The Delta independent., 1903-03-13
A DOCTOl OF FpUTT
Merton D. Waite, OF the ASri-
cultural Department Will
Visit Colorado.
To Show 0rehardists a Very Simple
Method oi bidding Pear Trees
Of The nlifht Pest.

Merton B. Waite, OF the United States
department OF agriculture goes TO Colo
rido this week to show orcbardists there
what a simple matter it il to get rid OF
the disease OF blight" in pear and ap
pie trees. Waite knows thing or two
about blight and the government pays
him to teach it to farmers.
"Psthologist in charge OF diseases Of
orchard fruits" is DR.. Waite's real title.
How does blight run 90 easily from
orchard to orchsrd!" asked him the
other day. when 1 found him seated in
his sunny little room In one Of the de-
partment buildings before q desk Uttered
With papers. pieces OF bark. tree twiRs
and photographs OF everything about .
fruit tree. from their sturdy trunks down
to the minute bacilli and bugs which
make a tree uncomfortable.
That's easy" answered MIR. Waite.
Watch the bees and the insects how
they finger about certain gummy epots
on the branchee OF tree and then
f,llow them aud SEQ them land on the
fair young buds and blossoms. They
arc the guilty parties. The theory that
the blight bacilli dries up and blows
through the air is all bosh."
So the fruit growers OF Colorado may
as we'll cease their careful burning Of
dead twigs and branches they have cut
from their trees. A dried blight bacillus
10 dead blight bacillus and there is no
use burning him up.
"Wbat must the farmers do!" l asked.
''Get after the bees. bugs and mosqui-
toes, and provide them with door mats
to wipe their feet on when they 60 visit
ing from tree to tree?"
Easier than that" replied the fruit
doctor. Let them put the diseased parts
OF the tree out OF the way before the in-
sccts begin to ay aud before tho bloc
sons come out for them to aiight on"
And 90 Dr.. Waite's mission to Colo
RADIO 10 for the purpose OF showing the
orchard owners how to discover the
colonies OF blight baciIii and got them
e6ectuslly out Of the way before the
careless honey bees and mosquitoes
c 'me along to get them on their feet aud
autennc and epread them among the
tender blossoms to cause them to wither
and die.
Tho honey bee stops in bis rambles for
lunch OF OF this palatable matter.
When he leaves he has probably got q
million or % OF blight bacilii smeared
on his feet and whiskers. Then he looks
in for some honey at the nearest blossom
and in taking it from the flower plants
the germs OF deadly disease. The nectar
cslls OF 4 flower are its most susceptible
parts. The blight bsciili which have
dropped OF the bees body quickly take
hold Of the blossom and start to work.
ever multiplying, multiplying In arithe-
metical progression. Thoy forge down
ward probably an inch day in their
search OF fresh fields to conquer.
The colonies OF blight baciili live in
the green bark where tho bliehted dis
colorated portion blends Oh gradually
into the normal bark. How to stamp
out these bacilli without cutting the
tree DR.. Waite has not discovered. He
simply proposes little common sense
and some tree surgery.
Discover the blight colonies" says he
"aud then cut Cd the branches far
enough below them to make sure that
all OF the tree that contains them is
being removed. AZ in human surgery
40 infected knife will only spread the
trouble. Therefore disiniect your knife
after every cutting"
The fruit growers in Colorado will be
shown DR.. Waite's method OF finding
tho colonies OF bacilli; how he sponges
his knife with dilute solution of cor
roslve sublimate after every incision and
how he also sponRes the stump left by
pruning. The infected pt1tions OF the
tree are burned simply in order that the
insects may not get at them.-Rocky
Mountain News.