. H. Ragland

J. P. Overcash

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Recommended Citation Ragland, C. H. and Overcash, J. P., "Orchard and small fruit culture in Mississippi" (1947). Bulletins. 611. https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/mafes-bulletins/611

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MISSISSIPPI STATE COLLEGE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION RUSSELL COLEMAN, Director STATE COLLEGE MISSISSIPPI

11^. A 4^<^ Orchard and Small Fruit Culture in Mississippi

C. H. RAGLAND, Pomologist, and J. P. OVERCASH, Associate Horticulturist Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Station 122848 CONTENTS

Introduction 3 Strawberry culture 34

I. Tree fruits 4 Growing brambles 38

Planning the orchard . 4 Grape production 43 Establishing the orchard 10 Producing blueberries 50 Care of the orchard 16 III. Protection against insect and disease Soil management 26 injury 50 Harvesting and handling the fruit 32 IV. Size of home orchard 58 II. Small fruits 34 V. Selected references 58

There are very few farms in Missis- source of income and the local citizentry sippi that cannot profitably raise some would be able to obtain more fruit of type of fruit for home use, and most better quality. of them can grow enough to supply the In the more favored locations there home needs. However, there are very are possibilities for growing fruits on a few farms which supply their own fruit larger scale than for local consu aption.

needs. This is particularly true of some of the

There are also opportunities to grow small fruits and peaches; possibly even apples for fruits commercially to supply local mar- spring shipment could be kets in this state as well as for ship- grown in northeastern counties. In re- ment to other states. There are few cent years the quick frozen food industry has cities and towns in Mississippi which been freezing large quantities of do not at present buy fruit from distant strawberries and dewberries and this may markets that could profitably be grown provide an opportunity for an expanded industry in Mississippi. on nearby farms. This is especially true for some of the small fruits and peaches, This bulletin is a source of information [n many areas of the United States, road- on fruits which is equally applicable for side markets provide an outlet for fresh the home orchardist and the commercial fruits and vegetables for sale locally. fruit grower. The Experiment Station

There are many opportunities for ex- is continually testing new varieties, meth- panding the number of roadside fruit ods of cultivation, fertilization, pruning,, and vegetable markets on the highways. spraying, and these recommendations are A two-fold benefit would accrue: the the result of the latest information avail- farmers would profit by adding another able.

MITCHELL MEMORIAL LIBRARY MISSISSIPPI STATE COLLEGE^ 4 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

I. TREE FRUITS

PLANNING 1rHE ORCHARD

when one thinks of planting an or- approximate number of each should be| chard one of the first things to be de- determined so that a suitable location ofi

cided is the kinds of fruits to be plant- the correct size, soil type, and drainagsl

ed. The kinds of fruits, varieties, and can be selected. f

Selection of Fruits to Plant | Apple Varieties

Mississippi is not a commercial apple sippi. It blights rather severely when growing state and probably never will be, young, and comes into bearing rather

unless there is some great improvement late, but is an excellent cooking apple. in varieties adapted to the climatic con- Plant only in the northern half of the ditions. There are varieties, however, state. that can be grown in the home orchard Delicious. Medium to large fruit with and for local market. The following va- red color when grown farther north and rieties are recommended: (All ripening at high elevations, but seldom colors well dates are for State College, Mississippi.) in this state. It is of good quality and Early Harvest. This is a medium siz- very resistant to blight. ed, yellow apple of good quality* ripen- Golden Delicious. A yellow apple sim- ing from the 10th to 20th of June. It is ilar in size, quality and hardiness to the fairly resistant to blight, and is recom- red Delicious. mended for planting in the northern half of the state. Winesap. Medium size, red apple, Eckles. A medium to large, striped ripening from September to October. apple of fair quality, ripening from June Good quality and fairly resistant to blight.

15 to 1. It is very resistant to July Stayman Winesap. A large apple with blight. The tree has a tendency to be red blush, which ripens somewhat later dwarfed but bears heavy crops annually. than the Winesap. It is of good quality If this variety cannot be obtained, then and fairly resistant to blight. try Williams Early Red which is very similar to Eckles. Several other varieties such as the Red Melba, some sel- Red Astrachan. A medium sized, red Rowden, and unnamed apple of good quality, ripening from June ections are growing and fruiting well 20 to July 15. It is fairly resistant to in the Experiment Station orchards at blight, but will probably blight too sev- State College, but have not been grown erely to be grown except in the northern in other parts of the state for a suffic- half of the state. ient number of years to make definite Carlton. A large red apple ripening recommendations on them. More varieties about July 15. The tree is vigorous and can be grown in the extreme north and bears good crops annually. It is fairly northeastern part of the state than else- resistant to blight, but the fruit some- where. We do not recommend the plant- times drops before it becomes fully ripe. ing of apples in the southern one-fourth

Cauley. This is a large yellow apple to one-third of the state, except in very which originated near Grenada, Missis- favorable locations. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 5

Pear '

It is very difficult to grow the better Garber. Medium to large, fair qual- quality pears in this state? due to fire ity, fairly resistant to blight, and ripens blight. In the southern part of the state from 15th to 25th of August. Plant only there is a leaf disease, pear leaf spot, in the northern half of the state. that is rather serious on some of the Pineapple. Practically immune to blight resistant varieties. There are sev- blight but of very poor quality. Ripens eral varieties which can be grown and if in August and September. Plant only properly ripened they are of fairly good where other varieties cannot be grown quality. The following varieties are rec- due to blight. ommended: Kieffer. This variety is quite resistant to blight, and LeConte. Medium size with fair qual- when properly ripened is of good quality. Plant in the north- ity, ripening late July to August 15. It ern half of the state. is rather susceptible to fire blight while The Waite is a variety introduced by young, but old bearing trees withstand the United States Department of Agri- blight quite well. Plant in North Mis- culture in 1938. It is of better quality sissippi only. than any of the above mentioned va- Pontotoc. rieties. This variety is almost im- It has shown good resistance to to blight at mune State College. It is blight at State College, and is considered small to medium in size, and of fair worthy of trial in other sections of the quality for canning and preserving. It state. It should be planted near another ripens in early August and is worth try- variety in order to insure cross pollina- ing throughout the state. tion for the production of good crops.

Peach Varieties

There is a large number of peach va- Erly-Red-Fre. A very attractive peach rieties that can be grown successfully in ripening about June 10 to 15. It usu- Mississippi, but only few of those which ally a develops a solid red color with white will be dis- are known to be well adapted flesh, is semi-freestone, and has good cussed here. It is doubtful whether any quality for a peach ripening this early orchardist will want to plant all of these in the season. varieties. Six or eight varieties properly Fisher. A yellow, semi-freestone peach selected as to their ripening dates should of good quality, ripening about June 12 give a continuous supply of fruit from to 25. It has a rather long ripening sea- the first of to early August. son, June therefore, it is a good variety for Mayflower. Ripens from about May the home orchard. 25 to 5. It has a red skin, white June Redhaven. A very attractive yellow- flesh, and is a clingstone. It has very fleshed, freestone peach, ripening the lat- poor quality but is usually included in ter part of June to early July. It colors the orchard because its of early ripening well, becoming almost solid red before date. It should be thinned carefully to ripe enough to harvest. It often sets such improve the size of fruit. heavy crops that careful thining must Dixired. A very attractive yellow- be practiced if good sized fruit is to be fleshed clingstone peach ripening about produced. It is of good quality as a 10 days after the Mayflower. It de- fresh fruit, or for canning, and is one of velops into a good quality peach when the best for quick freezing. allowed to ripen on the tree. It is firm Golden Jubilee. A yellow freestone enough to ship well. peach of good quality ripening about MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

July 1 to 7. It is a very good canning clingstone, ripening about August 5

peach if it is harvested before the fruit 10, and is of good quality but rat

II' is over-ripe. small in size. good white-fleshed, free- Carman. A There are several later varieties ripening from July 5 to 12. stone peach peaches, but they are usually not Although this variety may be used as a sirable for planting in this state. I peach, it is not as good white canning weather in August and September of for this purpose as some of the later causes them to fail to size well, and tl varieties. drop before mature. The regular sp Halehaven. An attractive, highly col- schedule will not be sufficient to com ored, yellow-fleshed, freestone peach, rip- insects and diseases on these later about July 12 to 20. It has excel- ening rieties. They must have one or more as fresh fruit and for lent quality both tra sprays. canning. If a grower wants to try peaches t Hiley. An attractive white-fleshed are later than Elberta it is suggested t peach of good quality for both fresh fruit Afterglow, Salberta and Late Elberta and canning. It ripens about July 15 to planted. Good fruit can sometimes 20. If it is not carefully thinned it will obtained from these varieties two wd not develop satisfactory size. or more after Elberta, but in most ye Early Elberta. Very similar to the ihey are not worth harvesting. Elberta but ripening a week or ten days The following varieties of recent ori before Elberta, July 15 to 25. Good qual- have shown promise in the experimen ity for the fresh fruit and also for can- orchards: ning. k Belle of Georgia. One of the best Dixigem. Another early, very attr white-fleshed peaches. It ripens about tive semi-freestone peach. It rip(Sj July 20 to 25. A freestone of excellent about 5 days before Golden Jubilee (L quality as fresh fruit, and it makes a June to early July), is of good quality, a good canned product if harvested before it is reported to be a good fruit for ei it becomes too ripe. er canning or quick freezing. Chinese Cling. An excellent quality Newday. A very attractive, yello clingstone peach ripening from July 20 fleshed, semi-freestone peach of excelk to 25. It is often used as a pickling quality. Fruit is large and almost roui peach. It ripens from late June to early July

Elberta. This variety is a well known Fireglow. Another very attractive y yellow-fleshed freestone variety. It has low-fleshed peach. It is a freestone, long been the standard variety for home excellent quality, large and almost rour canning in this state. The ripening dates ripening about the same time as Newd; are from July 24 to August 1. Sunhigh. A very large yellow fn Indian Cling. Many people prefer this stone peach of excellent quality, ripeni peach for making pickles. It is a late about the same time as Newday.

Plum Varieties

A large percent of the people in Mis- insects and diseases on the plum becau sissippi depend upon the wild or semi- spray materials do not stick easily to t wild plum thickets for their supply of this smooth waxy surface of the fruit; ho fruit. These wild trees produce fruit ever, good fruit can be produced by t that is small, of poor quality, and often selection of adapted varieties and folio wormy. It is often difficult to control ing the recommended spray program. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURL IN MISSISSIPPI 7

fhe following list of varieties will give Satsuma. A medium to large plum of ipe fruit from late May through most good quality, skin dark purplish red, j| f July. This is not a complete list of flesh firm and dark red. Ripens late arieties that can be grown in Missis- June to early July.

ippi but is a list which is recommended Burbank. Large red fruit with yel- jr the average grower to plant. low flesh. The tree is hardy and bears Methley. A medium size plum of ex- profusely, and the fruit must be care- quality, sllent ripening from late May to fully thinned to obtain good size. It arly It has a dark purple skin June. is rather susceptible to brown rot and /ith flesh is deep red and one of the should be carefully sprayed. It ripens est varieties to plant in Mississippi. in early July. Munson. A rather large yellow plum Cumberland. A very late yellow plum f fair quality, and very prolific. It will similar in size and quality to the Wild ipen about June 15. Goose. It ripens from late July to early Wild Goose. This variety is very August. It is recommended for plant- ood for jellies and preserves. is It rath- ing only if one wishes a late plum for r hardy, produces well, and blooms late jelly or preserves. nough to escape late spring frosts more Compass. This is a plum-cherry hy- ften than many varieties; however, the brid, and can be used as a substitute for ruit often drops before it becomes fully ipe. the sour cherry in making pies. It is

Santa Rosa. A large plum of excel- a dwarf tree, bears heavy crops, and is mt quality, red with a deep red flesh considered good quality by some people.

/hen well ripe. Ripens June 15 to 25. It ripens from June 15 to early July.

Pecan Varieties l2 Ahmost any home in Mississippi can into production as early as some va- ave one or more pecans trees. They rieties. "fiake excellent shade trees, and fair crops Success. A large attractive nut, well

f nuts may be obtained on the lawn, filled, and of good quality. It is sus-

Ithough it is best to plant them where ceptible to scab, and if planted where biey can be cultivated. The following scab is prevalent it will have to be spray- nfre three of the best varieties to plant ed. 1 this state: To obtain the best results with pecans, Moore. A very productive variety they must be cultivated and sprayed as lat will come as near producing a crop carefully as other fruit trees. Since ex- v-ery year as any variety known. The pensive spray equipment is required for uts are below medium in size but have spraying trees as large as pecans, only lump kernels, and fair cracking qual- commercial growers can afford to own y- such equipment. For insect and disease Stuart. This has been a standard va- control of pecans the United States De- ety to plant in Mississippi for a long partment of Agriculture Farmers' Bul- me. The nut is above the average in letin No. 1829, "Insects and Diseases of ze, produces well, has a plump kernel the Pecans and Their Control," is rec- ut does not crack well. It does not come ommended.

