Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-06-02
HOW TO CONTROL FIRE BlISHT.
Cause and Treatment Of a Disease That IS
Devastating The Fruit Trees of Virginia.

An unusually large number of com
plants are heard this spring of LIMBS
and twigs of fruit trees dying. Tn 5 is
mostly due to the ravages of the fire
blight bacteria, which attacks pears and
ounce chiefly, but apples somewhat. 1t
lives under the bark, hence no spraying
is effective. The disease is especially
Dad on young trees that have recently
come into bearing. The dead limbs or
ends OF twigs, with brown or black
leaves clinging to them, contrast sharp
~ with the bright green foliage of the
healthy branches. Most fruit growers
know these symptoms only too well.
There is, however, another injury
caused by this disease which is not so
well recognized. These are the diseased
places or ''cankers" in the bark. caused
by the blight germs. They are black.
Toughened and cracked spots in the
bark. During wet weather, moist mass
es OF germs may be seen oozing from
them and adhere to the bodies of anv
insects which crawl over them, and so
the disease is spread. The blight is al
so spread by bees at poisoning time.
While no remedial measures are en-
tlreiy successful, much can Re done TO
prevent the spread of the disease.
l. Cut off all blighted branches six
inches below any indications of the
disease Instead of throwing these
prunes on the ground, carry them
out OF the orchard and burn them at
once, thus preventing germs from
the diseased branches from infect
ing other trees.
z. Disinfect every cut surface made
In this pruning with corrosive subli-
mate solution, one part of sublimate
to one thousand of water. This ia
easily made by dissolving one of the
tablets sold by any druggist, in
pint OF water. If all cut surfaces
are thus disinfected any bacteria
left on them by the tools, or any
other means, will be destroyed.
3. Remove all watersprouts as fast
as they start. They are particular
ly susceptible to blight.
q. Pare the cankers down into the
green wood and disinfect the
wound.
D. Never use blight remedies
sold by agents. All are worthless.
and many are positively injurious to
the tress.
.. watch the trees closely, prune
on the infected branches every
week during the growing season.
No treatment can absolutely prevent
trees from blighting, but much NAV be |
done to lessen the injury. The treat
ment Is based upon the fact that trees
making very vigorous, sappy growth
are much more likely to blight than
trees growing slowly. Therefore where
the injury is very serious, keep pear
trees (but not apple trees, which should
be cultivated) growing slowly by the |
following means:
Z. Keep the trees in sod, and eth
er Craze the sod, or cut the grass.
and use 1t to mulch the trees. Gull
tivated trees blight more than trees
in sod.
8. Prune pear trees in June. Win
ter or early spring pruning, especi-
ally If very heavy, makes the trees
run to wood, and hence to blight.
.. Give liberal applications of min
eral fertilizers, those containing
potash and phosphoric acid. Do not
use manure or any fertilizer con-
tanning nitrogen.
10. Certain varieties-as the Sec
KEEL and Kiefer-blight less than
others.
IL. Remember that spraying will
not help, as the germ works under
the bark where the spray cannot
reach it. By paying careful atten-
ton to the above points partial i'm
munity may be secured. Speci-
mems Of this or any other disease or
injurious insect may be sent to the
Experiment Station for identified
ton.
H. S. REED.
Virginia Agricultural Experiment Sta