Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-06-09
Wasting Their Money,

rTuIt growers OF western Michigan
are being importuned TO spend their
money in a secret process guaranteed
to overcome about every evil which
effects the fruit tree. from insect to
fungus, and from bark to leaf and fruit
The broad claim of a cure all warrant
ed TO cure any ara everything should
be sufficient evidence of the farcity of
the proposition, but in this particular
case the claims when taken separately
are ridiculous, and those interested in
the proposition show lack of good faith
by refusing to submit their remedy to
the tests and trials Of experiment sta.
ton work
In brief, the scheme is this: A hole
is bored through the heart of the
tree" and certain powdered chemicals
are placed therein and the hole plug
ged up and sealed. The theory is that
the chemicals will assimilate with the
sap OF the tree and be carried into
every part of its fiber and leaves. The
claim is that these chemicals in the sap
VIII render the tree immune from dis
ease and prevent insect fungus and
bacteria from attacking wood, leaves,
or even fruit OF a tree so treated.
1t is pretended that tests have been
made in Canada, and strongly worded
testimonials as to merit are shown,
but such testimonials come
from people who are unknown in the
orchard world, and in such an i'm
portant matter as this testimonials
are of no value unless they come from
men of sufficient scientific training to
enable them to carry on the task in
systematic manner, or from men whose
orchard experience is large enough TO
give weight to their opinions. Every
state maintains an experiment sta
ton and a force of scientific investiga-
tors for the purpose of studying every
thing connected with agricultural
progress.
These men know how to carry on
such experiments, and are better COM
petent to observe and read results
Alright than less trained observers.
Those who are backing this new fad
have been unwilling to submit their
remedy and methods to such an official
test, but Oh the contrary scout and
decry such scientific work" This
attitude in itself is ample evidence
either Of ignorance or fear, and or
chardists should have nothing to do
with such a remedy until its work is
fully demonstrated by some one other
than unknown and possibly interested
persons.
In addition, orchardists should be
warned that this is not a new propo-
sition. It has been tried before and
was a complete failure, and there is no
reason to hope. for a better result
now. Experiments with injection
remedies have been useless, and
money spent now upon them is worse
than thrown away, because of the dan
ger of permanent injury to the tree.
A little logic should settle the whole
matter Different poisons are re-
CURED to combat different insects or
diseases, and what is effective with
one is useless with another. OF in
secticides there are two general di-
visions-those that kill by contact and
those that must be taken internally.
OF course, only the latter could be used
in remedy injected into the sap of
the tree Arsenic is the active prin-
cipie CT most poisonous insecticides,
and the effect of arsenic on wood tbs.
sues might be most dangerous. One
Of it's active elements is an acid now
used to kill weed growth as Thistle
inc" It is an open question whether
any of the insecticides will be carried
by the sap at ALL and if so whether, if
when sufficiently diluted to reach all
parts of the tree, they would have
strength enough to kill any insect
sucking the sap.
Orchardists would better stick to the
old remedies until some respectable
authority recommends new. If
new remedies, without responsible in
dorsement, must be tried, let it be up
on a single tree instead Of an or
chard. 1t will cost less and there will
be less to regret afterward.