The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-05-10
APPLE Trees
Are They For Fire Wood Or
Fruit Production?

The following bulletin has been is [
sued by the Experimental Station,
Wooster, o., on Are Apple Trees
Grown for Fire-Wood or for Fruit Pro
duction":
The apple orchard disease survey |
work done by the Department of Bot |
any of the Experiment Station indi-
Gates serious condition in most of
the bearing apple orchards of eastern
and southeastern Ohio. This serious
ness arises from the attacks of the
blister canker fungus, which spreads
by means of spores and infects
through unprotected wounds of the
tree. The amount of disease is so
great as to be almost beyond reliza-
ton. So true is this in fact, that this
third warning appears to be duty to
the apple orchardists of the state.
AS stated in our second warning, or
chard sanitation Is as necessary as ci-
ty sanitation. The general health OF
the apple trees will depend upon the
sanitary precautions taken in the ear
ly season--in the later season the dis
ease will run riot II not avoided. These
measures of prevention are to remove
and burn all parts diseased by apple
blister canker. These parts may con-
sist of dead branches with cankers
upon them, or of the external bark at
tackled by canker where found on
very large branch. All these should be
cut off and burned, since the spores
produced by this material spread the
disease.
In the early infection of orchards
we have found stubs left in pruning
and wounded and broken branches,
| the most general source OF Infection
In an orchard near Center Belpre,
! Washington county, heavy fruit crop
on large trees in 1910 caused many
broken branches. Practically every
one of these trees in 1910 caused brok-
en- branches. Practically every one of
these breaks was badly parasitized
when examined, April, 1912. This
shows that wound infection is fact,
and that it probably takes place soon
after the wound is made. This infec-
ton of broken branches is general
through southern Ohio. In every or
chard visited the bare dead stubs left
in pruning are found infected. Or
chard owners cannot have healthy tops
of the trees when these dead, disease
inviting stubs are left below Even
though the stubs are green when Gu.
off, the same facts apply
Not only should all pruning be done
close to the branch and parallel with
the direction of the part left, by means
OF a smooth saw or chisel cut, but the
large rounds must be covered with
suitable dressing. This dressing
should be such as to prevent opening
cracks through 1t. Dressings of paint
white lead or linseed oil and Venetian
Red readily crack open, even before
the greatest spore scattering of later
summer. Up to this time the best
dressings have proved to be gas tar, a
commercial tree varnish, or more es
pecially, some form of asphaltum. Fol
discussion of these see an earlier
Press Bulletin (No. 342)
No one but the owners themselves
can answer this question, but 1t seems
there is real need for prompt action
and future protection OF the trees. II
is suggested that when In doubt, speci
mems OF diseased parts he sent to the
Experiment Station. II is believed al
so that representatives OF the College
Agriculture and OF the State Depart
ment of Agriculture, as we'll as those
of other departments of the Expert
} ment Station, will be pleased to hell
identity cases of disease
A circular upon apple blister cankel
: is now being printed and il is hoped
I that the illustrations contained in i
I will aid tree owners In identifying th'
= disease. For this circular, and othe
e information. address Department o
+ Botany, Experiment Station, Wooster
Ohio.