The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1912-12-25
CAUTION AGAINST BLIGHT
An Article From The Govern
ment Farm on Care of
Orchard.

Ii is OF interest 10 all agricultur-
lists in this region to know pear
blight when it appears, as il is a
serious menace TO both the apple
and pear. The fact that we have no
inspection laws throws the responsi-
bility entirely upon the individual
farmers of the valley A neglected
orchard IS always Improbable, be-
cause one diseased is a menace to
every other orchard. No other ar
gument should be necessary TO in
duoe those who have infected trees
to "clean up"
Fire-blight, as the disease is often
called, is thus named from the ap-
pearance of the leaves of the twigs
when they become girdled with the
disease. As this is a bacterial dis
ease, infection often begins at the
blossoms and goes down the fruit
spurs into the trunk. Bees and any
insect which frequents the blossoms
may carry the disease or scratches
and wounds on trees may be the
place where infection starts. Birds
may also carry the disease. One die
eased tree may thus be the means
Of injecting the whole orchard, and
from that the whole region. An ex-
animation Of a blighted tree, par
ticularly if it be pear generally
shows the presence of many dead
twigs. In other cases the disease
has entered the spurs and by going
down into the large branches has
produced eankers. This dead bark
exudes sap which becomes thick and
gummy. The disease is most active
in midsummer, often destroying an
entire pear tree in one season. In
many places the apple is not seri-
ously damaged by the disease. but
orchards near Fallon can be found
in which many apple trees have been
entirely killed and most of those re-
naming are more or less affected.
REMEDIES TO BE APPLIED.
Quackery has often been praeticed
by INSCRIPTIONS or ignorant persons
Injecting mysterious and high pric-
ed remedies into gimlet holes In the
tree can benefit no one but the pro-
pagator of the fraud.
AT the outset it is necessary to re-
member that this is a bacterial dis
ease. All diseased wood must be
cut out. II is very easy to carry
bacteria in tools, these as well as the
fresh cuts should be sponged after
each operation with 1000 to l So
luton of bichloride of mercury (cor.
resive sublimate), a dangerous pois-
on. Be sure to cut back to healthy
wood, which may be some distance
below the diseolored bark, particu-
larly when the disease Is spreading
rapidly In mid-season. Some say il
is better to cut back one foot below
the apparent line of dead tissue.
After cutting out the diseased
wood, paint the parts with lead ant
oil Where the bark on the trunl
is affected it should be peeled off ant
the diseased and discolored inner
bark cut and scraped away. Al
trimmings should be burned. Trees
making very rapid growth are more
susceptible to this trouble, hence i
is not wise to apply much manure
to apples or pears or to water to'
freely. A vase shaped tree inducet
by judicious pruning is easier hand
led if it becomes affected than is
high headed tree. If the diseas
gets to the main leader the Who'll
tree may be lost 1t is much easie
to handle blight where a vase shal
ed tree Is secured by training thre
main branches at Is inches abov
ground. The trees when set shoul
be cut back to that height. BY keep
ing all suckers, water sprouts an
fruit spurs cut off from the lowe
parts of the main framework, ther
will be less chance of the diseas
girdling the main branches, as tn
infection starts at the blossoms an
works down the spurs rapidly
When the bearing wood is kept o
the outside of the tree, any infet
ton can be cut away before seriou
damage is done.
1t should not be difficult to fin
time during the fall or winter to CT
| out all dead and diseased wood.
| the spring at blossom time carefl
| inspection should again be given
get any diseased wood or spurs ths
have held over the winter and whie
will be a source of infection to II
opening blossoms. In summer al
II