Fig Varieties

The hardy fig varieties may be t)| grown the ground occasionally by hard winter 1 most parts of Mississippi. In the freezes, but will sprout from the ground orthern counties they may be killed to and soon bear fruit. The following va- 8 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

lieties are recommended for planting in Green Ischia. Fruit of medium size, this state. skin pale green, pulp crimson, and of

Celeste. This is the most popular va- good quality. Season from early Au-

riety grown in Mississippi. It is one of gust until frost.

the most hardy and is of excellent qual- Brown Turkey. This variety is al-

ity. The fruit is small to medium, pear- most as hardy as the Celeste. Fruit med- shaped, skin purplish brown, pulp whit- ium large, broadly pear-shaped, skin cop- ish, shading to a rose color at the cen- pery brown, pulp whitish shading to pink ter. Begins ripening in early July and around the seeds. It is of good quality continues for a period of three to four and ripens from July 15 to about Sep- weeks. tember 15.

Persimmon Varieties

The Japanese or oriental persimmon tapering gradually upward from near the is another excellent fruit that can be base; color light orange-red, flesh as- grown successfully in Mississippi. They tringent until soft, practically always produce large delicious fruits, come into seedless. bearing young, and do well on almost The Fuyu is another variety sometimes any reasonably fertile, well drained soil. recommended for planting in the South. The Tanenashi is the variety most The fruit is medium to large, color deep commonly grown in the southern states. tomato-red, flesh light orange, non-as- It is a good producer, and of good quality. The fruit is large, broadly conical, tringent even when seedless and firm.

Size of the Orchard

The size of the orchard will depend fruits to be grown. This subject is dis- upon several factors such as: Will the cussed later in this bulletin. orchard be for home use only, for the How far apart should the various fruits local market, or for shipping? If the be planted? This will depend upon the fruit is to be grown for home use only, variety of fruit, fertility, and type of soil. one must decide upon the kinds of fruits The following distances are recommend- he wishes to produce and then plant ed for the common fruits: enough of each to meet his needs. It is Planting distance No. plants advisable to plant enough trees, if space Fruit in feet per acre will permit, to furnish the family during Apples 30 x 30 to 35x35 48 to 35 a light crop year which will result in a Pears 25 x 25 to 30x30 70 to 48 surplus full when a crop is produced. If Peaches 22 x 22 to 25x25 90 to 70 fruit is to be grown for the local mar- Plums 20 X 20 to 25 X 25 108 to 70 ket then estimate the demand for each Pecans 60x 60 to 90 X 90 12 to 5 Figs 16 X 16 to 20x20 170 to 108 variety and plant accordingly. If it is Pcrsim mens 18 X 18 to 22 X 22 135 to 90 to be shipped it will be well to discuss the demand and marketing with a mar- Use the close planting distances onl)- keting specialist. on the poorer soils, and in the rich Delta

The amount of suitable land which is soils it may be best to plant peaches as available for planting to fruits may limit much as 30 x 30 feet. The roots of the size of the orchard. It is very im- most trees extend well beyond the portant that orchards be planted on land branches and crowd long before the that is well adapted to the particular branches meet. Unless you have a deep ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 9

fertile soil, you may have serious com- meet. Most fruit growers have a ten- petition between trees for moisture and dency to plant the trees too close to- plant nutrients long before the branches gether.

Selection of the Site

In the selection of a site for the or- frost in a valley while a nearby hill may chard such factors as soil type, fertility, not have any. As the air cools down at the higher soil drainage, air drainage, and near- night the cool air drifts from ness to the house should be taken into to the lower areas, which on a still night consideration. may cause the low areas to be several degrees colder than nearby areas only a Most of the tree fruits will succeed on few feet higher. By placing the orchard a wide range of soil types, but they must on hill or slope the cold air will flow have good drainage. Do not plant fruit a from it instead of settling into the or- trees where water stands on the soil or chard. This is what is called "air drain- near the surface during the growing pe- age." riod. Apples and pears will withstand a wetter soil than peaches and plums, but If the orchard is on the side of a hill none of the fruit trees should have their be sure that there is a lower area ad- roots submerged in water for any con- jacent to it for the cold air to drain into. siderable length of time during the grow- Timber below the orchard may prevent ing season. In general, peaches and this drairiage. Since most injury from plums grow best on the lighter or sandy spring frosts comes when the temperature soils, but plums will grow on a heavier falls only a few degrees below the dan- soil than peaches. ger point, often a good location may

For all fruits the soil should be rea- mean the difference between a good crop sonably fertile or capable of bein.g made and a crop failure. Apples usually bloom productive by the addition of fertilizers. late enough to escape frost injury; there-

It is a mistake to plant the orchard on fore, they can be set in the lower areas the poorest soil on the farm. of the orchard, but even with apples ii is best avoid places that will form Peaches, plums, and pears often bloom to air pockets. before the danger of spring frost is past, The home orchard should be as near and in order to minimize this danger, a the farm dwelling as practical; however, site should be selected with good air one should not sacrifice good soil and

drainage. Air becomes heavier as it cools air drainage just to get it near the house. and thus settles into the low areas on a It should be fenced to protect the trees

still night. This is why one often sees from livestock.

Preparation of the Soil

In preparing the soil for planting the by plowing deep and pulverizing well. orchard it is well to remember that after This will make planting easy and give the trees are set it will be impossible to the trees a well prepared soil in which plow the entire area again. It is best to start their growth. Not only will to grow a summer cover crop to be larger trees be produced the first year of turned under in the fall before planting, growth, but there will also be fewer trees

unless the soil is already well supplied to die than when they are planted in with organic matter. The soil should be poorly prepared soil. well prepared in the fall before planting If the land needs terracing this should 1

10 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450 be done before the trees are set, for it before the trees are set so that they can be is almost impossible to do a satisfactory kept in good shape with a minimum of job of terracing after the trees have been attention. It is much more dififcult to set without destroying a large number of maintain a terrace in an orchard than them. Terraces should be built up well in an open field.

ESTABLISHING THE ORCHARD

Laying Out the Orchard

There are several plans that may be In laying out the orchard by the con- used in laying out the orchard. Those tour system locate the first tree row on most commonly used are the contour top of or a short distance below the top system, the square system, and the tri- of the upper terrace, never in or near angle system. The square and triangle the channel of the terrace. The trees systems should be used only on soils that should be far enough from the channel are level enough so that erosion will not of the terrace to allow for dragging the be a problem, while the contour system terrace so that it can be kept in a good should always be used on hilly or roll- state of repair. Line the trees up ing land. much as possible following the contour

PLANTING WIRE LENGTH OF WIRE BETWEEN RINGS SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN TREES

T ERRACE CHA Nm_ —- — 1

Figure 1. Contour system of laying out an orchard. After the trees have been located on the terraces locate other trees by placing a stake at the desired distance from terrace row and one- half this distance from the orchard boundary. Now place one end of the planting wire over stake at X, the center ring at Y, and the other ring at Z on row above. Measure from the line of upper row so that an approximate right angle will be made at Y and not necessarily from a tree location. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 11

row. of the terrace. Make the curves as grad- off this distance on the proposed ual as possible, avoiding abrupt angles A third man will take the tape on 50 feet which will interfere with cultivation. A and thus measure 25 feet from the upper

tree row is placed on or just below each row. The angle thus formed should be terrace. The rows between terraces may an approximate right angle, which means be laid off by the use of a tape or plant- the measurement must be from the row ing wire. A planting wire may be made and not necessarily from another tree in by using two pieces of wire, each the the row (figure 1).

length of distance between trees. Fasten This process is repeated until the en-

together as shown in figure 1, and use tire orchard has been laid out. It is a as described below. good idea to walk down each row and

The first trees on these rows are lo- move any stakes that tend to form abrupt jcated the desired distance from the up- angles. They can usually be moved iper row (assume 25 feet) and about enough to make the curves uniform with- half that distance from the edge of the out materially affecting the distances be- iorchard. A stake is placed at this loca- tween trees. There are almost always tion. Then one man holds the end of areas between terraces that cannot be the tape at this stake and a second man filled by full length rows. These should itakes the tape on 25 feet, and measures be filled with short rows in order to ^

Figure 2. Square system of laying out an orchard. Establish lines A-B, B-C, C-D, and D-A. Place stakes on these lines at the desired distance for the trees. Sight from opposite stakes as indicated by broken lines and locate trees where these lines cross, or plow furrows connecting opposite stakes then plant trees where furrows cross. One may locate stakes along lines A-B, and D-A, then lay off the rest of the orchard by use of a tape or planting wire as shown at X, Y, Z, and XI, Yl, Zl, as explained in figure 1. 12 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

occupy the space as completely as pos- other on three feet, another on seven tape tight a right- sible. It will sometimes be necessary to feet. By pulling the a three- space the trees a little farther apart or angled triangle is formed with foot base, four-foot altitude, and five- a little closer together in order to prop- right erly utilize these areas. foot hypotenuse, which forms a About the simplest way to lay out an angle. A more accurate right angle can orchard by the square system is to es- be made if the sides of the triangle arc tablish a base line on one side of the increased. This may be done by multi- orchard site by placing a tall stake at plying each side by the same number each end where the first row of trees (for example, one may make the sides 15, 20 25 feet.) rest of the or- is to be located. Then measure off the and The distance for the trees along this line and chard may be filled in by cross sighting place a stake where each tree is to be as shown in figure 2.

located. Care should be taken to aline Another method is to plow a straight them with the end stakes. Then border furrow connecting stakes on opposite rows are established at each end and on sides of the orchard. Plant the trees the opposite side of the orchard site where these furrows cross. The rows (figure 2). These rows must intersect to form a right angle. A right angle will not be as straight by the use of can be easily made with an ordinary tape furrows but with a little care they will measure by what is known as the "three, be straight enough for all practical pur- four, five" method. One person holds poses. After the base row and one side the tape at the end and on 12 feet; an- row have been established the other

Ai C/^N Ci,^, C^,^,

/ * f \

Figure 3. Triangular system of laying out an orchard. Establish line A-D and place stakes where trees are to be set. To establish location for other trees place first ring of planting wire over stake at A and third ring over stake at C; now pull tight and place stake at B. Repeat this for Al, Bl, CI; A2, B2, C2, etc., until the orchard is laid out. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 13 trees may be located by the use of a plant- About 15 percent more trees can be set ing wire or tape as shown in figure 2. on a given area of land using this sys-

Under the triangular system of laying tem than when the square system is used. out an orchard the trees are an equal This is of little advantage, however, as distance apart, forming a triangle instead tree roots usually meet before there is of a square as in the square system. any crowding of the branches.

Obtaining the Trees

Good nursery stock is just as impor- Straight whips are to be preferred to tant in producing high quality fruit as branched trees. They can be trained to good seeds for field crops. Always pur- the desired shape better than trees with chase your trees from a reliable nursery side branches already developed. It is unless you are able to propagate them not usually advisable to purchase the yourself. Do not buy from a fruit-tree large, so-called bearing-age trees. The salesman unless you are sure that he is first cost is much higher than for young- a bona fide representative of a reliable er and smaller trees, the danger of them nursery. Your county agent or Smith- not surviving the transplanting is much Hughes Agricultural teacher can often greater, the expense of setting is higher, order trees for you at a substantial sav- and quite often the young trees will ing, and they are also acquainted with grow off better and come into bearing the reliable nurserymen. just as soon as the large ones.

Although it is important to obtain As soon as the plants arrive from the good, healthy, vigorous trees, it is not nursery they should be unpacked and usually best to purchase trees that are examined. The roots should be moist too large. June-bud peach trees are the on arrival, and no part of the plant best if available. Two- to three-foot June- should appear dry and withered. If buds are to be preferred to the smaller trees are not to be set in the orchard at ones, although 18- to 24-inch June-buds once they should be "heeled in" (see are satisfactory. For other tree fruits figure 4) to prevent drying of the roots. such as the apple, pear, and pecan, year- It is best to loosen the bundles and spread old trees usually are best. This means the roots enough to allow the moist soil that the top has one year's growth since to come in contact with all of them. Be being grafted or budded and has a root sure that varieties are kept separate as that is usually one or two years older it is usually desirable to plant each va- than the top. In order to be assured of riety in one continuous block or row, a strong vigorous tree, select the medium and to have them arranged in the or- to large tree within the age group; that chard according to the time of ripening. is, a three-foot, year-old tree is better This facilitates such operations as har- than a three-foot, two-year-old tree. vesting and spraying.

