Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-12-16

a very critical examination. Ne'ei
leave a tree unless you are absolutely
sure of your work. Careless inspec-
ton and careless eradication are
really worse than no work at all, for,
on the one hand, enough work may
be done to deceive. while on the
other hand the chances for infection
and subsequent spread Of the disease
remains.
Spraying as rule Is of little use
in controlling the blight. In the
blooming season new blossoms are
opening every hour of the day, and
new shoots are pushing forth, all OF
which are subject to Infection
through insect agencies. From the
standpoint, therefore, of attacking
the pear blight problem by spraying
there is nothing to be done so far
as the blossoms and young shoots are
concerned On the other hand, we
have been able to cover up some mild
cases by whitewash applied htickly
50 that they were unable, tempor-
arilv. tn be a source of infection dur
ing the blossoming season. White
washing or spraying in the winter
time may be of some slight assist
ance in the matter, but it Is not rec
commended. A strong lime-sulphur
wash applied to the bodies just be-
fore the blossoms open will have a
tendancy to keep insects away from
any infection which would ooze. III
must be understood, however, that
all pear blight infection should be
carefully removed and in no case
should there be any attempt to cover
up any known case of hold-over
blight. The only reason for advo-
eating the strong lime-sulphur wash
Is that. should a case be missed by
accident, the use of the wash may
prevent the infection from getting
away. Just as soon as it is discover
ed. whether the wash has been ap-
piled or not, it should be removed.
I wish to emphasize that any attempt
to spray or wash may be considered
only a temporary makeshift. II
If there is a case of holdover that has
been covered by spray or wash, ii
must be eventually removed, and es'
pecially 81 if it is in the body of the
, tree. The wash in no way controls
= the spread of the blight in the soft
bark beneath; it's only office is tc
prevent, if possible, the spread oi
. blight to other trees by preventing
insects from coming into contact with
r the bacterial ooze.
t There are on the market mum
! Der of so-called remedies for pear
: blight. All of the concerns selling
| these remedies have no standing
? whatever, and their literature, which
/. Is sent broadcast over the country
J., should be promptly burned. A fav
= orite remedy is a mixture of potas
1 stun cyanide and sulphur placed
= about the roots of the treet. Still
4 others consist of such insolubles a
r charcoal, calomel sulphur bon,
e black, and other substances put int
e holes bored into the bodies of tn,
e trees. In every community tree
: may be found which have been treat
5 ed in this way, and invariably tn
k material put into the holes ha
e neither changed its chemical make
b up nor has it diminished in guam
|. tity by absorption.
5 A common remedy is the use o
o table salt or even some alkali. bot
h of which would be promptly remove
|, from the soil If present in too larg
IS quantities in nature. The use O
? table salt Is merely to inhibit tn
Il growth Of the tree by preventing III
Is normal taking up of water by tn
d root system. A tree grown in a yer
e. saline soil can not take up waite
Il enough to make strong growtt
l. hence, II does not blight badly, pei
q haps not at all As indicated befor,
e trees grown under good cultivatio
IS with sufficient moisture and plar
lie food make a strong growth, and ar,
t. therefore, more subject to blgh
y There should be no desire on the PAL
Ie Of an orchardist to injure his so
y and. consequently, his trees by ado
Is ing to the soil any chemical or sa
Is known to have a poisonous action, o
p at least an inhibtve effect. Do NJ
ID take the word Of every one or an
lie one who has something to sell. B,
ie fore buying any cure or remedy. col
lie suit some one who can be trusted an
$. who has nothing for sale.
d The whole subject Of pruning
$. such lengthy one that It can scare,
ID ~ be gone into In full detail How
re ever the vase-formed tree heade