Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-12-02

blight. 1t has been particularly no
ticeable that Winter Nelis roots are
very resistant to blight. Cases have
come under my observation where
the bodies have blighted as far as
the union with the Winter Nelis
stock then stopped. If this expert
ence proves universal, it is strong
argument in favor of using the
Kieffer and Winter Nelis stocks on
which to graft the more tender vari-
eties. Furthermore, these stocks
have a less tendency to throw out
sprouts.
Several conditions or factors con-
troll the spread of the blight after
1t once enters the tree. Some OF
these are more or less connected with
the conditions favoring infection.
The vigor of the tree has a great
deal to do with the amount of dam
age produced after the blight once
enters 1t. Another fact which must
be borne in mind Is the variety Of
the tree, whether apple or pear, or
any other pome fruit. All varieties
are not equally susceptible under
similar conditions, there being in
many varieties a certain tendency or
immunity. The more vigorous and
thrifty the tree, as a general rule,
the more seriously is 1t attacked by
the blight. The vigor itself is the ef-
feet of various conditions, such as
the fertility of the soil, the amount OF
manure or of fertilizer used, or kind
of cultivation, of soil, moisture, rain
fall or irrigation, and the presence oi
other diseases, such as leaf blight
crown gall, root rot, etc.
AS a rule, trees on rich soil bligh
more readily than trees which are
on poor soil. There are some ap
parent exceptions to this, and there
lis a difference in the behavior o
blight on different soils in connection
with their fertility. Akali soils seen
to favor the blight more than cor
respondingly fertile, or even NOR
fertile soils that are not alkali. Oh
the other hand, trees may blight ol
the acid soils of the eastern states
Stable manure causes the trees to b
more susceptible to the blight thai
those not manured. The age Of tn
> tree also exerts an important in
fluence. The older and slower grow
ing the tree is the less it is attacke
by blight, other things, of course, be
ing equal. Exhaustive crops Of frui
tend to consume the food material {
the tree and help to check the bligf
c to a certain extent. On the othe
D. hand, when the trees fail to fru
l. from unfavorable conditions, sue
C as prolonged rains at the blossomin
&c period, there may not be the oppo
tunity for infection and the contri
u dicition to this principle may be oI
m served. From observation, orchar,
'r ist know that during rainy ar
lie cloudy weather insects visitors, sue
t. as bees, are very rarely found wor
J. ing in the blossom. Since the be
Is are the principle distributors Of Il
p. blight germs, 1t can be readily SCI
e. that II the entire blossoming perit
OF Is covered by rainy or cool wealth
at there is little chance for very serio
i'd and general infection, although the
RS may be considerable holdover blig
is in the vicinity OF the blooming {
oy chard.
Ir- The style Of pruning the tt
h exerts some influence, not only In I
lie behavior OF the blight, but also
ry the convenience OF the orchardist
er- eradicating the disease The lie;
lg- desirable form Of tree is the I
20 pyramid, having central leat
nd with the fruit spurs on the m;
lot trunk and water sprouts at the ba
nd In thtis form Of tree, any infect
ry' OF blossoms or sprouts readily g
be into the body, making It difficult
In eradicate the blight without pract
op- ally destroying the tree, or, at les
removing the principal bearing ar
lily The most desirable form is the brC
ln- vase-formed tree, clean and I
on, from water sprouts at the base, h
tch ing no fruit spurs near the m
ing trunk and leaders, and having lat
by al twigs for fruit bearing at as gr
ntil a distance as possible from
, is crown OF the tree. Such a tree
or also in a very desirable form for {
at er reasons, for It Is easier to spl
lng easier to prune after the top
ALI been formed easier to gather
;ht- fruit, and especially easier to ex
hey inc and keep free from blight.
'ng- The weather at critical times,
rds. pecially In the spring and sunni
or exerts an important influence on
"a.