The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-27
Apprehension Felt by Illinois FruiI
Growers Over Appearance of
SkeletOniZer.
DR.. BURRELL ISSUES BULLETIN.
Vice President of State University
Says Immediate Action Alone
Will Save Trees From
Total Ruin.


REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Salem, Ill, July 26.-Much anxiety is bsing
manifested in this locality by orchard men
over the destruction OF a large number of
orchards by what is known as the bitter
rot" The State University Of Champaign,
Ill. has become interested in the matter
and recently sent here Doctor I. J. Burrcil,
vice president of the university, and Pro
fessor ]. =. Blair. chief in horticulture in
the experiment station Of the university. to
investigate the matter. They have been as
sisting Professor Hasselbrlng in the insprc-
ton of orchards. During the investigation
they have made several very important dis
coveries, which they hope TO use to good
advantage in the matter Of e&terminaiinS
the bitter rot They claim that The rot
was found invariably in the smaller bran
ches toward the top Of the trees and Tat
IL was washed down upon the apples, caus-
ing them TO decay.
10 extravaganI reports have been sent
out from this locality as to the prospects
for a crop. Tn conservative orchard men
claim that less than One-nalf a crop will
be realized. There are many fine orchards
here. but many trees have no fruit at all
on them. Doctor Burrell in a recent inter
view. stated that of all the counties he had
visited Marion County has the best pros
poets for good apples.
Issues n nuhitAAu-
Doctor Burren has issued a bulletin con-
corning the discovery made here in winch
he says.
This disease has sometimes proved dis
astrous throughout the chief apple-SIoNIiiS
regions of Illinois, and it has probably made
the same start elsewhere. 1t IS never S-eat-
" developed at this season OF the year,
but sharp observers are aOIe To lind II wien
there are but few infected spots on me
- aHHaW wNMdA
seems to give an opportunity not before
possible to combat the scOurge, and this
circular is issued hastily in the 4cpe that
a portion OF the orchards now liable TO at
tack may be saved.
1T is a matter OF common knowledge that
the fruit first infected in a tree occupies
q definite position in the branches. In gen
eraI terms it may be stated that the dis
ease shows in a co-nicaI-shaped area, with
the apex upward, and has been explained
by the fact that the spores OF the fungus
are adhesive, so that they canno be els
tributed by wind. but can readily be washed
down by rain The primary infection al
the apex Of this cone. commonly supposed
to be an earlier diseased apple, furnished,
Il was thought, the spores which started
the disease In the fruit underneath.
1T has now, however, been ascertained
land this Is the new fact in the case) that
this primary infection starts in a tanker
upon the limb OF the tree, In this situation
the fungus lives over winter and az early
as SONS time in June begins 10 produce
spores by which tho young apples are ln-
fected, It has been ascectainsd that this
same thing takes place in q 'mumAiea'
fruit, M attention has heFetetefe besa
strongly directed to this A~sIhe1eYer, the
mummied fruit commonly fails 20 ths
ground the matter remains q puzzle as 10
rev the spares could rise tie the tree. The
new observations recently made showed
the limb canker was in every case sihe
source Of primary infection and therefore