Time to Plant

leaves In Mississippi the fall is the best time or early winter as soon after the to transplant, but the common fruit trees are shed as the soil moisture will permit. can successfully planted at any time be The soil should be moist enough to cul- from the time they shed their leaves in tivate, but not wet. Sometimes it be- the fall until growth begins in the comes necessary to plant in wet soil when spring. Best results are usually obtained unavoidably delayed when planting is done in the late fall planting has been 14 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

Figure 4. As soon as the trees arrive from the nursery they should be unpacked and heeled in, as indicated above, if they are not to be planted at once. Never let the roots become dried out.

until about time for growth to begin the roots more than is absolutely neces- in the spring. In this case care should sary to get the soil pressed in contact be taken not to puddle the soil around with them.

Planting the Trees

In order to plant the tree at exactly original notches and place the tree in the same place the stake has been plac- the hole so the trunk rests in the center ed in laying out the orchard, one may notch. The soil is then filled in around use the "planting board." It is made the tree and firmed around the roots. by taking a 4- to 5-foot length of a 1 x 4 The question is often raised as to how or 1 X 6 inch board and sawing three large the hole should be dug. There notches in one side of it, one in the cen- seems to be little benefit derived from ter, one at each end but the same dist- digging holes larger than is necessary ance from the center notch. In setting to accommodate the roots without crowd- a tree the board should be placed so that ing them. It is true that a large hole the stake marking the location of the filled with rich top soil will often start tree is placed in the center notch. Then the tree off faster, but it is doubtful place a stake in each of the end notches. whether it pays for the extra trouble. Remove the board and dig the hole for The tree should be planted about the the tree where the center stake is, then depth it grew in the nursery or an inch lay the planting board back in the same or two deeper. It is not necessary to position with the end stakes in their plant a tree deep in order to cause the ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 15 roots to grow deep. The depth the roots elsfull of manure may be scattered will penetrate depends upon the kind around the tree after the hole has been of plant, soil type, soil moisture and filled and worked into the surface of the oxygen, and not upon the depth origin- soil, or a handful of a good commercial ally planted. fertilizer may be used, but never allow either to come in direct contact with the While planting, care should be taken roots. to see that the roots do not become dried As soon as the tree is set, out. If the sun is shining it will be the top should well to keep the roots covered. This be pruned back to 18 to 36 inches may be done with wet burlap or canvas, above the ground depending upon the kind fruit. or by throwing a few shovelsfull of moi^t of If it is branched, remove all branches, soil over them. Broken roots should be leaving one or two buds on cut off just back of the break, since a those located where main scaffold limbs are clean cut will heal with less Hkelihood of desired. rotting. Spread the roots in the hole Finally make a chart of the orchard as near like they grew as possible and showing the location of each tree and sift well pulverized, moist, topsoil around the variety. This should be done as soon them. As soon as covered, tramp well as the trees are set, and all labels should so that the soil will be brought in contact with each root. Neither commercial be removed from the trees at this time. fertilizer nor barnyard manure should A label left on a young tree may girdle be placed in the hole where it will come a limb or the main trunk, causing it to in contact with the roots. Several shov- break the first growing season.

Figure 5. A planting board can be made from alx4orlx6 inch board four to five feet long. Saw notches the same depth and equal distance apart.

Figure 6. Method of using a planting board. Place the center notch on the stake marking location of the tree and place a stake in each of the other notches. Remove board and dig a hole at position of center stake. 16 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450 CARE OF THE ORCHARD

The mistake is often made of plant- field crops. If the proper attention is

ing the home orchard and then leaving given the orchard, it will repay with an it to compete with grass and weeds for abundance of excellent fruit. If one does moisture and plant nutrients. Orchard not plan to give the orchard this atten- trees should be cared for and cultivated tion, it is best not to go to the expense with the same attention that is given of planting fruit trees.

Figure 8. Tramp moist soil firmly around roots. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 17

Pruning and Training Tree Fruits

Pruning is a very old practice, but there is to reduce the tree size, all pruning are still many people who merely "cut" should be as light as possible to obtain instead of "prune." To be of any real the objective desired. value, pruning must be done intelligent- 2. Pruning increases the vigor of ly and with a definite purpose in mind. growth. This may seem to contradict Of course the main purpose is to pro- the above statement, but pruning reduce a large amount of high quality fruit, duces the number of shoots that will but there are more immediate aims which grow, thus causing each of the remain- ultimately lead to this end. ing shoots to grow more vigorously, al- The primary aim in pruning a young though the total growth for the tree tree for the first few years is to train will be less. it to form a strong framework capable 3. Branches which form narrow an- of producing large crops of fruit over gles and limbs arising too close together a long period of time. After the perm- on the trunk tend to form weak crotches, anent framework of the tree has been es- as illustrated by the "split tree" shown !n tablished, primary is to bring the aim figure 9. the tree into profitable production as 4. Upper limbs tend to shade out soon as possible and keep it in produc- lower ones- tion as many years as possible. There 5. The stimulating effect of pruning are certain rather definite reasons for is largely local. Pruning on one side of pruning which lead to the ultimate aims a tree cannot be expected to greatly in- mentioned above. They are as follows:

1. To restore young trees to the proper balance between root and top at planting time. When the fruit is dug from the nursery a large part of its roots is lost. The top should be cut back so that the roots will have time to be replaced before too many leaves are formed. 2. To develop a strong framework by the selection and proper distribution of the main branches. 3. To remove crossing and interfering: branches.

4. To remove all dead, badly injured, or diseased wood. 5. To increase the vigor of old trees. 6. To increase the size of the fruit. 7. To make easier such cultural prac- tices as spraying, pruning, thinning, harvesting, and cultivation. There are also a few principles of pruning that should be kept in mind if one is to prune intelligently. They are as follows:

1. Pruning dwarfs a tree. This means Figure 9. A split trunk caused by a weak that a pruned tree will be smaller than crotch resulting from poor training. (From an unpruned tree, and unless the object Mississippi Experiment Station Bulletin 393). 18 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450 fluence the growth and production on carpenter's saw. However, the use of the other side. In other words, prune a few speciaHzed tools as shown in fig- where you want the results to show up. ure 10 makes the pruning operation Good pruning may be accomphshed easier, faster, and tends to improve the with a pocket knife and an ordinary quality of the work.

Pruning and Training Peach and Plum Trees

The first pruning should be done at more than five shoots to develop into the time the tree is set in the orchard. the main branches. If it is an unbranched whip, this will If the tree . was branched when set, simply be to head it back to a height it will be well to leave at least one shoot of 18 to 30 inches. If the tree is branch- on each branch which was left at planted when set, it is well to remove all ing time. If a w^hip was set the shoots but three or four of the branches. They should be selected so they will be well should be spaced not less than six inches distributed around the trunk and about apart and distributed around the trunk six inches apart on the trunk. These so as to form a well balanced tree. Cut are to be in the main scaffold limbs of these branches back, leaving only two or the tree and no other growth should be three buds on each, and cut the top out allowed to grow from the trunk. It just above the upper branch. After the will be necessary to go through the or- new growth has reached a few inches chard several times during the first sum- in length select at least three and not mer to remove undesirable growth. When the scaffold limbs have reached a length of 15 or 20 inches, the ends should be pinched off to encourage branching to form secondary scaffold limbs. If the tree makes good growth and all

undesirable growth is removed soon aft-

er it starts, the primary and secondary scaffold limbs should be well established by the first fall after planting. Usually

two branches are all that should be allowed to develop on a primary scaffold limb.

During the first winter very little pruning will be required other than thinning out the secondary scaffold branches and heading back limbs that are growing too long, provided careful summer training has been practiced as suggested above (see figure 11.) If no summer training has been practiced, the y main scaffold limbs must be selected, the remaining ones removed, and those which are to be saved should be cut back Figure 10. Pruning tools. A. Snap cut hand to encourage branching. shears, B. 24-inch lopping shears, C. curved the pruning saw, D. hand shears. During second growing season there will be litde summer training need- ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 19

Figure IL Steps in training a peach tree, left to right, from plantmg time through the first winter. Three to five main scaffold limbs should be selected (From Mississippi Experiment Station Bulletin 393).

ed if a good job was done during the desirable branches and heading others

first summer, but it will be well to go back enough to control the shape of the through the orchard two or three times tree. during the spring and summer to re- After the tree reaches bearing age there move watersprouts and other undesir- will be very little prunning to do for able growth. The second dormant the first few years. The limbs should pruning will consist of thinning out un- be kept thinned out enough to permit

Figure 12. tree before dormant pruning. Peach pig^^^ 13 ^^^^ t^ee as in figure 12 after it the branches are too thick; they need thinning j^^^ pruned, out and some heading back.

MITCHE L ME.V.OulAL LIBRARY 132848 MISSISSIPPI STATE COLLEGE 20 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

sunlight, and headed back enough to is called "dehorning," ar^d is often done keep within bounds and to retain the in order to renew the top of old trees desired shape. As the tree grows older that are not making enough terminal growth to produce good crops of fruit. it will be necessary to prune more sev- Figure 16 shows a tree one year after erely in order to encourage new growth. il had been dehorned and figure 17 Sometimes very old trees need to have shows a tree several years after being de- the entire top cut back severely. This horned.

Pruning and Training Apple and Pear Trees

The pruning of apple and pear trees secondary scaffolds have been selected, at the time they are planted is similar the main pruning will consist of thin- to pruniii/g the peach tree, except r.he nin/g out branches that are too thick and trunk is headed back somewhat higher an occasional heading back of branches above the ground since five to eight main that may be growing faster than others scaffold limbs are needed instead of only surrounding them. Figure 18 shows a three to five as for the peach. As with two-year-old apple tree that has been the peach, they should be well spaced properly trained, and figure 19 shows a on the trunk. After the primary and well trained five-year-old tree. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 21

After apple and pear trees have reach- peach trees. ed the production age they will require Some pears have a tendency to grow

little pruning other than thinning out upright; when a limb is cut to an out- branches that may become too thick- side bud in an attempt to induce spread- Figure 20 shows an eight-year-old apple ing growth, the shoots arising from near

tree that has become too thick lo produce the cut grow upright making it rather good crops, and figure 21 shows the difficult to cause the tree to spread. This same tree after it has been thinned out. may be corrected by tying the branches Since apples and pears bear a large part in a horizontal position until they will of their fruit on short spurs that grow remain in the desired position. Usual-

very little from year to year it is not ly these trees will spread when they necessary to prune them heavy, which come into production as a result of the would encourage a lot of shoot growth fruit bending the branches outward as as is needed for good production in shown in figure 26.

Pruning and Training the Pecan

Pecan trees require very little pruning trunk too close together thus forming except to thin out interfering branches. weak crotches. Once a strong framework Avoid scaffold limbs branching from the has been established, the tree will require 22 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450 very little attention in the way of prun- limbs, and if the cuts are large, they ing. All broken or seriously injured u ij u j vu • . ,. ^, should be covered with paint or pruning , , , , , 1 11 ° limbs should be removed. Make all cuts ^ close to the trunk or close to larger compound to prevent rot.

Pruning and Training Figs

In Mississippi, figs are usually allowed killed to the ground by freezes but will to grow in a bush form, and require but sprout from the ground level. These litde pruning. Remove all injured or sprouts will usually need to be thinned diseased bran/ches. They are occasionally to prevent undue crowding.

Fruit Thinning

Most of the common fruit trees often to be produced it is as indispensable as set more fruit than the tree can support, pruning, spraying, and cultivation. The Vv'hich may result in small fruit and in- proper thinning of the fruit will result jury to the tree from excess limb break- in larger size, better color, and higher age. Fruit thinning is a recognized or- quality. It will reduce breakage of limbs, chard practice among the better fruit aid in the control of insects and dis- growers, and if the best quality fruit is eases, reduce the cost of harvesting, and ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 23

Figure 17. A 17-year old peach tree five years after "dehorning." (From Mississippi Experiment Station Information Sheet number 184.)

help ivj maintaining the vigor of the the lower ones. If the crop is properly tree. Thinning usually reduces the total thinned, the branches will remain in a yield of fruit, but if properly done it will more upright position, thereby allowing result in an increase of marketable fruit better distribution of sunlight through- by reducing to a minimum the number out the tree. of culls. It is not uncommon for some fruit The most outstanding result of thin- trees to produce such heavy crops that ning is the increase in fruit size. When many limbs are broken. Often large a portion of the crop is removed, more limbs are broken, thus permanently in- plant food and water are available per juring the framework of the tree, and fruit which remains on the tree. Most at times the injury may be such that of this increase in size is the edible por- the entire tree is ruined. Proper thin- tion of the fruit since the seed or pit of ning will reduce and distribute the load a small fruit will be nearly as large as so that maximum crops may be produc- that of a larger one of the same variety. ed with a minimum of limb breakage.

