Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-04-13
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS or INTEREST TO
ACRICULTURIST6.
Some UP-to-D.ts Hints ',out Cultiv.-
tion OF ths Soil and Yields Thereof
Hortieulturs. ytticulturs and Flortcsi
tar0.


We have received the following COM
munication from the Indiana Expert
ment Station:
The opinion is quite prevalent among
farmers and many fruit growers, that
the disease known as Black Knot, so
often found upon plum and cherry
trees, is caused by certain insects IL
is true that we may often hnd upon
cutting open these knots, the larvae
of certain insects, but it is un1ver-
sally recognized fact, among those VINO
have given the matter careful atten-
tion, that these unsightly, knotty ex-
crescences are due to a special Fungus
which is almost always conhned TO Ine
plum and sour cherry. The insects are
there, because they find these knots
to be good breeding places.
The swellings are first noticed In
early spring, often as soon as grown
begins. They are then of yellow1sn
color, but get darker with age In May
and June, a crop of spores, when an
swer to seeds in higher plants, appears
on the surface of the knots, resem-
bling to the naked eye SOFT oownS
covering. This soon disappears. when
the knots continue to get darker un'ii
winter, when they have the cnarao
teristic black color, which makes them
so conspicuous at this season OF the
year. If examined carefully late In
the fall, the surface of the knot Will
be found to be covered with great
many minute pimples or elevations
each one of which is a fruit OF the Iuh-
gus in which the winter spores are
contained These are in turn d1strlD-
uted later on, and find lodging place
in the crotches Of limbs and IN me
openings of the bark. and at the juno
tions of the annual growths. AS these
spores germinate they send their veg
etative organs into the growing us
sues of the branch, causing evenings
which often extend along the branches
four or five inches. These VegetatiVe
tissues do not all die during-the WIN
ter, but some live over, and so new
swellings at the edges of the old Ones
may be seen the following year. In
this way the branch may continue TO
be infested until finally it becomes
completely surrounded, when the clr-
culation is cut off and the branch dies
When these knots appear upon severai
branches at the same time. 1t Is only
a question of a very short time before
the tree Will die.
Treatment: The treatment generally
recommended is to cut ON the KNOTS
and burn them, which is good thing
to do, if it is done before the winter
spores have been distributed. III not,
then some additional treatment Will
be necessary. 1t is recommended there
fore, that all knots" be cut on ana
burned during the month (February)
and in addition to this, spray the trees
with a strong solution of Bordeaux
mixture during the first warm days OF
spring. About the time that buds start,
spray again with the ordinary strength
Bordeaux mixture. This ought to de-
stroy all of the winter spores. Then
in case the branches may have been
already infected the previous year,
they should be sprayed again during
the latter part of May and the first
of June. The young knots may be
destroyed by painting them with chlo-
ro-naphtholeum or with pure kerosene
oil. Whenever these remedies are
thoroughly applied, there Will be no
trouble in controlling the disease, pro-
viding all old, worthless trees have
been cut out and burned and provid-
ing also that the people of the entire
neighborhood cooperate in this plan
of action. Wherever the Damson plum
is grown this disease is almost sure to
be present; and as it is one of the
Injurious plant diseases" referred to
in the Indiana inspection law, the
necessity for prompt action on the part
of all owners of infested trees, will be
evident to ALL ]. Troop, Horticul-
turist-