The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-06-30

much that is mas pee
said about it by learned men, there
is no efficient remedy for it's destruc-
ton. All that at present can be done
is to lessen the numbers and in this
way check it's multiplication. This
should be done by watching the
trees and cutting off all infested
twigs and limbs about a foot below
the infected part as soon as 1T Is oo-
served. All these should be lmme-
diately burned. This should be done
as early as possible, for with the APP
pearance Of the disease there Is a
gum which exudes from the diseased
tissues, bearing out with 1T numer.
Gus bacteria. The rains wash Off
this gum, it dissolves, the bacteria
are set free and live upon any vege-
table substance under the tree; en-
dure the coolest winter and are ready
the next spring to be carried in the
air to the opening buds and flowers
of the trees. Care should be exer-
cised in cutting off the limbs not to
let the knife cut the diseased part,
for in cutting afterwards a healthy
part this is liable to be inoculated
with the bacteria clinging to the
blade. 1t has been found by "cul-
lures in solid mass" that the rapid
ity Of the multiplication Of the germ
is in direct ratio to the water pres
ent. An economic suggestion comes
from this, that moderate cultivation
which will produce healthy trees
and not very succulent stems is a
factor in resisting the disease. Some
varieties of fruits, especially Of the
pear, resist it more effectually than
others. 1t affects apple trees differ
emily from pear trees in this respect,
that when a pear tree is attacked
the disease advances into the large
branches and eventually kills the
whole tree, while only the twigs of
the apple as a rule are affected.
There is a large field for investiga-
ton to discover an efficient RENE
dy for this and similar diseases.
Judging from the wonderful pro-
gress in the arts and industries re-
sulting from the investigation of
trained scientific workers we may
confidently hope that some time in
the future a remedy will be found
for this enemy to the horticulturist,
though as yet no indication of the
remedy has appeared.
There is much that is useful to sci
ence and to hOrticulturists in having
accurate observations of the effect
and nature of snch a disease taken
by careful men. / wish to publish
a few questions hoping that at least
a few men in the State will note
down their observations during the
summer and send them to me at
Chapel Hill, n. c., in September of
this year. Careful attention to this
by one owner of an orchard will be
of service. 1t would still be better,
however, if some would be RESPONSE
BILE for counties, so that data for
reference could be obtained from the
whole State.
SOLCLIoA>O.
l. When did the disease first make
it's appearance in 1886?
2. Did it appear on apple trees in
Immediately preceding years?
3. If so, how many years and
what the extent of damage?
4. Varieties of trees most affected?
5. Condition of trees affected as
regards succulency Of twigs?
6. Length Of diseased twigs Eek
tremes and average)?
Z. Number of years growth in
cluded in the diseased part?
8. Time of season when the dis
ease seems to be at it's height?
9. Time when progress Of disease
ceases?
10. Amount of damage done to
trees (the average proportion of
limbs of a tree killed.?
II. Amount of damage done to
this years apple crop?
This morning just as [ had finished
my letter a package of infested twigs
arrived which were sent at my re-
quest by Prof. Love, Chapel Hill,
n. c. [ placed some very thin shaw
ings from the inner bark on a glass
slide and added a drop of water. The
water Immediately became clouded
with a dull, milk-white color, from
the presence of millions Of the germs.
Examining this with a microscope
which magnifies 500 diameters, the
one-celled germs could be distinctly
SEEN, some quiet and collected in