Many fruits require sunlight to de- During the thinning operation all dis- velop red color. By the proper thinning eased and injured fruits should be re- of fruits those left on the tree are better moved. This will help to control in- exposed to the light. Over-loaded sects and diseases. It also allows bet- branches will bend down, often shading ter coverage by spray materials. When 450 24 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN

year. It takes nearly as much food materials to produce the seed of a small fruit as a large one, and continued production of excessively large crops will soon leave the tree in a devitalized, unproductive condition. Controlling the crop by careful thinning will help maintain the tree in a vigorous condition, thereby encouraging annual production of good crops instead of a heavy crop of small fruit one year and a light or no crop the next year. Soon after the petals fall some of the small fruits may drop; some may grow a week or more and then drop; some may grow to be one-half inch or more in diameter and then drop; while the rest will probably grow to maturity. The

Figure 18. A two-year old apple tree which has been properly trained.

two fruits touch, as is often the case

on unthinned trees, it is impossible to get complete coverage and both diseases and insects are thus enabled to spread directly from one fruit to another.

Since thinning increases size it will require less time to harvest the same volume of fruit from the thinned trees.

It will also reduce the time required to grade the fruit since culls have been

reduced by thinning. It is not claimed, however, that this reduction in harvesting cost will offset the cost of thinning.

Heavy production uses up the food re- Figure 19. A well trained five-year old apple serves in the tree, tending to leave it tree (From Mississippi Experiment Station weak and unproductive the following Bulletin 393). ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 25

an increase in size may result from thinning up until the time the fruit begins to ripen. Always remember that the earlier one thins the larger the size one can expect from the remaining fruit, but

that it is not usually advisable to thin before the "June drop."

Thinning is usually done by hind. Both peaches and plums can be thinned by knocking them off with an old broom handle to which a short section of garden hose has been attached. One end of the broom handle should be trimmed enough to be inserted into the garden hose. Strike the fruit clusters with the hose, thereby knocking off the excess

fruit. This is much faster but not as satisfactory as thinning by hand. In the hands of a careless worker, more damage may be done than good, but a careful worker can thin well enough to get satisfactory size. It offers no opportunity to select the best fruits or to remove injured or mis-shapen fruits. Figure 20. An eight-year old apple tree that needs thinning out.

last drop is called the "June drop" although it usually occurs in late April or May in this state. Sometimes enough of the fruit falls by the end of the "June drop" to thin the crop sufficiently, but

when a large crop is on the trees, additional thinning is usually necessary. It is desirable to wait until after the "June drop" to thin, but the sooner after this drop that the thinning is done, the greater will be the response.

Early fruits should be thinned first

since there is a rather short period between the "June drop" and the ripening time. Peaches and plums have a period of from one to three weeks after the "June drop" in which the fruit increases

very little in size. It is during this pe-

riod that the pit hardens and the seed is

being formed. If the fruit is thinned in the early part of this period there will

be a greater response and the remaining Figure 21. The same tree as figure 20 after

fruit will develop good size. However, it has been pruned. 26 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

Figure 22. An old apple .e that has received no pruning for eight or ten years. The top is much too thick.

Almost all peach varieties require thin- ed so as not to touch when fully ma- ning when a heavy crop is set. They ture. This will not only insure good should be thinned to four to six inches size fruit, but will materially reduce apart on the limbs. If the tree has a losses from fruit rot. heavy crop well distributed over the en- Apples and pears should be thinned tire tree, it should be thinned much to six or eight inches apart. Pears will more carefully than if the fruit is heavy need thinning often in some places and light in others. A more in this state tree with an abundance of large, dark than apples since they have a tendency green foliage can support a larger crop to set excessively heavy crops, causing than one with small, light green leaves. considerable limb-breakage, and prevent- The large-fruited varieties of plums ing the development of large fruits. require some thinning when a heavy crop Such fruits as the small plums, figs, is set. They should be left two to four persimmons, cherries, and pecans are inches apart. All plums should be spac- not usually thinned. SOIL MANAGEMENT

In order to obtain good crops of fruit weeds for moisture and plant food ele- the trees must receive good cultural treatments. It is not a forest tree and cannot ment. A fruit tree cannot be planted be treated as one if good crops of fruit and then left to compete with grass and are to be produced. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 27

Figure 23. The same treee as in figure 22 after it has been pruned.

Systems of Orchard Soil Management Clean Cultivation with Winter Cover Crops

Where soil erosion can be controlled matter. Rye or oats may be used but early one of the best systems to use is clean should be turned under in the spring before seed stalks begin forming. cultivation during the spring and sum- Rye and oats should never be allowed to mer months, with a winter cover crop seed in the orchard, because they com- sown in the fall and turned under the pete with the trees for water and nutri- following spring. Cultivation should i'>e ents, and when turned under at this shallow and frequent enough to keep stage they do not decay rapidly. Bacteria feeding on this slowly decaying mater- down grass and weeds during the grow- ial use nitrogen that would otherwise be ing season, especially while the fruit is available to the trees, thus causing a ni- developing. A winter cover crop should trogen deficiency unless an extra amount be planted in the fall and plowed or is applied as a fertilizer. Rye and oats disced under the following spring. A will help prevent erosion better than winter legume (such as hairy vetch, bur clover, or Austrian winter peas) is best most legumes, and under some conditions since it adds nitrogen as well as organic it may be advisable to use them. 28 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPRRIMLNT STATION BULLETIN 450

Strip Cultivation

Strip cultivation consists of cultivating leaving the sod strip between. The cul- alternate strips of the orchard leaving tivated strip should be seeded to a win- uncultivated strips. (Figure 28.) Cultiva- ter cover crop as recommended wh^re uon is often between the tree rows, leav- clean cultivation of the entire area is ing a strip of sod along the row. In practiced during the growing season. order to prevent erosion the sod strip Where winter legumes such as vetch or must follow the contour of the land. bur clover are used, the uncultivated

When the trees are young it is best to strip will often produce enough seed to cultivate the area along the tree rows, resecd the entire area the following year.

Intercropping

During the first few years after the should be left unplanted, but cultivated, trees have been set they do not utilize for the growing trees. As the trees grow, all of the soil, and it will be best to plant the strip between the tree rows occupied some low growing annual crop between by the intercrop should be reduced until the tree rows. Such crops as beans, peas, all the area is left for the trees. This tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, and peanuts will require three to five years for make good intercrops. Ample space peaches and plums, eight to ten years ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 29

for apples and pears, and 15 to 20 years trees are the main crop, and not allow

for pecans. When intercropping is prac- them to be crowded by the intercrop* or ticed one should remember that the fruit to be injured in cultivation.

Fertilization

On most of the soils in Mississippi requirements. Barnyard manure makes fruit trees respond to the application of an excellent fertilizer for the orchard,

some type of fertilizer. The amount and and is recommended when it is avail- kind to apply will be determined by such able. factors as the soil, and the kind, age, Peaches. Since the peach produces size, and vigor of the trees. Trees in a flowers laterally on the previous sea- very poor state of vigor make little son's growth, the trees should make from growth and produce only a few fruits 12 to 24 inches of terminal growth per which are small and of poor quality. On year. Approximately one-fourth pound the other hand, trees which are too vig- of some nitrogenous fertilizer, such as orous may fail to form fruit buds. Since nitrate of soda or ammonium sulphate, each orchard presents a different prob- per year of the tree's age should be suf- lem, it is impossible to make recommend- ficient to provide the necessary fruiting ations that will be best for all condi- wood. Some growers make two appli- tions. Suggestions which are given here cations of this fertilizer, the first about should be modified to meet individual

Figure 26. A heavy crop of fruit has spread Figure 25. Many pear trees have a tendency to the top of this pear tree. When the fruitt is grow upright, as shown by the above tree. harvested the branches will rise some but will When they start producing heavy crops, the still have enough spread. Note broken limb weight of the fruit will usually spread the on the left side of tree. Too much fruit was top sufficiently. See figure 26. left on this limb. 30 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

a week or two before growth begins in of a nitrogenous fertilizer annually for the spring and consisting of about two- each year of age of the tree. Bearing thirds of the above amount and the oth- trees should have three to eight pounds er one-third about the time the fruit is annually depending upon the size, age, harvested. On the poorer soils from one and vigor of the tree. On poor soils to six pounds, depending upon the size where the trees are making weak growth, and age of the trees, of a complete fer- ^ to 10 pounds of a complete fertilizer tilizer (such as 6-8-8) should be applied should be used. Apply the fertiHzer in addition to the nitrogen fertilizer. broadcast around the tree, extending well The fertilizer should be applied broad- beyond the spread of the branches, just cast around the trees, extending beyond before growth starts in the spring. Ap- the spread of the branches. ples bear a large percent of their fruit Plums. Plums should receive about on short spurs that produce fruit from the same fertilizer treatment as peaches. year to year without making much term-

Since most plums produce fruit buds inal growth. For this reason, it is not as abundantly on short spurs as well as on important to keep old bearing trees pro- twigs like the peach, it is not as neces- ducing long shoots each year as with the sary to have as much terminal growth peach. The tree should produce an as is needed with peaches. abundance of large, dark green leaves, Apples. Young apple trees should re- however, in order to mature a good crop ceive from one-fourth to one-half pound of fruit, and produce the fruit buds for ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 31 a crop the following year. growth begins. If the trees bloom but fail to set a good crop, this fertilizer will Pears. Pears are often grown in a sod aid in fruit setting. On poor soils a to prevent vigorous growth in order to complete fertilizer may be used. In fer- reduce the injury from fire blight. If tilizing pears that are susceptible to blight the trees are not in a good state of vigor care must be taken not to apply too a small amount of quickly available ni- much nitrogen; a vigorous, fast-growing trogen-carrying fertilizer may be applied pear tree is more susceptible to blight in the late winter or early spring before than a slow growing one.

Mulching

The placing of some kind of mulch ganic matter in the soil. When trees around fruit trees has gained popularity are mulched it may be necessary to add among many fruit growers in recent a little extra nitrogen in the fertilization years. Many kinds of materials may be program, for in the decomposition of used, but hay, leaves, cottonseed hulls, some mulch materials the bacteria utilize cotton burs, straw, pine needles, etc., are some of the nitrogen that would other- satisfactory. The material should be wise be available to the trees. It will spread underneath and beyond the also be necessary to add additional mulch branches of the tree to a depth suffi- material each year to replace that lost cient to keep down weed growth. It not through decomposition. Trees that have only controls the grass and weeds, but been mulched are in danger of fire dur- conserves moisture, prevents erosion, ing dry weather. The mulch may also checks runoff during heavy rains, and harbor mice and insects which will cause aids materially in maintaining the or- injury to the trees.

Figure 28. Strip cultivation may be used to control erosion on rolling land. (From Mississippi Experiment Station Bulletin 393). 32 MISSISSIPPI ACIRTCULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

Protection Against Rodents

Rabbits often cause considerable dam- terial should be allowed to remain on age by the gnawing of the bark from the trees during the entire winter, but

young fruit trees. This may be quite removed in the spring. There is little serious during winters in which snow danger of rabbit injury as long as there covers the ground for several days. Often is plenty of green vegetation for them

the tree is completely girdled, in which to feed upon. The greatest damage is

case it is ruined. At other times the done when the ground is covered with

bark is only gnawed from one side, leav- sr

ing the wood exposed. Promising young Sometimes when there is much straw

home orchards have sometimes been com- or other rubbish around the trees, mice pletely destroyed by rabbits before the may cause damage. If there are signs owners realized anything had happened. of injury pull the material away from Trees may be protected by wrapping the trunk with heavy paper or screen wire the trunks and there will probably be during the winter. The protecting ma- no further damage. HARVESTING AND HANDLING THE FRUIT

It is important that all fruits be har- Fruits picked at this stage will develop

vested at the proper time if the highest good quality and are firm enough to be quality is to be obtained. To obtain the packed and delivered to market with a best quality in most fruits they should be minimum of bruising, if handled with allowed to reach full maturity on the reasonable care. For immediate con- tree. However, fruit is highly perish- sumption the fruit may be allowed to able and it is often impractical to leave become fully ripe on the tree. A peach it on the tree until ready for consump- will increase in size until it is fully ripe, tion. The stage of maturity at which so it is to the advantage of the grower one should harvest depends upon the to leave it on the tree as long as possible. kind of fruit and the method of dispos- Plums are usually ready to harvest al; that is, whether it is to be consumed when they have attained their full color. immediately, sold on the local market, Some varieties drop their fruit before it shipped to a distant market, or stored for is ripe enough for the best quality. This future use. is especially true of the Wild Goose and All fruits should be handled with care some other similar varieties. to avoid bruising. As soon as it is pick- Red apples should be picked when they ed it should be set in the shade of a have developed a good red color for the tree and taken to a packing shed as soon variety and when the ground color is a as possible. If it is to be sold it should yellowish green. It should be remem- be graded, packed, and started on its bered that most apples do not develop way to the market with as little delay as as good color in this state as farther north j)ossible. or in higher elevations, and this fact Yellow peaches are ready to be picked should be taken into consideration when when the ground color, which is the color harvesting apples. For Yellow apples the underlying the color of the fully ripened ground color should have changed from fruit, has turned yellow but the flesh is a leaf-green to a greenish-yellow. still firm. White varieties are ready to Pears are usually harvested at a less jiick when the ground color is white. mature stage than other fruits because ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 33

60° 65° when left on the tree until fully ripe the between and F. Since the av- stone cells are more noticeable. Pears erage grower does not have a storage about the time the green should be picked that can be kept at this temperature, he in the fruit begins to fade and the fruit can improve the quality by ripening his becomes lighter and slightly yellow. Most pears in a cool basement or cellar. This varieties do not develop as high quality if left to ripen on the tree as when they will not be cool enough for the best are picked at this stage and allowed to quality but will be an improvement over ripen in a relatively cool place. The best fruits ripened at ordinary room tempera- temperature to ripen pears is probably ture.

