Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-12-30

seeds and plants.
IL. Thunder, lightning and other
atmospheric disturbances have no in
fluence whatever on the disease
known as pear blight. The precipi
tation which accompanies them is the
only factor besides warmth.
IL. The only way to control blight
is to remove all case Of holdovei
before the blossoming period begins
Hold-overs removed during the bios
soming period do not insure that some
infection has not taken place from
them. To remove holdovers, or rath'
er to find them, on the rough bodies
use a gouge or other instrument with
which to expose the tissues beneath
A water-soaked, reddish condition ol
the soft bark indicates infection
which should be antiseptically remov.
ed.
13. The antiseptic to be used
should be bichloride Of mercury, OF
corrosive sublimate, and use no other
This disinfectant should be used at a
strength Of l to 1000 or perhaps
stronger, but never weaker. The use
of the various substitutes Is sense
less practice, as there Is nothing
cheaper or more effective as dis
infectant than bichloride of mercury
It Is deadly poison and must be
kept away from children and the con-
tainers should be plainly labeled SO
that unsuspecting persons may not be
poisoned.
a. There are no remedies for pear
blight, and all so-called patent
washes or other remedies" should
be avoided. Anyone who claims to
have a cure for pear blight is a
flake" and sheuld be treated accord
ingly. Those having remedies" for
sale have no standing whatever, II
they had they would not oppose ev-
cry scientific fact known.
Is. Summer cutting Of blight
should always be done, but the work
to be effective must be done care
fully Always be sure to get below
or above the point of infection. II
infection Is found in fruit spur or
water sprout never break them off
unless you know how far the infec-
tion has gone. There Is no further
danger In the dead spur, but rather
in the infection which has advanced
beyond 1t. Breaking off the spur
and then applying the disinfectant is
not eradicating the blight. Never
leave an infection until you know
that there is no further danger from
1t. Remember that there Is no such
thing as pretty good work." the
work is either good or bad.
16. In order to render the fight
ing Of pear blight more easy, trees
should be pruned in the vase or open
head form. Never grow a tree with
a main leader or center. Keep all
water sprouts and fruit spurs off the
body and main limbs OF the tree. Let
no water sprouts come up from the
crown OF the tree or the root system.
II. When blight is prevalent or
when seasons conducive to blight oc-
cur, extreme caution should be used
In the matter OF using stable manure,
commercial fertilizer or applying too
much water. Irrigation practice
should be studied carefully not only
In Tits connection with blight control
but with the benefits or injuries
which may result to the soil.
is. The only way to keep blight
under control Is to increase the in
spection and make II rigid. II a grow
er is caught experimenting or not
following out the directions for Grad
icating blight according to the letter
OF the law, force him by law to do
what the inspector has ordered. L
believe that besides the regular corps
of inspectors we should have per-
haps 40 or so volunteer inspectors
who will look after their own inter-
ests by investigating the condition OF
neighboring orchards. There Is no
reason why we can not get such q
corps OF men who will act. Their
appointment may be made In the reg
ular way making them officers OF
the law having the right to enter
upon a neighbor's premises. II this
had been done the past year. several
centers would have been
wiped out, and there would have
been no Infection and a good many
dollars saved
10. Lastly, In closing permit me
to say that as individuals you have
a right and a duty TO follow the ad.
vice and instructions which have
been given you for eradicating and
controlling blight, A government OF.
flciaI who haa had mara tocA ntca,