Hutchinson gazette., 1901-07-04
Root Rot Of Fruit Trees.

trees IN the orcnhrub OF tue terTlJOry.
Tho disease has been noticed in many
localities and seems to be confined TO
lands that have been cleared of timber
before planting to trees.
The symptoms OF this disease arc 30
characteristic that no ono should expe-
rlence any great difficulty In correctly
diagnosing any suspected cases Per-
haps the most characteristic effect OF
the attacks Of this fungus Is the great
exudation Of gum about and from the
crown OF the diseased trees, This flow
of gum occurs in maple, peach and
cherry trees and is reported for tho
apricot tree It frequently happens
that the amount OF this gum TO exude
Is 80 great that II unites with the soil
about the base OF the tree to such an
extent as to form a mass Of cemented
soil about the tree. In many cases this
mass OF gum cemented soil Will be-
come hardened TO form a sort Of cast
about the crown and larger roots OF
the tree.
The yellow coloratlon OF the leaves
is usually one OF the prominent symp-
toms OF the disease, In many cases.
however, the leaves wilt rapidly dur
Ing the growing season Instead OF be-
coming yellow. This rapid whiting OF
leaves 10 the nrst external evidence af-
forded that tho root system OF the tree
and consequently Its absorptive ability
have been greatly reduced, The groups
OF mushrooms found about the base OF
the trees will afford the most positive
evidence of the presence OF this dis
ease. But unfortunately this evidence
comes too late for the application OF
any remedial agent; for the mush-
rooms seldom appear about the crown
Of the tree until tho disease has 30 far
progressed that no preventive or reme-
dial measures can be applied.
The fungus OF this type Is we'll pro-
Vlded with means Ia insure Its rapid
distribution throughout large or
chards, The spores, that are pro-
duced In such large numbers, are
easily scattered about and each one
may, under proper conditions, give
rise to a mycelium and the typical
|
are often seen eating the old pllei are
OF some value In distributing the
spores, but this point needs some fur
ther investigation. The greater part OF
our knowledge concerning the proper
remedial measures to be applied
against this and other wood destroy
ing fungi Is derived from the wide ex-
perlence OF the foreslers of Europe.
Among the strictly remedial measures
none are Of greater Importance than
the isolation Of diseased trees by ditch
ing II single tree in the midst Of
the orchard is found to be diseased, u
ditch should at once be dug around IL
to prevent II possible the further
spread Of tho disease by the subterra-
mean myCelial strands. This ditch
should be dug Mt n distance Of about
ten feet from the tree, !, O., with a d.
ameter of about twenty feet The
ditch should be about one foot wide
and about two feet deep with vertical
walls. The same measures are to be
adopted to protect n group OF dlsease2
trees that are found in the orchard.
In this case the ditch may be dug so
as to include all the trees In the
group. II Is possible that the burning
of brush In this ditch will kill the
rhizomorphic strands and prevent fur
ther spreading. SO far rs the author
Is aware this method has never been
practlced to any great extent in Amer
lea though In Europe 1t seems to have
proven effective In combating this and
similar diseases.
1t cannot too strongly be insisted
upon that all fruit trees that are found
to be diseased should at once be re-
moved from the orchard. Care must
bo taken in such cases to remove and
burn not only the trunk but all tho
larger roots and especially all those
diseased. Perhaps tree will bear
salable fruit after tho mycelium OF
this fungus has entered its root sys-
tem but II Is near sighted system
and poor business to allow such tree
to stand when 1t Is remembered that
thereby all the other trees in the or
chard are being endangered,
Too great care cannot be taken to
avoid cutting or otherwise injuring the
roots Of the trees by plowlng or other
cultivation. Though the mycelium Of
this fungus Is able to enter the cortex
OF perfectly healthy roots, yet It's prog
ress as we'll as its entrance Is greatly
facilitated by wounds Of any charac-
ter. In one OF the orchards visited by
me last fall 1t was apparent that in
some cases the mycelium Of this fun
gus had first entered tho roots through
wounds made by the plow in cultlvat-
ing between tho rows.
Attention has frequently been called
to a practice among some fruit grow.
ers Of placing in the bottom of hole,
in which they are about to set tree,
a quantity of chips from their wood
pile. In many Of these chips there are
sure to be found some of the mycelium
Of this fungus and the introduction Of
the disease into the orchard is the re-
suit OF this practice In many cases.
For 1t is well-known fact that each
small piece of mycellum Of this fun
gus is capable of remaining dormant
for long periods and Of again produc-
ing, when placed unoer proper condi-
tions, the mycelium and even the nor
NAL sporophores Of the species,
It was early found In these investi-
cations that the disease was largely or
entirely confined to those orchards that
were planted on recently cleared tim
her land. In fact the disease has never
been reported in this territory from