# 34 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

II. SMALL FRUITS STRAWBERRY CULTURE

Soil Preparation

In the home garden or in commercial before setting the plants. Strawberries planting it is desirable that the soil be thrive on a wide variety of soil types, thoroughly prepared before the straw- but good internal soil drainage is very berry plants are set. It is advisable to important because the shallow-rooted use either a heavy application of barn- strawberry plants will not tolerate "wet yard manure or to turn under a green feet" or poor drainage. Strawberries are manure or cover crop such as lespedeza, ordinarily set on ridges three to 12 inches soybeans, or cowpeas in the fall in order tc increase the humus content and im- high to provide good internal soil drain- prove the physical condition of the soil age.

Varieties

There is a large number of strawberry ium acid. Plants are resistant to leaf varieties but only a few are well adapted diseases. Well adapted to South Missis- for home garden or commercial planting sippi. in Mississippi. Some varieties are very Massey. Berries ripen mid-season to much localized in their climatic adap- late, medium in size, firm and sweet. tations. In choosing a variety to be grown Good plant producer. commercially, it is advisable to select Missionary. Berries ripen early, deep one which has been tested or grown in red, and firm. Adapted to South Mis- your area and proved successful. All of sissippi. the varieties listed below are not adapted Suwannee. Berries ripen mid-season to in all parts of Mississippi; however, a early, medium size, and have a long conic grower can select one or more of the va- shape. They have very good dessert rieties for any section of the state. Dis- quality but are not firm enough for ship- ease resistance is a factor to be consider- ping, and are suggested as suitable for ed in choosing a variety, especially for home gardens. Very prolific plant pro- South Mississippi. ducer and resistant to drought. Blak^ore. Berries ripen early, light Tennessee Beauty. Berries ripen mid- red, firm, and rather acid: Very pro- season to late, large in size, medium red, lific plant producer. Susceptible to glossy, firm, and have good quality. "Blakemore Yellows." Well adapted to Produces large crowns and medium North Mississippi. amount of runners. Fairmore. Berries ripen early, large, Tennessee Shipper. medium red, firm and sweet. Plants are Berries ripen early large and produce ample runners, adapt- to mid-season, medium in size, light red, and very firm. Produces ed to all parts of Mississippi. medium amount of runners. Klondike. Berries ripen mid-season, medium size, firm, roundish, medium Tennessee Supreme. Berries ripen early red in color, and medium acid. Makes to mid-season, medium in size, medium runners freely. red, good quality and is adapted for Klonmore. Berries ripen early, med- quick freezing. Too soft for shipping. ium size, light red color, firm and med- Produces runners freely. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 35

^ "<^-*r f0 ^

^ ^ ^ '-''^ ^

-..t^'^ >^

Figure 29. Strawberries planted to the hill system as practiced in South Mississippi.

Figure 30. Strawberries trained to the matted row system at State College in May, 1947. Note width of bed and pine straw mulch. 36 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPKRIMLNT STATION BULLETIN 450

Training

There are two systems of growing plants should be used. When plants are strawberries in Mississippi, therefore the to be obtained from a nursery it is ad- methods of handUng plants are differ- visable to place the order early in the ent. In extreme South Mississippi, the fall and when the plants arrive to "heel" Gulf Coast area, the hill system of cul- them in soil unless they can be set in ture is used. In this area the plants are the field immediately. If it is necessary set in the field in October, November, to hold the plants a few days, dig a shal- or December in hills and the berries are low trench and place the roots in the harvested in March and April. The trench then pack soil around the roots plants are set on ridges either in single and water them. When the plants are or double rows. Usually a three- to three- set in the field, each should be set in a and-one-half foot alley is left between hole which is large enough to spread single rows and a two- to three-foot alley out the roots. The proper depth for set- between double rows. The double rows ting plants is shown in figure 31. Plants are set 12 to 15 inches apart and plants which are set too deep will not be able are spaced 12 to 15 inches apart in the to grow out of the soil and those set too row. shallow may dry out and die. the matted row system of cul- The matted row system is used in cen- Where tral and North Mississippi. Plants are ture is used, it is desirable to pick the set 18 to 24 inches apart on ridges which blossoms from the plants the first spring are three to four feet apart. Plants may thus preventing the formation of fruits. be set in late fall, winter, or early spring This practice causes runner formation to and permitted to form runner plants begin earlier in the spring and the new plants well established the in spring and summer. It is desirable to become before get the plants set in winter or early hot dry weather of summer. The field spring so that runners will be formed in or garden plot should be kept cultivated early summer, and develop good root sys- and free of weeds and grass. When the tems before the summer droughts. The rurners begin to form roots the matted matted rows may become 18 to 20 inches row is formed and the middle may be 12 wide by late fall. reduced to to 18 inches in width. Some varieties, especially the Blakemore, are Plants may be secured from a nursery prolific plant producers and if the plants or grown at home for setting a straw become excessively tliick the first sum- berry field or garden plot. If the plants mer they may be thinned with a triang- are grown at home, only young healthy ular hoe in early fall.

Fertilizers

Shortly after the plants are set in the lizer at the same rate will help the plants field for the matted row system an apipli- develop vigorous crowns and aid in fruit cation of commercial fertilizer such as bud formation. The third fertilizer ap- 6-8-8, or one of similar analysis, may plication, at the same rate, should be be applied at the rate of 300 to 500 applied in January or early February. At pounds per acre or one pound for each this time the fertilizer will encourage fast 25 to 40 feet of row. This application plant growth as well as flower and fruit will help the plants to become established development. The fertilizer applications and to increase early runner formation. for a bearing field would be: (1) Im- In late summer, or early fall, September mediately after harvest when the beds are or October, another application of ferti- renovated; (2) in late summer or early ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 37 fall, September or early October; and (3) tilizer may be applied in bands on the January or early February. sides of the row and plowed under. In In South Mississippi apply a complete winter the fertilizer may be applied fertilizer at the rate of 900 to 1,200 broadcast on top of the matted row. This pounds per acre before the plants are fertilizer must be applied when the plants set and an application in January of 300 are dry and must be brushed from the to 400 pounds per acre. leaves of plants, using a broom or a limb In spring and early summer the fer- from an evergreen such as a cedar.

Mulching

Strawberry fields and garden plots also serves the purpose of keeping down should be mulched in January or Febru- weeds, conserving moisture, and provid- ary. Pine straw, small grain straw, and mg some protection from late freezes and legume stover are satisfactory materials. frosts. Spread the mulch over the entire The mulch is applied primarily to keep the berries off of the ground, thus keep- area and work the straw down among ing them clean and preventing rot. it and around the plants by hand.

Harvesting and Marketing

Strawberries are highly perishable and marketing. The harvesting season ordi- require special care in harvesting and narily lasts three to five weeks. During

A B

Figure 31. The black line indicates right and wrong depths for setting strawberry plants. A. Too shallow; B. Correct depth; C. Too deep. 38 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

the first week of harvest the berries sumed. The berries should be picked by should be picked every two or three pinching off the stems one-fourth to one- days, and during the remainder of the half inch from the berry and handled

season it is best to pick either every day carefully to avoid bruising. or every other day. The proper stage of The berries arc harvested and market- ripeness is important when picking for ed in pint baskets in South Mississippi either home use or for market. Full red- and in quart baskets in North Missis- ripe berries are desirable for home use, sippi. Berries which are to be shipped or and most of the firm-fruited varieties sold on the market are packed in 24- should also be picked at this stage for pint or 24-quart crates. A high-quality,

market. The berries should be picked uniform package of berries is desirable early in the morning, while they are cool, either for local or distant markets. U. S.

but not while they are wet with rain or No. 1 graded strawberries must be not dew. It is desirable to keep the berries less than three-fourths inch in diameter in the shade, and cool from the time they and must not contain more than five are picked until they are marketed or con- percent grade defects.

Renovation

Renovation or after-harvest care of old the mulch is the first step in renovation. beds is important in central and north The rows are ordinarily "barred off" or Mississippi. In south Mississippi the one side of the row plowed up with a plants are ordinarily discarded after one turn plow until the width of remaining crop is harvested. Wherever the matted row is six to 15 inches wide. Varieties row system of culture is practiced two which produce few runners are left with or more crops are ordinarily harvested wider rows at this time. the field. of from The number years a The field is then fertilized and kept field is harvested will depend on soil shallow cultivated during the remainder fertility, insect and disease infestation, of the summer. New runner plants are and weeds in the field. Renovation, where practiced, should be done immedi- formed and will produce berries the fol- ately after the last harvest. Removal of lowing spring.

GROWING BRAMBLES

Plants which belong to the botanical even in North Mississippi. Blackberries genus Rubus are called brambles. Black- and raspberries have upright canes while berries, dewberries, and raspberries be- dewberries have flexible canes and are long to this group and in general require often defined as trailing blackberries. somewhat similar cultural treatment. The In the United States there are many brambles have perennial roots with bi- varieties of blackberries, dewberries, and ennial tops, which grow one summer raspberries and many new varieties of then produce fruit the next spring and these fruits have been produced by breed- die. Blackberries and dewberries grow ing and selection work in the past few wild in most parts of Mississippi, where- years. Many of the newer varieties are as raspberries are indigenous to more now on test at State College and in a northern climates and require special cul- few years more adequate information con- tural treatment to induce them to grow cerning these will be available. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 39

Blackberry Varieties

The Brainerd, Early Harvest, Eldorado very vigorous variety and may require and Himalaya are varieties which can severe pruning. be grown in Mississippi. Himalaya is a

Dewberry Varieties

Lucretia is one of the oldest varieties adapted wherever Youngberries can be and is still popular in some areas. The grown. The fruits are somewhat larger fruits are small and reasonably firm. than Youngberries and ripen a few days Youngberry. This variety originated later. Both thornless and thorny strains nurseries, in Louisiana and is well adapted in Mis- are available from commercial sissippi. It ripens 10 days later than Lu- however the thornless strain is generally cretia and is larger and sweeter at ma- preferred. turity. There are both thorny and thorn- Cameron. A jet black, shiny berry less strains of this variety, and because which originated in North Carolina and of the ease in handling the thornless may be worthy of trial in Mississippi. strain is commonly preferred. Rossberry. A mid-season variety which Boysenberry. This variety originated originated in Texas and has not been in California in 1935 and seems to be widely tested in Mississippi.

Figure 32. Washington red raspberry plants trained to the hedge row system on a three-wire vertical trellis at State College in June, 1947. 40 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

Raspberry Varieties

Raspberry varieties are classified accord- rieties, although we cannot be sure that ing to the color of fruit into four classes: all of them will perform satisfactorily red, black, purple, and yellow. Varieties over a period of years.

having different colors of fruit may re Red-fruited varieties. Washington, quire somewhat different cultural treat- Willamette, Sunbeam, Cuthbert, Indian ment. The varieties of raspberries listed Summer and Early Wonder. below have produced fruit only one year Purple-fruited varieties. Marion and at State College. While these varieties Potomac. gave satisfactory fruit, quality, yields, Yellow-fruited variety. Golden Queen. and made good plant growth there were

other varieties which were unsatisfactory. Black-fruited varieties. M o r r i s o r, The prospective grower may try a small Hyde's Blackcap, Bristol, Cumberland, planting of one or more of these va- Munger and Black Honey.

Propagation

Dewberries are propagated by cover- Red- and yellow-fruited raspberries ing the tips of canes with soil in late form new plants called suckers from the summer or early fall. The tips will take tips of roots. These suckers are produc- root and form new plants which can be ed freely by most varieties and can be moved to a new location in early spring. dug in winter and early spring and mov-

Blackberries can be propagated by di- ed to the new location. vision of crowns or by making root cut- Black- and purple-fruited raspberries tings. These cuttings should be about are propagated by tip layerage. Tn the

the size of a lead pencil and three to four early fall the tips of canes are covered inches long. They may be planted in a with soil, after which roots and new shallow trench and covered one or two plants are formed. The tips of canes can

inches deep in a nursery row in the fall. be induced to branch by pinching out the A sandy loam makes a good soil for ends during the summer so that large these cuttings. numbers of tip layers can be made.

