The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1907-08-01
How this is done I will not attempt
to explain in this connection.

nv own experience and on books tell
ing how these things are done. Each
nurseryman may, to some extent,
modify these directions. Experience
is a great thing in such matters. No
one must suppose that he can be-
come a full-fedged nurseryman by
reading the books or papers. These
will help him but he must put his
information into practice and in doing
this he will get the best information
obtainable. There is nothing like ex-
perience.
Il
One of our exchanges, published in
a country where irrigation is prac-
ticed, seems to have great fears about
the damage from the woody aphis.
Now, I wish to say, after an expert
ence of twelve years with the woody
aphis that it will do but little harm
where we irrigate. There are two
things the woody aphis can not stand,
one is cold and the other is water.
Freezing will kill this insect. Where
the ground freezes to a depth of two
feet or more there will be no serious
damage from this pest with his cot
tony jacket. In Iowa, northern ILL
nois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and all
equally cold countries no serious
harm ever comes from this insect. In
warm countries like southern Mis-
souri, and Arkansas it does much
harm.
T
Washington is not classed with the
cold countries mentioned above. So,
when I found, twelve years ago, that
this pest had gained a foothold in our
orchard I was alarmed. We then had
some trees in our nursery. We pre-
pared and dipped all our trees before
they left the place. When we came
to dig some trees where the water had
stood upon the ground the previous
fall, was surprised to find no woody
aphis Upon investigation I discovered
that water would kill them. To me
this was a great relief. We are never
entirely clear of this pest, and do
not believe we can eradicate them,
but we are unable to see that they
have ever seriously damaged any OF
our trees. They can not stand the
water
T
It is no uncommon thing for or
chardists to be alarmed about some
thing that does not amount to much.
Some people have almost had the
Jim jams about the crown gall. One
man whom I know dug up good
many trees because some of them had
this enlargement at the surface OF
the ground. Prof. G. V. Piper several
years ago, examined tree in my Or
chard badly affected with genuine
crown gall. He suggested that l
leave that particular tree and see II
the disease; if it can be called such;
would spread to other trees near by.
I am happy to report that not another
tree has been attacked. In fact we
now know that the crown gall is not
contagious. The bureau of plant in
dustry, department Of agriculture, has
issued bulletin entitled "The Crown
Gall and Hairy-Root Diseases of the
Apple Tree" It is known as Bulletin
No. 80 of this bureau. make the fol-
lowing quotation: apple crown gall
is of two types A hard callous form
is common on grated trees at the
union of the root and scion, and at
any other point of the root system
where wounds occur in either cultiva-
ton or transplanting of trees. The
results of extensive NEGOTIATIONS with
this type have failed to prove that
this disease is of a contagious ma
ture.''
+
"a second type is a soft form COM
mon on seedlings, occurring more
rarely on grated trees These softer
gals resemble those or the raspberry
and peach, in that they are often soft
and rot off. 1t is not certain, how
ever, that they, like the latter, are
ran1acad tho following wear by a new