The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-04-08
GummOSis.

should not forget to examine their
cherry, prune, and plum trees for signs
OF cumming" other diseases in the
bark. Cherry trees will generally give
evidence of the ailment bv the exud-
Ing OF gum, although it frequently
happens that fermentation of sap has
been going on for some time, thus de-
caylng the cambium layer for a space
OF, 1T may be, a foot or more before the
evil is discovered Sometimes a branch
Is nearly If not quite circled, and un-
less the trees are carefully watched
they Will suddenly die, because the
bark is all dead at some point, suffic-
lent to prevent the flow of sap 1t is
only the practiced eye that can readily
detect this disease unless the gum
shows on the outside. Let the trees,
then, be closely watched at this time,
and for the next month or two, and
an occasional incision may be made
with knife to ascertain the state of
the bark. All cumming or discolored
spots should be cut out clean, and the
exposed wood, when dry, waxed over
or shaded. Such places should be
covered with wax, but to do everything
when it should be done, and how 1T
should be done in an orchard is not al
ways possible; cut OUT the gum at all
events, as that if done in time will
save the tree.
With the plum and prune this dis
ease devolves somewhat different svmp-
toms, and is more difficult to control
because less apparent to the inexper-
fenced grower, and many grown gray
in the service wonder why their trees
die. A dark, "dead" appearance of
the bark, often forming a slight de-
preston and, if the tree be moderately
vigorous a cracking of the bark, and
also exudation of gum, are all symp-
toms, which, either one or ell, require
prompt treatment: This treatment is
simply to cut out all the dead or dis
eased bark, which should be done
cleanly and neatly, and wax or paint
the exposed wood.
If the tree is too far gone to be
saved, it may be sawn off at or below
the ground, and grated. Cions should
be kept dormant for such an emer-
gency so that it could be done as late
as March or April. This disease is not
of the root, which invariably remains
healthy until after the whole top is
dead, and may continue still to live,
by throwing up suckers.
This very prevalent disease is often
called "sour-sap," which means even
less than "malaria" in the human fam
lily, being capable Of so wide an inter-
pretation. 1t is not caused by wet land
and has nothing to do with the root,
but it is most probably due to sud
den chilling or freezing of the sap on
the most exposed side in the spring
after period of warm weather has
started growth. This ca uses rupture
of cells, decay of tissue, fermentation
of sap, and death To prevent such a
catastrophe, keep the trees protected
while Young, from the time they are
planted by wrapping with burlap, or
! t,v using the tule or other good covers,
or watch them every spring from the
! first, and cut out any decayed or dis
colored spot while small. 1t Is COM
monty supposed that trees thus af-
fected die very suddenly. They appear
to do so, it is true, one day being in
bloom, or IN leaf, and in IOrty-eight
hours or less, dead. In reality such
death is lingering, the condition above
described causing gradual decay
which does not terminate fatally until
it has spread all round the tree.
With the cherry the disease acts
more rapidly than with the prune or
plum, and while in this case it may be
a specific complaint due to other
causes, I am firmly convinced it is
largely due to climatic Influences