Establishing the Planting

When the brambles are to be grown Careful soil preparation is needed bein the home garden they should be fore the brambles are set. A heavy ap- planted at one side of the garden so that plication of barnyard manure, or a cover they do not interfere with cultivation oi crop may be turned under in the fall. the other garden crops. In selecting a The soil should be disked and harrowed site for a field of brambles a northern and thoroughly pulverized before the

slope is desirable; it should have good plants are set. surface and sub-surface drainage, as Plants obtained from a reliable nur- brambles will not tolerate poor internal sery, which have been inspected by a

soil drainage. A sandy loam soil is state plant inspection service, are less li- preferred but they will grow on other able to be diseased. An experienced grovv'- soil types provided the drainage is ade- er may prefer to propagate plants to use quate. in expanding his own plantings. Bram- ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 41 bles may be set in the fall or early spring cultivation, but rows should be from six and the top of the plants should be prun- to 10 feet. The wider rows will permit ed back either to the ground or almost tractor cultivation. Plants are usually to the ground as soon as the plants spaced six or more feet apart in the rows. are set. This reduces the possibility of The same width of rows may be satis- carrying over diseases on the old canes. factory for blackberries. Raspberry rows The planting distances will be deter- should be about six feet apart with plants mined by the method of cultivation and spaced two to six feet apart in the row training. The distance between dewberry depending on the method of training rows will be determined by the means of which will be used.

Pruning and Training

The two methods of training brambles are the hill and hedge-row systems. Rasp- berries and blackberries may be trained to either hill or hedge-row system, where- as dewberries are grown only in the hill system. In establishing the hedge-row system the plants are spaced close together in the row and permitted to form new plants until a hedge results, as illustrated in figure 32. In the hill system the plants are set and maintained in hills and new plants are not permitted to grow between the original plants. When raspberries and blackberries are grown in a hedge-row they are trained on either a vertical trellis of two or more wires strung above the plants or on a horizontal trellis of two wires at two or more feet above the ground level. They are tied to a stake if they are grown by the hill system. Dewberries are grown by the hill system and trail on the ground all summer and until the following March. They are then trained on either a stake, figure 33, or on a trellis, similar to those used for raspberries and blackberries. Dewberry canes should not be picked up off of the ground until late February or early March when the danger of hard freezes is past. They should be trained on stakes or a trellis just before the buds begin to swell, otherwise Figure 33. A Thornless boysenberry plant many buds will be rubbed off while trained on a stake which is 6 feet tall. Note new canes coming from the crown at the left handling them. The dewberry canes are of the stake. gathered into a bundle and spiraled 42 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

around the stake and tied at the top or either be pruned in this manner or all wound around the wires of the trelHs. of the above ground part of the plant Brambles should be pruned immediate- may be pruned off and burned. Growers

ly after the harvest has been completed. generally prefer to cut off all of the top The raspberry and blackberry canes which growth of the dewberry because of the have borne fruit should be pruned out ease in handling, and with good care ade- and carried from the field and burned. can be obtained Burning the old canes reduces the source quate growth between of infection of diseases. Dewberries may pruning time and frost.

Summer Care

Raspberries plantings should be plow- to make liberal applications of high ni- ed in early spring after the plants are trogen fertilizers. The straw mulch serves set, then a heavy application of straw two outstanding purposes: to conserve mulch should be applied to the soil moisture by retarding runoff and reduc- around the plants. Small grain straw ing evaporation, and to keep the soil or legume stover may be used and it temperature lower than it would be un- should never be removed but should be der clean cultivation. renewed each year. Pine straw is not Dewberries and blackberries should be suitable as a mulch. In order to com- kept cleanly cultivated from the time they pensate for the nitrogen used in the de- are set until fall. In early spring when composition of the straw, it is necessary the dewberries are trained on the stakes

Figure 34. Thornless Boysenberry plant trained on a two wire vertical trellis. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 43

or trellis they should be cultivated again. and worked into the soil. If the dewberries are grown with wide Mature bramble plants should be fer- middles between the rows, sometimes a tilized twice per year—in late February winter cover crop may be grown in the or March at the time that dewberries middle without detrimental effects to the should be trained, and immediately after

vines and thus provide a fresh supply of the harvest period is over. The rate and

humus for the soil when it is plowed kind of fertilizer will depend on soil fer- under. tility and plant growth. From 300 to Newly set bramble plants can be fer- 500 pounds of complete commercial fertilized with a complete fertilizer (such as tilizer and 100 to 200 pounds of nitrate

6-8-8) at the rate of 300 to 500 pounds of soda per acre at each application is per acre to aid in rapid plant growth. usually adequate. A somewhat higher This fertilizer should be applied either rate of application of high nitrogen fer- in bands on each side of the row or in a tilizer should be used on raspberries circle nine to 12 inches from the plant growing in an old straw mulch.

Harvesting

Bramble fruits are extremely perishable poses pick blackberries and dewberries and should be handled as carefully as when they have turned black but are

possible at harvest time. They should be still firm.

moved to market immediately with ideal Pick in the cool of the morning but transportation. Blackberries and dew- not when the berries are wet. Handle berries are usually harvested in quart the berries as gently as possible and use baskets which are packed in 24-quart first fingers crates. Raspberries are handled best in the thumb and two when pint containers and packed in 24-pint picking. Do not hold many berries in crates. Raspberries are soft and should be the hand at one time. They should be picked only into shallow containers of picked directly into the container in small volume. which they are to be sold and then kept Raspberries are ready to pick when m the shade until they are marketed or they are well colored and separate read- used. The baskets should be well filled

ily from the core. For commercial pur- to make allowance for slight shrinkage. GRAPE PRODUCTION Selecting a Site

Muscadine grapes grow well in all internal water drainage are best; grapes parts of Mississippi, but bunch grapes grow well on almost all types of soil, are better adapted to Central and North but a sandy or gravelly loam is prefer- Mississippi. In planning a commercial red; proximity to market should be con- vineyard many factors should be consid- sidered; availability of water for spray- ered: A site with good air drainage is ing, and erosion control should be con- preferred; soils with good surface and sidered before setting a vineyard.

Varieties

Muscadine varieties are of three types: vines which produce pollen only. In 1946 Varieties with only female flowers, va- the U. S. Department of Agriculture and rieties with perfect flowers, and male North Carolina Experiment Station intro- 44 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

duced the first perfect-flowered and self- eight to 12 vines as pollinators. Thisj fertile muscadine varieties with com- will result in an increased production in mercial prospects. This second type of the muscadine vineyards. The musca- variety is effective in pollinating the dine grapes season begins in late August! female varieties and can replace the male vines which were formerly used every and ordinarily extends to October.

Female Varieties

Creek. Ripens late, reddish purple, most widely grown of the muscadine slightly tart, good quality fruit. Report- grapes. ed in other states to be good for juice Topsail. Very sweet and good quality* and wine making. large white berries and makes vigorous Hunt. One of the best varieties, pro- vine growth. A 1946 U, S. Department ductive, black, even ripening, and ripens Thomas. Sweet flavor, ripens early to early in the fall. mid-season, and has reddish purple color,

Scuppernong. Ripens early, sweet with of Agriculture introduction that is self- a good flavor, bronze skin, and is the sterile.

Self Fertile Varieties

Burgaw. Black color, musty flavor, probably the best of the self-fertile va- vines vigorous and productive. It is rieties.

Figure 35. Concord grapes which were produced at State College on vines grafted on Dog Ridge rootstock. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 45

Wallace. Bronze colored fruit, small some poUinizing parent such as Cham-

size, mild acid flavor. panel must be grown close to it.

A male vine must be used for every Moores Early. Black fruit, ripens ear- eight to 12 vines of female varieties un- ly, medium size, and medium vigor.

is used for pol- less a self-fertile variety Muench. Black fruit, late, small lination. These male vines produce pol- berry, vines have medium vigor. len but no fruit. Salamander. Red fruit, medium size, There are numerous bunch grape va- good quality, and very vigorous vine rieties available but only a few are adapt- growth. ed to Mississippi growing conditions. The Several varieties with weak vine following varieties grow reasonably well growth when grown on their own roots on their own roots: can produce good crops when grafted Champanel. Black fruit, ripens mid- cn Dog Ridge or some other vigorous season, medium in size, good juice grape, rootstock. The following varieties may

. vines very vigorous- be thus classified:

Extra. Black fruit, ripens mid-season Catawba. Red fruit, ripens late, med- to late, large in size, sets fruit well, vines ium-sized berry. vigorous. Concord. Black fruit, ripens mid- Lukfata. Black fruit ripens mid-sea- season, medium to large berries and clus- son, medium cluster size, very good ters. This is a good juice grape but

vigor. It is not a self-fertile variety and commonly ripens unevenly when vines

Figure 36. Delaware vineyard at State College in August, 1947. These vines are growing on Dog Ridge rootstock and are spaced 10 feet in the row and the rows are 10 feet apart. 46 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

grow very vigorously, also when vigor orously growing on Dog Ridge rootstock

is very low. are shown in figure 36. Niagara. White fruit, ripens mid- Delaware. Red fruit, ripens early to season, large berries and clusters. mid-season, small size of berry and clus- Portland. White fruit, ripens very

ter. Excellent table grape. Vines vig- early, medium size.

Propagation

Cuttings. Bunch grapes which can this is a convenient method. be grown on their own roots are prop- Layers consist of new canes from the agated by cuttirgs which are made in old vine which are buried in shallow the dormant season. Cuttings should be trenches so that they may form roots. made from short-jointed canes which are Bunch grapes can be propagated by sim- about the size of a lead pencil. The cut- ple layerage; that is, bury a part of a tings can be made eight to 20 inches cane andTeave the top out to continue long and if only a few vines are needed growing. The cane will form roots on they may be planted directly in the nur- the underground portion. Muscadine sery row. If many cuttings are to be grapes are propagated by continuous lay- made it is desirable to tie them in con- erage. Either the entire cane or all ex- venient-sized bundles, with the butts all cept the tip is buried in a shallow trench. turned the same direction. The bundles New plants form at each node when roots should be heeled in or buried in trenches form and the bud begins to grow. These with the butt ends up so they can callus. layers are left covered with soil until In early spring these cuttings should be they are well rooted and have formed planted three to six inches apart in nur- some new cane growth. sery rows which are wide enough for Grafting. Bunch grape varieties can convenient cultivation. Set the cuttings be established on vigorous rootstocks deep enough so that only the upper bud either by using the chip bud in August, will be above the ground. Firm the soil or whip-graft, cleft-graft, or chip bud, around the cuttings. in the dormant season. Further inform- Layers. Muscadine grapes are prop- ation on grafting techniques can be ob- agated only by layerage. Layers can be tained from U.S.D.A. Farmers' Bulletin made in July or in the fall. For home No. 471 and Missouri State Fruit Ex- propagation of a few bunch grape vines periment Station Bulletin No. 32.

Planting the Vineyard

The soil should be well supplied with When the vineyard is to be set on level organic matter before the vines are set. land the best exposure to the sun is ob- This can be accomplished by either using tained by running the rows north and a heavy application of barnyard manure south. On hillsides the rows should fol- or plowing under one or more cover low the contour of the land. This helps crops such as cowpeas. Young vines are prevent erosion and facilitates cultiva- especially responsive to organic matter. tion. Newly cleared land or land which has Planting distances for bunch grapes been in sod should be cultivated two or may vary from 8x8 feet in a small vine- more years before the vineyard is set. yard for horse cultivation to 10 x 10 feet ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 47

where tractor cultivation is to be used. may be spaced as wide as 12 feet in the The distance in the row can be as Utde rows. Rows for muscadine grapes train- as seven feet for some weak-growing va- ed on a vertical trellis should be about 10 rieties. Concord and other varieties feet wide and the vines spaced 15 to 20 which grow very vigorous on rootstocks feet apart in the rows. Muscadines which

Figure 38. The same vine as shown in figure 37 after proper pruning Note renewal spurs on main trunk. 48 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

Figure 39. Unpruned muscadine vine trained ight-arm Kniffin system. (From Mississippi Experiment Station Bulletin 381).

are to be trained on an overhead trellis should be pruned back to one strong can be spaced 15 x 15 feet and in a few shoot with two buds and the roots should years will completely occupy the land. be cut back to eight or 10 inches. Dig When grape vines are received from holes large enough to accommodate the the nursery they should be heeled in un- root system and plant with only the two til ready to set in the vineyard. The vines buds above ground. Pack the soil firmly should be set in the dormant season. They around the roots.

