Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-08-22
UNCLE sam
ANSWERS His
CMIlCIlERS
Or. Houston Says Pear Blight
IS q Bacterial Disease
Of the Fruit
Rober, NJ. Mcwade.

Washington, Aug. 21.-Uncle Sam
is out in an answer to those who are
criticizing his methods OF combating
pear blight.
DR.. Houston. the secretary of argi-
culture has received information by
wire from several citizens of the
hustling state of Washington that
certain people are spreading the idea
that the pear blight Is not a bacter-
ial disease, and that the departments
recommendation that it can be dealt
with by cutting out the diseased por.
tons Of trees is not an effective meas.
ure.' -a
That sort of talk got on the nerves
of the department" and, in the fear
that these %unscientific opinions-not
using the short and ugly word-may
stop orchardists from following the
highly successful practical measures
recommended by the federal special
lists, and thus lose their own orchards
and also spread the disease among
neightoring orchards, Dr.. Houston has
sent out the following special state
ment:
That pear blight is a bacterial dis
ease o fthe pear tree is not open to
question. The scientists have clear
ly established the existence of these
bacteria bv means of microscopic ex-
animation, and have reproduced the
disease BY inoculating fruit and trees
with them. The germ is the Bacillus
a%mylovorus. 1t is an o~val-shaped
body. and is 1-1S0O0O of an inch long
and 1-25000 of an inch across, and
can be clearly seer with a high pow
er microscope. Moreover, the scien-
fists have raised these basteria in
their laboratories and have used them
a large number Of times in expert
ments to infect healthy trees and
fruit. Wherever this bacillus has
been introduced into a healthy tree
or fruit the pear blight has followed.
The scientists also have proved that
the pear blight can be communicated
from the blossoms of an effected tree
to healthy trees by bees and other
insects, and that the blight that is
held over through the winter can be
communicated to healthy portions Of
the same tree or to other trees by flies
or other insects.
Pear blight differs radically from
the peach yellows in the way 1t ct.
fects a tree. The peach yellow does
note show itself outwardly in a tree
until the entire tree is affected and
cannot be saved. The pear blight.
on the other hand, has a purely local
effect and attacks certain blossoms,
twigs, Branches, or a section Of the
bark. and leaves the rest of the tree
lninjured except where girdling has
occurred.
In thousands of orchards, and III
the, Ease OF hundreds~of thousands OF
pear trees, especially in California
and Oregon, particularly in the Med
ford district, it has been proven that
by cutting out the portion of the tree
affected by the pear blight and wash.
ing the cut with q solution of one
part Of corrosive sublimate "a highly
poisonous substance) to 1000 parts
OF water. 0rchardists can save most
of the individual trees and prevent
the spread Of the disease throughout
their orchards. 1t therefore strongly
urges orchardists in districts affected
by pear blight to continue to cut out
affected portions of the trees and
wash the cuts with this mixture. In
cutting they should wash their tools
in this %disinfectant, SO that the tool
itself cannot communicate the bacter.
ia to healthy parts of the trees. Es-
pecially Orchardists are strongly &C.
yised to go oyer their orchards very
carefully in the fall and cut 'out all
cases of hold over blight. in order
to prevent the spread of infection
in diseased trees or the c0mmunica-
ton of infection to other trees in the
b%lossoming period.
In addition to the cutting out, and
disinfecting process. the department
advises orchardists to take steps to
keep their trees healthy and strong,
hut not over-vigorous, SO as to be
highly resistant to pear blight. 1t
warns orchardists to be careful in the
use. of manures and fertilizers around
fruit trees. as everything which in
creases the rate OF Growth of the tree
hastens the spread of the localized
Infection:
The department has thoroughly
tested all known or suggested meas
ures for coping with this blight. 1t
has found the cutting out and washing
witt, The solution the n reliable and
practical measure, and recommends It
as a fully tested and successful rem
edy.
nj, i, r,t inu.s nit METHOD will not