Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-07-28
Fruit Growers Meeting.

ty Horticultural Society," held an inn
portant meeting at the Faulkner
Bowers orchard on the Winchester
pike, three and half miles from this
city last Saturday afternoon which
was attended by probably one hun
dred and fifty growers.
The meeting was presided over by
MIR. A. CIohan, president Of the So
cIety who made an address along the
lines Of valuation and taxation of or
chards.
The meeting was especially for the
purpose of hearing an address by DIR.
Nj. b. Waite, a prominent specialist OF
the Agricultural Department on the
subject of blight.
He stated that the blight in apples
was nothing more nor less than the
pear blight as 1t attacks the apple as
well as the pear. The blight is an in
sect too small 10 be seen with the un-
aided eye. 1t is usually carried to the
tree by the bees or flies gathering
honey from the blossom In blooming
time. The bacilli enter the blossom
and some times steps there especially
in trees of strong resisting power. The
cluster Of blossom dies and that is
known as blossom cluster blight. In
other trees the insect goes into the soft
fresh twig and follows it multiplying
much as the yeast germs and kills the
twiR foot, two feet, or more until
they are checked by the natural re-
sisting power of the tree. This is
known as the twig blight. These two
blights are not dangerous as they will
PROBABLY stop before doing the tree any
great damage and if the dead twigs
are cut of and destroyed the tree will
hardly be effected the following year.
The propagation and spread Of the
blight is largely dependent on the eli
matte conditions as some years it will
be much worse than others.
The third king of blight Is the worst
and decidedly the hardest to combat
That is the body or collar blight. In
this the insect enters the bark Of the
tree on the body through some open
ing, sometimes made by an insect or
bird and following the course OF least
resistance goes up or down and if the
resistance of the tree is not sufficient
to throw off the disease will go multi
plying and spreading until the tree is
gIrdled, the bark dead that the tree
died. 1t seems that the Grimes Colleen
is the most susceptible of all apple
trees to the disease.
DR.. Waite advised the growers to
lose no time in battling the blight.
Mr.. M. A. Eckard, of the Back
Greek orchard company spoke on the
subject of potato blight, he having
been raised in the great potato region
of Michigan. He stated that he had
not seen any real potato blight in this
section and that he was inclined to be-
lieve that the disease destroying the
potato crop here is weather condition
which Is causing sun scald.
Senator Faulkner as host had re-
freshments, sandwiches, pickle and
lemonade served which was much en-
joyed by all present.
The society transacted considerable
business among which was the ap-
pointment of committee to go before
the Board of Equalization and Review
in the matter of an equitable assess
ment of orchards in the county. The
committee was composed of Senator
Faulkner, H H. Rutherford, Gray
Silver, 5. S. FelKer and w. Ii. Kill
mer.
A committee composed of w. d..
Thomas, Charles Thatcher and N. L.
Frame was appointed on the piotec-
ton of song birds.
The society decided by unanimous
vote to have another carnival this