The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-06

ndnklHB IO tiC VI CSo and the routed fruits upon the soil con stitute in large measure the source of l the annually recurring infection. Then they should be removed. I have of- ten suggested in correspondence to growers that they remove the grow 1 ing fruit just as rapidly as it shows rot. This has been practiced on large scale in Illinois, according to Burrill and Clinton. In 1901 we first ! resorted to this practice in the sta ton orchards, with apparently very beneficial results. as the spread of the rot was stayed through this effort, coupled with, the application of spray washes.
 However, we have never found that removing the mummied and routed fruits, or the growing fruit as it be- gins to show rot, will wholly prevent the disease. If promptly and eff ciently followed, these practices &C., complish good. but are not sufficient. All diseased fruit removed should be so disposed of as to prevent dtssem- ination of the spores. Possibly bury ing Is the simplest plan. We are now prepared to say that in many instances we believe 1t would be very wise to remove certain varieties or certain trees on which the disease seems to
  determine such points. As stated un- der a previous section, we are not ready to recommend extreme efforts to cut out all cankered limbs in Virginia orchards. There Is as yet no sufficient evidence to warrant such step; but they should be cut out whenever in the ordinary course of pruning this is found possible.
 We have strong ground for saying that the second, and perhaps most important, step in the way of remedial measures should be the application of sprays. In saying this we do so full ly realizing the fact that there is evil dence against hopeful results. But the best results from experiment sta- tions, and the best work accomplished by fruit growers. indicate clearly the value of the Bordeaux spray.
 The time and method of application of the spray Is so essential that no result of value can be hoped for unless these details are observed. There is no proof that winter washes of any kind applied to the trees will lessen the disease. Yet on general grounds we advocate winter washes as part of a rational system of treating the orchard. There is also no evidence that the early spring sprayings rec commended in our Bulletin 100 have any effect whatever upon the prevalence of bitter rot. These early treatments are very essential to the health and vigor of the orchard, and should be made as directed in the Bulletin above cited, and if omitted may, and in many cases will, result in worse damage to the orchard than ordinarily occurs from the bitter rot fungus; but we wish to be clear that these early treat I aak fR he EtAAHAA TlH1 marily affecting the bitter rot ques- tion one way or the other. If they do. no one has yet proven this fact so far as appears in the literature. The most careful early sprayings here have been wholly negative as to results against bitter rot
 This brings us to the point where we wish to say that, in our opinion, the only spray treatment of value for this trouble is that which is applied directly to the fruit. The treatment being preventive. and not curative, the application must be made in advance of the infection. In all our observa- tIons the rot has never appeared before the first of July. consequently we ad- wise that spray treatment for this trouble should not begin before that date. If the season Is favorable to rot-viz.. sultry, with hot sunshine and showers-and the set of fruit warrants. the first application should be made about the date mentioned above-say July 1st to 10th.The grow CT should also watch carefully for the first appearance of the disease upon the fruit. If the spray has not been applied when the disease Is first ob- served. make the application at once. If the fruit has been sprayed, and the characteristic rot spots appear, respray the fruit at once. One cannot do more than keep the fruit covered with a thin coat of the spray preparation. If the Bordeaux Is properly made and ap- piled, it will adhere sometimes for weeks. and I have known it to adhere for two months on some varieties. The recommendations as to specific num- Der of applications to be made have no value. This must always depend upon the judgment of the grower. and be governed by weather conditions. etc -Wm. B. Atwood. in Bulletin Virginia Experiment Station.