The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-03-30
THE PEAR BLIGHT GERM
Does Most Of Its Spreading on The
Blooms, Says Waite.
INSECTS CARRY GERMS FROM THE TREE
In Which the Infection Has Survived
During the Winter---A Remedy
Suggested.

Alvin, Texas, March 29.-Prof. NJ. b.
Waite, assistant pathologlst In the United
States department Of agriculture. Washing
ton, has been making some experiments
In the pear orchard OF Colonel All Newson
of Galveston, extending over period OF
about Eve months Colone Newson and
Prot waite were out at the orchard to-
day and while there were interviewed by
The Post correspondent The professor
said In part. blossom blight Is this main
trouble with these pears The pear blight
germ does most Of lts spreading ON the
blooms, SO ot course this blooming period
just past is tho most critical period for
pear blight We undertook TO make
test case here the object OF which was TO
determine whether or not Il was feasible
IN this coast COWutry ~ fight the disease
hllEhl starts ON the bloom but can not
start on the blossom without the presence
of the infections virus OF the disease from
the year before. This Infection material
consisting OF living germs, holds over win.
ter In the hcShy bark GA the body or larger
hmhS VI the trees which were attacked The
year before, In the majority Of casc, hli1 CHIT
does not succeed tn holdmG over because
the tree rcslsts aud tine disease stops
spreading Ing the branches aud dries out
Wherever the disease ceases TO extend IN
The limbs and the bark dries out the
germs die. bat In those cases In which
we disease continues te grow az close
OF season the germs rcmaiu alive over
winter. These cases often start into rc
htWtu ACTIVITY when root pressure forces
we Tree -I nH Of sap on the approach OF
spring, The blight exudcs SUNNY matter
which is literally swarmlng with pear
plgnt germs. These cases that VIII hold
over blight exndmg the gunmy virus Of
u.NlL U4StUse' AT me TIME or the opening
vt {ue ot4Ssums T. inc cause or the IN
lection. W0sps bicS. bees and other In
scots carry tb!s gummy matter on 70 tho
hl'SsoHa ana start the blossoms To blight
lug lAcee insects VA visiting the blooms
loI water ana pollen carry the germs OK
Wv ulNtasc from one blossom 70 another
HIt1 therefore by lnis rapid method uf dis
b ,'"" e,,' a {trE Httic hoiaoNe' uhsht may
W. Sptvau curing blooming season SO as
y" W. Etttl ueal on damage,
.s. ne pileht may spread TO some extent
~ oloNS'u SsaAoh ~ over nv attacking
49,. 9u"r ttuutf growing SHOOTS. I1ls
"t''iuo Nl entrance on the germs As usually
ti tuN'A tss Importance than THROUGH The
S'n,n "l'H I5la' lN'lE very htte damage
nav "a" uusa, VI coast country oicuatus
,,tu ,NP'NS'u.
rue une OF treatment pursued To the
c,'inNuu O'NIhIu consisted IN going care
rn,i W. ,,y Vtthaio ~ November and
1tY,,'.E "ul an e4Ehi inst con hc found
Az 'Hs sRNc or aoing a clean jon every
orGSc 't ta ,, "t every Soit was removed u
.'SnL ucheNer II was possible 20 sNyc
,tV ilst 10y cutting out diseased branches
1"" ivo, ing lue no1y intact this was done
, l"st1 OILY one lmn remained
I'm WA" 'Hlutiy DESTROYED
t nc WI""Ter' Mt; VIII q, Field. took
I"."a WIN tHe work, nut II was FOUND
,'o,at ",ItulL 20 IuStru" TIE help en-.
80" ," tudt theF would cut below the
",.."er ~ every case. 10 was found nccps.
,"lS HUT me cutting had aeeu completed
t Mt rielu " 20 carefully over the
1n'IH anu huht 10 the cases that had
6