Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-07-11
STUDYING GUMMOSIS
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE MAX
ING EFFORTS TO FIND CURE.
Belief That Disease OF Cherry Trees
VIII Be Conquered by
Science.


VIII BE Conquered BY
Science.
CORVALLIS Or. July S.-"Cherry
gummosis," that terror to cherry
growers. is being made the subject Of
an exhaustive study by the plant path
ology experts of the Oregon Agricul-
tural College experiment station, and,
although they have not been at work
very long, the results thus far are suf-
ficient to encourage the belief that
ultimately not only the causes Of the
dread disease. but the necessary cures
as we'll, will be discovered.
Realizing the Importance and in
terest of the subject to the cherry
orchard growers of the state at this
time, f L Griffin. research assistant in
plant pathology at the college. has
consented to give preliminary report
of his Investigations which he is con-
Quoting regarding the causes and
cures of the disease.
'The diseased condition of cherry
trees, commonly called 'gummosis, is
the most destructive of all the troubles
affecting the cherry industry in Ore
gon,'' said Mr. Griffin. mo cherry
growing section of the state is entirely
free from the disease, but it is in the
more humid climate west of the Cas-
cade Mountains that gummosis has
become menace to the growing of
cherries.
Disease Is Grave.
.Gummosis has caused the loss of
great many trees in the past. So Sc
rlously is the disease regarded that
many people are hesitating to plant
cherries. although good profits are re-
allied in raising the fruit for the can
neries. With the advent Of cool
ing and the perfection of the pitting
machine. both of which will extend
the market for the green and dried
fruit, the growers profits viii be
doubled or trebled, and ii remedy
for this great drawback to the indus
try can be found, oregon will become
as famous for cherries as she has for
her other fruits.
THE department of plant patholo-
gy of horticulture of the Oregon ex-
pertinent station have been conduct
ing an investigation regarding the
cause and cure of cherry gummosis.'
The investigation is not completed,
but enough information concerning
the prevention of the disease has been
obtained to Justify the encouragement
Of the growing Of the sweet cherry if
certain soil and cultural requirements
be observed.
Sweet Varieties Susceptible.
THE sour cherries are only slightly
affected by gummosis. Nearly all of
the sweet cherries, however, are sus-
ceptible to the disease. this being es-
pecially true of the Bigarreau type, |
although the Bing and Lambert, |
which, with the Royal Ann, are de-
pendable commercial varieties when
growing under the same conditions
are apparently as badly diseased.
1T has been noted in the william
ette Valley. as far back as 1853, that
when warm periods of late winter or
early spring were followed by freezing
weather, gummosis was especially |
abundant. This association of ex-
tremes of temperature with gummosis
has been noted by many orchardists
who naturally considered 1t as cause
and effect The fact, however, that the
disease appears every season, especial
ly in, the localized form, in orchards
of varying locations, will not permit
us to attribute every appearance Of
gummosis to frost injury.
Soil Conditions.
"Unfavorable soil conditions un-
doubtedly favor gummosis, and 1t has
been noted in many orchards that the
trees growing in shallow soil or in
poorly-drained locations are more sub
ject to the disease than those more
favorably situated The fact again.
that gummosis occurs in orchards
growing in deep, well-drained and APP
parently the best of cherry soil, makes |
us seek still other explanations for
the casual factors.
The condition known as sun scald' !
is often accompanied by cumming.
This is most destructive in young, |
high headed trees, which are often
girdled by the diseased tissues encir-
cling the trunks. Wounds caused by
pruning or cultivation will often pro-
duce gum. but the extent OF such in
juries ordinarily is not serious
"Gummosis has been ascribed to
cultivation or fertilization of the or
chard. but experience has demonstrat- I
ed that the cherry like the other tree
fruits, demands both OF the cultural
treatments, and that no harm win re-
suit II the tree Is encouraged properly
TO mature its wood.
Bacteria Work Harmfuliy.
"a bacterial disease of cherries has
been described. from both France and
Germany. as inducing gnmmosis in
the cherry Bacteria are known to
cause a localized form Of gummosis on
the cherry in Oregon. Recent investi-
cations l have made proved conclu-
siveiy that a great deal. II not all. Of
the fruit and bud spur blight common
some seasons in many orchards is
caused by a bacillus. The manner OF
attack Of this parasite and control
measures have. as yet. not been. salts
factorily worked out
mo certain cure for cherry gum
mosis IL known. Many growers advo-
cafe the rrtfffne ont of the diseased
tissues as well as the longitudinal slit
ting Of the bark OF the trunk and larg-
er limbs. The efficiency Of the latter
method Is largely problematical. as
most growers have followed no sys-
tematic method Of cutting out and In
the cases observed II had little or no
effect In stopping the disease.
Good Practlcee.
ffarna l