Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-09-16


lodic heavy crops. and if possible crops
on off years for other apple regions.
As an incident to the work in which he
is engaged, the Prof. wishes to arrange
with various growers for several barrels
Of select fruits from this region to be
placed on exhibition at the Paris Expo
sition when it opens next April The
idea is to make a large showing of the 4
export varieties, New Town Pippin, York
Imperial and Ben Davis, which are
grown with such success here. These
samples will be exhibited n the w. Va.
space under the name OF the grower.
ANY one who has extra fine fruits OF
these varieties and wishes to aid in max
ing the exhibit OF West Virginia fruit
what it should be viii do well to call up
on Hon. Alex. Clohan or write Prof L. G.
Corbett, Morgantown, w. Va, for partic-
ulars in regard to this matter and to con-
slider that the welfare of the West Nir-
ginia fruit display depended upon his per-
sonal contribution.
or APPLE ROT.
This is the season when the tillers Of
the soil begin to feel that the element of
chance has largely disappeared. and that
whatever is now shown IN the field or or
chard is a sure harvest. True as this is
OF most crops, the apple is not out of dam
ger. So long as the fruit remains upon
the trees there is a chance of it being de-
stroyed by storm, eaten by insects, or
ravaged by disease. The danger from
the Goblin moth is past. The tent caterpil-
lar and canker worm will not again APP
pear this season. Apple scab has already
caused the major part OF the injury to be
dreaded from it, but the rots, what of
them9 The rotung Of fruits when ripe is
natural consequence OF full maturity,
but the rotting of one half grown fruits,
is quite another thing. When one sees
IS per cent of all the fruits upon tree in
more or less advanced state Of decay,
and ct period long before harvest time,
little argument is Necessary to convince
that some disease is at work among those
fruits. 1t is true that plants and fruits
suffer from disease in manner quite like
man himself. The life of the plant. or the
value of les fruit or grain is quickly de-
stroyed. These diseases, at east some
Of them, are spread from plant to plant
by the wind, like disease germs in man;
others are transmitted by nocculation
through insects in carriers. The sporadic
appearance of these diseases is not mat
ter of chance. Atmospheric conditions
favorable to their growth together with a
supply Of reproductive material is all that
is necessary for destructive onslaught of
any one of many CT these plant pests.
fIha httter rpf ,of tba orr,ia ,ryhich &c
more or less common in many southern
states, belongs to the category of plant
diseases above described. 1t attacks the
growing apple at any stage from bloom
to maturity, causing the fruits to assume
a freckled appearance. Some Of these
blotches grow more rapidly than others,
with the result that a.large blackened spot
is caused, the center of which will be
slightly shrunken and later show slight
eruptions and frequently an emulation of
a sticky character, sometimes an orange
tint. Ii the apple be cut through the
core and across one of these rotten spots,
the flesh, it will be noted has been
blackened and rotted in a cone-liAe man
ner, the base of the cone being the same
area as the rotten spot at the surface of
the skin. The eruptions upon the de-
cayed portion OF the skin are merely open
ings through which the reproductive bod
les of this fungus issue and await the ac-
ton of the wind, water or an insect to
carry them to a healthy fruit TO begin
anew their work of destruction. AS soon
as an infested fruit reaches a certain
stage of decay these reproductive bodies
are matured and ready to begin work
again, so, the more rotten fruits there are
the more reproductive bodies. the supply
constantly increasing in geometrical
ratio
Strange as it may seem these delicate
plants, for plants they are, are capable of
producing reproductive bodies which re-
main in the rotten fruits over winter, and
when spring comes, with it's heat and
moisture, they begin the work of seed
production for the destruction of the
growing apple crop. The disease is
partial to certain varieties OF thin skinned
sweet apples. One of its fayortes is the
Benlly Sweet or Russian Romantic. 1t
is not confined to this sort, howeves, but
seems to prefer il to Others.
This disease while known for several
years in Kentucky. Southern West Vir-
ginia, has never before appeared 30 de-
straCtive extent so far north until this see
son. In some. orchards hundreds of bar
RES of fruit will have been DESTROYED BIZ
this disease before the harvess time, If
remedial stegs are not resorted to, and
vigorously and explicitly carried cut.
Worst of all, the trouble is not for day.
Cor when once started it is apt to recur
from year to year, with varying severity
according as the conditions are favorable
or otherwise for its development.
Orchardists residing within the limits
of the range of this disease should. keep
sharp watch upon their apple crop, and
if rot which corresponds to the above de-
scription appears, lose no time in sending
specimens to the horticulturalist of the
Experiment Station at Morgantowu, for
definite information in regard to the ma
ture Of the trouble they have to contend
with and remedies for same. If the known
remedies are applied in time il may avert
the loss of handreds, even thousands Of
-dCalars.