Pruning and Training

Training is concerned with establish- grapes but only two will be described ing the parts of the vine to insure good here because of their simplicity and ease distribution, and to facilitate the cultural of pruning. operations such as pruning, cultivation, The Kniffin system is illustrated in spraying, and harvesting. Pruning con figures 37, 38, 39, and 40 and can be trols the yield, size, and quality of fruii used equally well for bunch grapes and the vine will produce. Grapes should be muscadines. To establish this system for pruned during the early part of the dor bunch grapes the posts should be set be- mant season. November to January is a tween every other vine and should be good time to prune and less bleeding is four to five feet above the ground. Use likely to occur at this time than when No. 9 or No. 10 wire, with the lower vines are pruned in February or March. strand half the height of the posts and There are numerous systems of training the upper one near the top of the posts. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 49

The end posts should be well braced and shoots which arise from buds on the the wires stretched tight so they will canes which grew the previous season, provide ample support for the vines. The therefore in pruning bunch grapes, as two-, three-, or four-wire Kniffin sys- illustrated in figures 37 and 38, the four tem can be used for muscadines with arms or canes should be of the previous posts set between the vines. The over- season's growth. The buds on these head system can be in the form of an ar- canes will produce shoots in early spring bor covered with woven wire or a trellis which bear the fruit. These four canes especially prepared for a large vineyard. in figure 38 should be tied loosely to the The overhead trellis is well adapted for vines with large twine. Each cane, de- muscadines. When an overhead trellis pending on the vigor of the vine, should is to be established the vines are set have eight to 15 buds after pruning. Sev- equi-distant in all directions and a post eral renewal spurs are made by cutting is set by each vine. This post should some of the other canes on or near the extend about seven or eight feet above trunk back to two to four buds. The ground. Wires are stretched between the canes which will grow from the buds on posts on the square and diagonally be- these renewal spurs may be used as tween these wires. This system has eight arms for the vine the next pruning sea- strands of wire radiating from each post son. and one is trained on each wire. arm Pruning muscadine grapes differs The severity of pruning a grape vine fundamentally from that of bunch grapes will depend on such factors as age, vigor, only in that the arms are permanent as and variety. Weak growing varieties well as the trunk. The arms are only such as Delaware are pruned more sev- renewed whenever one becomes weak erely than strong growing varieties, as Champanel. All grapes are produced on from old age or other reasons.

Fertilizers and Cultivation

During the early years of the vineyard will give favorable growth response to it may be necessary to apply one or two annual applications of potash at the rate pounds of commercial fertilizer, such of one-half pound muriate of potash per as 6-8-8, per vine annually. This should vine. be applied in a circle around the vine The vineyard should be cleanly culti- about a month before growth starts. In vated in the spring and early summer. general, high nitrogen fertilizers have In mid-summer a cover crop such as cow- given the best response with grapes, peas or soybeans can be planted and turn- and nitrate of soda may be applied at ed under to aid in maintaining organic the rate of one-half to one pound per matter. A winter cover crop such as rye, vine per year. Nitrate of soda should oats, vetch, crimson clover, or other suit- be applied in two or more applications able crops can be grown but should be during the growing season depending on turned under early in the spring to pre- the rate of growth of the vines. There vent competition with the vines for mois- is evidence that some soils in Mississippi ture and nutrients in early spring.

Harvesting

Unlike some other fruits, grapes do not until they are fully ripe. The typical improve in color or quality after they are color and flavor should be well develop- picked. They should be left on the vine ed. Bunch grapes should be cut from the 50 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450 vine with shears or a sharp knife and which they will be sold. never pulled from the vine. Grapes to Muscadine grapes which are borne in be used for home processing should be small clusters can be hand picked into picked only as needed. Those to be mar- baskets. Commercial growers wait until keted should be picked and marketed the grapes are well ripened then spread immediately. Grapes for sale are usual- a sheet of burlap under the vine and ly packed in two- or four-quart climax shake the vine. Many varieties will baskets or in bushel- or half-bushel bas- "shell" or shake readily from the vine kets. The grapes should be picked and and are then run through a cleaning ma- packed directly into the container in chine to remove leaves and other trash.

PRODUCING BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries are propagated by cuttings inches long and one or two leaves should which should be made from the first be left attached to the top of the cut- of April to the last of May. The earlier tings. The cuttings should not at any dates apply in south Mississippi and the time be permitted to wilt. They should later dates are for north Mississippi. be placed in sand, peat, or a mixture of These cuttings should be four to five the two in a hotbed, coldframe, or green-

\ /

Figure 40. The same vine as shown in figure 39 after proper pruning to eight arms with spurs which are left three to four nodes long. The eight arms are permanent, like the trunk, and

the lateral cane growth is pruned back to spurs each year. The arms are only replaced when they become very old and lack vigor or when they are injured. (From Mississippi Experi- ment Station Bulletin 381.) ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 51 house. The frames should be closed and Home garden plantings can be mulch- litde or no ventilation provided until the ed with straw, sawdust, or tree leaves cuttings have rooted. The cuttings are six to eight inches deep to retain mois- kept moist by watering as needed. It ture, keep the soil cool, and help hold is also necessary to provide partial shade down weeds. Where straw or sawdust during this period. When the cuttings is used it is necessary to add large quan- have started to root the glass sash can be tities of high nitrogen fertilizer to com- gradually raised. The rooted cuttings are pensate for the nitrogen used in the de- left in the coldframe until fall, then they composition. Legume straw and manure are transplanted to the nursery row are not suitable for use in blueberry fields, where they are grown one year before because they have sometimes proved in- they are set in the field. Some success jurious. can be obtained by making hardwood Large blueberry plants can be ferti- cuttings in the dormant season. lized with one to five pounds of com-

Blueberries require a moist, highly acid mercial fertilizer such as 6-8-8. Nitrate soil and do not thrive in areas where the of soda or sulphate of ammonia can be used to counteract the ill-effects soil is not acid. A pH range of 4.0 to of saw- If soil 5.1 is considered best. The plants of rab- dust mulch. the pH is above 5.1, bit-eye blueberry are adapted in the then sulphate of ammonia can be used South and should be spaced 15 x 15 to make the soil more acid. feet apart. There are not many named Blueberry plants are pruned in the dor- varieties of blueberries which have been mant season. Dead wood, broken adequately tested in the South and the branches, old stems which have become desirable varieties from the North should unproductive, and bearing branches near be tested here. Breeding work for va- the ground should be removed. Un- rietal improvements is being conducted pruned blueberry bushes tend to pro- in Georgia. Selections of wild blue- duce large crops of small berries and berries can be seen at the South Missis- pruning is intended to cause the pro- sippi Experiment Station at Poplarville. duction of fewer berries of larger size. 52 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

III. PROTECTION AGAINST IN- SECT AND DISEASE INIURY

General Recommendations

Control of insects and diseases is one for it will be difficult to clean if it dries of the most important, and often the most and this will cause trouble at the next difficult task that the fruit grower faces. spraying time. Hardly a fruit exists which does not have For a few small trees and low grow- some serious insect and disease pests. Most ing plants one can use the compressed air of them should be sprayed regularly in sprayer, or the bucket sprayer as shown order to produce the best fruit, and many in figure 41. For the average home or- must be sprayed if they are to be grown chard one needs a barrel sprayer, or with a reasonable degree of success. wheelbarrow sprayer, but for larger or-

In order for spraying to be effective in chards it is better to use a power spray- the control of insects and diseases a few er. The size and type will depend upon simple precautions should be taken: the size of orchard and kind of fruit to

1. Adequate spray equipment must be be grown. available. Preliminary trials indicate that the 2. Use only recommended spray ma- home orchard may be partially protected terials. against insects and diseases during the 3. Always spray at the regular rec- growing period by dusting. Protection ommended intervals. by dusting is not as complete as by spray- 4. Cover the plant thoroughly. ing, but since many farmers already have

5. Use recommended strength of the dusting equipment, it is better to spray materials. Always weigh or meas- dust and get partial control than not to ure spray materials, never guess. have any control. Scale cannot be con- 6. Always clean spray equipment as trolled by dusting. For further informa- soon as spraying is completed. Don't tion on dusting fruits write the Extension let it stand over night without cleaning. Entomologist, State College, Mississippi.

Figure 41. Hand operated sprayers suitable for small orchards and berry plantings. Left to right: bucket type, compressed air, and wheelbarrow sprayers. The type of pump shown in the wheelbarrow may also be mounted in a 50 gallon barrel for larger home orchards. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 53

Pests of the Apple and Pear

The Codling Moth is probably the the dormant season. tnost serious insect which attacks the ap- Fire Blight is a bacterial disease which ple fruit. It is the larvae of this moth attacks the apple and pear. It causes which causes many of the wormy fruits. the twig to die back and may also form

It is rather difficult to control unless one cankers on larger limbs. Leaves on carefully follows the recommended spray blighted twigs turn black and hang on schedule. On unsprayed trees as much after they die. All blighted twigs should as 90 percent of the fruit may be wormy. be cut and burned as soon as observed. A favorite place for the larvae to enter Cut well below any diseased area. Plant the apple or pear is where two fruits are blight resistant varieties whenever pos- in contact, thus thinning may aid mater- sible. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture ially in the control of the codling moth helps to control blossom blight. bceause well spaced fruit is more easily Bitter Rot is a fungous disease which covered by the spray material than fruit causes apple and pear fruits to rot. It which is too thick. often enters through the injury made

San Jose Scale is a serious pest of the where a codling moth enters the fruit. apple and pear as well as most other It may occur on the fruit at any time fruits. It is a very small sucking insect from June to October, but July and Au- covered with a waxy scale. A limb seri- gust are the worst months. ously infested has a gray scaley appear- The pests mentioned above may be ance. It can be controlled by spraying controlled by following the spray sche- with three percent oil emulsion during dule listed below.

Tabic 1. Spray schedule for apples and pears.

Dilutions

To make one To make 50 Pests to be Time to spray Material needed gallon of spray gallons of spray controlled

1 St spray,

while trees Oil emulsion 1 '/4 cups IVi gallons San Jose scale

are dormant Water 1 gallon 47 Vi gallons

2nd spray, Copper sulphate 2 teaspoons 1 pound when buds Hydrated lime 3 tablespoons 3 pounds Fire blight of

show pink Water 1 gallon 50 gallons the blossoms Codling moth, 3rd spray, Same as 2nd Same as 2nd Same as 2nd tent caterpillar, when % petals spray plus spray plus spray plus scab, pear leaf

have fallen arsenate of lead 5 teaspoons 1 Vi pounds spot 4th spray, Same as 3rd 10 days after Same as 3rd Same as 3rd Same as 3rd spray, also bitter 3rd spray spray spray spray rot and blotch

Copper sulphate 6 Vi teaspoons 4 pounds 5th spray, Hydrated lime 4 tablespoons 4 pounds Codling moth,

3 weeks after Arsenate of lead 5 teaspoons 1 /2 pcjunds bitter rot,

4th spray Water 1 gallon 50 gallons blotch 6th spray, 3 weeks after Same as 5th Same as 5th Same as 5th Same as 5th

the 5th spray spray spray spray • nray

Note: If plant lice appear add nicotine sulphate (Black leaf 40) to the spray material at the rate of one-half pint (one cup) per 50 gallons of spray, or one teaspoon per gallon of spray. 54 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

Pests of the Peach and Plum

San Jose Scale attacks the peach and with Paradichlorobenzene (commonly plum as well as the apple and pear and called PDB), Ethylene Dichloride Emul- the symptoms and treatment are the same. sion, or preferably, Propylene Dichloride

The Plum Curculio is the insect which Emulsion. is responsible for much of our wormy PDB treatment may be used on trees fruit of the peach and plum. The adult four years old or older. Remove the is a beetle similar to the cotton boll wee- grass and weeds from around the trees vil. It lays its eggs in the fruit which and level off the soil. If any roots are hatch out and feed in the fruit. It can exposed, cover them with soil so that the be controlled by spraying with arsenate PDB crystals will not come in contact of lead according to the schedule given with them. Apply the crystals around below. the trunk in a ring one inch to one and Brown Rot causes the fruit of both the one-half inches from the trunk as shown peach and plum to rot. It is very diffi- in figure 42. Use three-fourths of an cult to control during rainy weather at ounce on four to five year old trees and ripening time. Spraying with sulphur one ounce for older trees. On extreme- according to the following schedule will ly large trees as much as one and one- give good control during most years. fourth ounces will be needed. After the Another insect attacking the peach and PDB has been applied place several plum is the Peach-tree-borer. It feeds shovelsfull of soil over it and pack with on the inner bark of the trunk at the the back of the shovel. Care should be ground level and slightly below the soil taken not to push any of the crystals line. Its presence can be detected by against the trunk. Four weeks after ap- the gum exuding from the trurk at the plying the crystals the mound of soil ground level. Trees should be treated should be removed. Apply the treatment for the borers each fall. It can be ef- in north Mississippi alDout October 5 lo fectively controlled by treating the trees 10; in central Mississippi from October

