Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-12-09
BY p. J. o'Gnra. Copyrighted by Mail Tribune.)

parasites attacking them should be
viewed in corresponding light for
both, I am sure the whole matter OF
education would be solved.
The treatment for pear blight, or
rather the methods for controlling 1t,
may be divided into two classes,
primary and secondary. The prim-
airy method of treating this disease
consists Of cutting out thoroughly
and antiseptically the hold-over dur
ing the dormant season Of the trees
that Is, during the fall and winter.
1t has been explained that the hold
over blight may be found in the
larger limbs, the trunk and even the
root system. These hold-over cases
have become such through the varir
Gus means Of infection pointed out
in previous chapter namely,
through blossoms, buds or water
sprouts, which have become infected
and through which the blight has
gained entrance to the fleshy bark
and cambium Of the bodies and roots.
The other methods of entrance, as
pointed out before, are through
growth cracks, insect and bird pune
lures. or any other way in which the
epidermis may be broken so as to
expose the tissues beneath. 1t has
also been shown that the pruning
knife or other orchard instruments
and implements may be the means
OF spreading the disease II the
work of removing holdover cases Is
done 1t leaves no oppor-
tunity for additional advantages
from rny other secondary method
which will be given later.
Remember that the all-important
thing is the removal of the source, or
what will be the source Of infection
the following year. From the stand
point of the pear or apple, 1t is just
as important that this work be done
rs carefully and skillfully as the
work of a surgeon in removing a
infected with blood poison.
Everyone realizes the attention Civ
en to the source Of city's water
supply, and 1t may be said that the
leath rate Is very largely an index
If its conditions In the same sense,
he attention gwen the sanitary con-
litions Of the orchards of any com
munity Is an index of the death rate
)f the orchards. OF course, the cut
ing out Of holdover blight must be
done, not alone in a single orchard,
but the work should be general
and thorough throughout the entire
area, such as an enclosed valley or
even, for better work, an entire
state. Complete eradication of pear
blight from such large area Is, Of
very difficult, II not impos-
slbe. However, the fewer holdover
cases that may be missed will result
In fewer cases of infection later in
the spring and summer. AS may be
seen by referring to the factors in
the disease, the presence of
the germ is of primary Importance.
II the pear blight germ is not present
in the orchards there can be no
blight no matter what the weather
conditions may be, The orchards OF
California existed for 25 years with
varying climatic conditions, and nc
one ever heard Of blight In these or.
chards until the germ was introduc.
ed, The regular development OF the
diseases has been pointed out by
which It runs down on one side OF
the limb or body and not on the
other; this often leads to failures In
eradicating the blight from orchards
While the disease In the top Is very
easy to handle and any one who
looks at all closely can not only de
tect ", but can readily remove the
infected branches; the disease on the
bodies and In the root system Is mo-
only hard to see, but II is often diff
ficult to find It, especially on ole
trees where the crowns and bodies
are covered with rough bark. /
may be said here that the remova
and the detection OF holdover In pea
trees Is not nearly so difficult as I
is In the apple and ounce. Tn,
worst variety, II not the worst spe
cles Of the pome family, in which Il
detect hold-over and to effectively re
move Il.
The gum eSudate, when It Is pres
ent, gives a clew to many otherwls
obscure cases However, In cases o
late fall and summer infections. tn
LESSONS may be so small as 20 pro
duce no exudate or to give any othe
evidence OF infection. A dead waite
sprout or fruit spur, no matter hoy
tiny Il may be, leads to the deteC