Table 2. Spray schedule for peach and plum. Dilutions To make one To make 50 Pests to be Time to spray Material needed gallon of spray gallons of spray controlled

1st spray,

while trees Oil emulsion 1 '/4 cups IVi gallons San Jose Scale

are dormant Water 1 gallon 47/2 gallons

2nd spray, Arsenate of lead 3 teaspoons 1 pound when % petals Zinc sulphate 4 tablespoons 4 pounds have fallen Kydrated lime 4 tablespoons 4 pounds Curculio

Water 1 gallon 50 gallons 3rd spray, 10 days after Same as 2nd Same as 2nd Same as 2nd Same as 2nd 2nd spray spray spray spray spray 4th spray, 2 weeks after Wettable sulphur Follow directions Follow directions Brown rot and 3rd spray Water on container on container Scab

Water 1 gallon 50 gallons 5th spray, Wettable sulphur Same as above Same as above 4 weeks before Zinc sulphate 4 tablespoons 4 pounds Curculio, Brown ripening Hydrated lime 4 tablespoons 4 pounds rot, and Scab " Arsenate of lead 3 teaspoons / ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 55

10 to 15; and in south Mississippi from shovelsfuU of soil. It is not necessary to October 15 to 20. remove the soil later as with PDB treat- Either Propylene Bichloride Emulsion ments. If there are any cracks in the or Ethylene Bichloride emulsion treat- soil around the tree they should be filled ment may be used on any age tree with to prevent the solution from reaching the safety if applied carefully. Apply in roots. If the soil is hard it may be neces-

October or November, although it may sary to cup the soil around the tree to be effective when applied during any prevent the solution from running off. warm period in the fall, winter, or spring. Follow the directions on the container

The diluted emulsion is sprayed or pour- of commercial emulsions in making the ed about the base of the tree, but not on dilutions. the trunk, and covered with several Where none of the above treatments

Table 3. Recommended dilutions for a 50 percent solution of Propylene Dichloride. of 1 Amount Amount of Amount of solution to use Number of trees 1

Age of tree emulsion to use water 1 per tree this will treat

1 year 1 gallon 9 gallons 1/8 pint 640

2 years 1 gallon r2/3 gallon 1/4 pint 212 3 years 1 gallon J 2/3 gallon 1/2 pint 106

4 years and older ] gallon 4 gallons 1/2 pint 80

Figure 42. The correct way to apply Paradich lorobcnzcne (PDB) around a peach tree. Cry- stals should not touch the trunk. Left, inner part of PDB ring should be one and one-half inches from tree; Right, soil should be mounded around the tree, covering crystals three or four inches deep. 56 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450 can be used, the larvae can be removed sect attacking several fruits. The larvae by hand with the aid of a sharp knife. may attack the young twigs causing the Careful removal of the soil from around ends to wilt and dry, or the fruits caus- the trunk will usually reveal the borers ing them to be wormy. Cutting out and under the jelly. This should be done in destroying the wilted twigs may check late November or December when the further infestation to some extent but no borers are large enough to be found satisfactory control has been found. The easily. Care should be taken not to in- use of DDT is promising. For rec- jure the tree any more than necessary ommendations as to its use write the in digging out the borers. Entomology Department, State College,

The Oriental Fruit Moth is another in- Mississippi.

Pests of the Pecan

There are several insects and diseases tion in Mississippi," and U. S. D, A. attacking the pecan in Mississippi. For ^ , n • ,n^^ „t ,L r • • Farmers Bui etm No, 1829, Insects and the controlf 1 ot these write torc Mississippi\r ' Extension Circular 138, "Pecan Produc- Diseases of the Pecan and their Control."

Strawberries

There are three common leaf diseases Mississippi but in north Mississippi good of strawberries: leaf blight, leaf scorch crops can usually be grown without and leaf spot. The spots and diseased spraying. areas caused by these three diseases range "Blakemore Yellows" is a physiological in color from gray to tan, brown, and disease for which no control is known. purple. All of these diseases can be controlled by spraying as indicated below. Use of "Yellows Free" strains whenever

These diseases are more severe in south possible is the only preventative measure.

Table 4. Spray schedule for strawberries. Dilutions

Materials To make one To make 50 Pests to be Time to spray needed gallon spray gallons spray controlled When growth Copper sulphate 6 teaspoons 3 pounds Leaf spot, begins in spring, Hydrated lime 16 teaspoons 4 pounds Leaf scorch, and

if needed. Water 1 gallon 50 gallons Leaf blight

Spreader 1 teaspoon 3 ounces

Note: If leaf diseases are prevalent repeat the above spray at two-week intervals until just before fruit is ripe. Another application or two may be needed between harvest time and frost.

If insect damage to the leaves is noted, add one pound of arsenate of lead to 50 gallons of spray.

Raspberries

Anthracnose is a disease which attacks spots become ashy gray in the center and both leaves and stems and may cause usually have a regular outline. canes to die entirely. "Gray bark" is one Crown Gall. This disease results in phase of this disease which is noted on galls or enlarged areas on the roots of the plants or on the stem near the ground the canes in late summer and fall. line. The only control measure is to ob- Leaf Spot. Small purple dots appear on tain disease-free nursery stock and plant the leaves in early summer and rarely ex- in areas where infection has not been ceed one-fourth inch in diameter. The observed. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 57

Table 5. Sprav schedule for ras pberries. Dilutions

Materials To make one To make 50 Pests to be Time to apply needed gallon of spray gallons of spray controlled Delayed dormant. Lime-sulphur Anthracnose

r>? n t Apply when buds 33° Baume /4 pill I 5 gallons

begin to swell Water 1 gallon 45 gallons Pre-bloom. Be- Anthracnose and tween time canes Copper sulphate 6 teaspoons 3 pounds leaf spots are 8 inches Hvdrated lime 16 teaspoons 4 pounds

long and blos- Water 1 gallon 50 gallons

soming Spreader I teaspoon 3 ounces Immediately after harvest Same Same Same Same

: 3 to 4 weeks later Same Same Same Same

Grapes

Black Rot. This is the most common duce the source of infection.

disease of grapes and is especially seri- Anthracnose. This disease is often call- ous on certain varieties in the Gulf Coast ed "bird's-eye" rot because the spots on region. This fungus may attack shoots, fruits are ashy gray and sunken with a leaves, blossoms, and fruits. It attacks dark colored margin. The leaves are also only young tender tissues and is espe- attacked and the infected areas may drop cially noticeable on the fruits where half- out leaving ragged holes in the leaves. grown fruits shrivel up and become hard Grape Berry Moth. The larvae of this dry mummies, which continue to hang insect is a greenish caterpillar about three- on the cluster. The disease organism eights of an inch long when full grown over-winters on the vines and trash in the and feeds on fruit clusters and grown vineyard, and strict sanitation helps re- berries.

Table 6. Spray schedule for grapes.

Dilutions

Materials To make one To make 50 Pests to be Time to spray needed gallon of spray gallons of spray controlled

Copper sulphate 6 teaspoons 4 pounds Anthracnose and

Hvdrated lime 1 6 teaspoons 4 pounds black rot

Dormant Water 1 gallon 50 gallons

Copper sulphate 5 teaspoons 3 pounds Anthracnose and

When new canes Hydrated lime 1 6 teaspoons 4 pounds black rot

are 4 to 6 Water I gallon 50 gallons

inches long Spreader 1 teaspoon 3 ounces

Copper sulphate 6 teaspoons 3 pounds Anthracnose,

Hydrated lime 1 6 teaspoons 4 pounds black rot, grape-

Arsenate of lead 3 teaspoons 1 pound berry moth, and

Just before Water 1 gallon 50 gallons leaf chewing

blooming Spreader 1 teaspoon 3 ounces insects

As fruit sets Same Same Same Same 2 weeks later Same Same Same Same 2-3 weeks be-

fore fruit is mature Same Same Same Same

Note: If plant lice become numerous they can be controlled by adding one-half pint of nicotine sulphate (Black-leaf 40) to each 50 gallons of spray or one teaspoon per gallon. 58 MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 450

Grape Leaf Hoppers. These pale yel- When only a few vines are grown it low or white insects feed on the under- is possible to exclude insect and disease side of the leaves by sucking juices from pests from the grapes by tying a five the leaves. They are very active and can pound paper bag around each cluster often be noted in large numbers unless shortly after blossoming and leaving it control measures are applied. until the fruit is harvested.

IV. SIZE OF HOME ORCHARDS

With reasonably good care, the farm This fact should be considered in fol- orchard and berry plantings do not need lowing these recommendations, to be very large in order to supply the ^^^^^ 7- dumber of fruit plants needed to sup- family with all of the fruit that it will

• ply a family of five, , ^ , 1 r need. General recommendations tor an . Number of plants average farm family would be approxi- ^ | Peaches 12 mately as shown in table 7. Pears 6 During good fruit years these plants Apples 8 Plums will supply more fruit than the family 6 will need. However, these suggestions pigs"^ 2 are made to provide a reasonable amount Persimmon 2 of fruit even in poor years. One must Bunch Grapes 8 Muscadine Grapes lemember that certain of these fruits in- 3 11- 1 1 . Ill Dewberries -"'O cludmg apples, raspberries, and blue- Raspberries 15 berries will not thrive in certain parts Blueberries 6 of the state, as has already been discussed. Strawberries 100

V. SELECTED REFERENCES

For those readers who are interested culture the following books and bulletins in more detailed information vari- on the ^j-e recommended, ous phases of orchard and small fruit

Tree Fruits Book

Talbert, T. J., General Horticulture. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. 1946.

Bulletins

Culpepper, C. W., Lutz, J. M. and aging Young Apple Orchards. U. S. Moon, H. M., Handling and Preparing D. A. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1897. 1942. the Kieffer Pear for Use as a Food. U. S. Moznette, G. F. and Others, Insects and D. A. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1796. 1938. Diseases of the Pecan and Their Control. Gould, H. P., Fig Growing in the U. S. D. A. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1829. South Atlantic and Gulf States. U. S. D. 1940. A. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1031. 1935. Pruning Hardy Fruits, U. S. D. A. Hines, Chesley and Gossard, A. C.. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1870. 1941. Pecan Production in Mississippi. Missis- The Home Fruit Garden in the South- sippi Extension Circular No. 138. 1946. eastern and Central Southern States. U. S.

Magness, J. R., Establishing and Man- D. A. Leaflet No. 219. 1942. ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUIT CULTURE IN MISSISSIPPI 59

Small Fruits Book

Shoemaker, J. S., Small Fruit Culture. delphia. 1946. P. Blakiston's Sons and Co., Inc., Phila-

Bulletins

Strawberries

Darrow, George M., Strawberry Cul- ries. U. S. D. A. Farmers' Bulletin No. ture, South Atlantic and Gulf Coast Re- 1891. 1941. gions. U. S. D. A. Farmers' Bulletin Hill, R. G., Preparing Strawberries for No. 1026. 1940. Market. U. S. D. A. Farmers' Bulletin

Demaree, J. B., Diseases of Strawber No. 1560. 1940.

Brambles

Darrow, George M., Dewberry Grow- 887. 194K ing. U. S. D. A. Farmers' Bulletin No. Dodge, F. O., and Wilcox,. R. B., Dis- 1403. 1940. eases of Raspberries and Blackberries, U. Darrow, George M., Raspberry Cul- S. D. A. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1488. ture. U. S. D. A. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1941.

Grapes

Dearing, Charles, Muscadine Grapes. A. Farmers' Bulletin No. 471. 1932. U. S. D. A. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1785. Magoor, C. A., and Snyder, Elmer, 1947. Grapes for Different Regions. U. S. D.

Demaree. J. B. and Runner, G. A., A. Farmers' Bulletin No. 1936. 1943. Control of Grape Diseases and Insects in Shepard, Paul H., Concord, Moore and Eastern United States. U. S. D. A. Farm- Campbell Grown on Vigorous Rootstocks er's Bulletin No. 1893. 1942. Husmann, George C, Grape Propaga- in Missouri. Missouri State Fruit Ex- tion, Pruning, and Training. U. S. D. periment Station Bulletin No. 32. 1946.

Blueberries

Darrow, George M., Wilcox, R. B., (irowing. U. S. D. A. Farmers' Bulletin and Beckwith, Charles S., Blueberry No. 1951. 1944.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The writers wish to acknowledge the Plant Pathology Department for their aid of Dr. Clay Lyle of the Entomology criticism of that portion of the bulletin Department and Dr. John T. Presley of pertaining to insect and disease control.