Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-11-21
NOW IS TIME TO
SPRAY BLACKBERRY
FOR ANTHRACNOSE
Expert Reports on Investigation
of This Disease in Puyallup
Valley.
SHOULD BURN OLD CANES.
New Canes Should Also Be Thor
oughly Treated, Says Plant
Pathologist.

"This is the season of the year when
the bush blackberry grower should
give serious consideration to the dis
ease affecting this very desirable
fruit" says w. H. Paulhamus, presi-
dent of the Puyallup & Sumner Fruit
Growers association, and calls the
growers attention to the report OF
DR.. c. R. Shear, plant pathologist Of
the United States department of agri-
culture, who investigated the disease.
anthracnose. which was prevalent In
the puyallup valley.
Our experience in combating an
thracnose," says DR.. Shear, has shown
that thorough treatment Of affected
plants with commercial lime sulphur
1-1O while in dormant condition IL
very useful.
"The lime sulphur should be ap-
piled very thoroughly just before the
leaves appear in the spring. and It
may be found desirable to make an ap-
plication in the autumn also. as soon
as the leaves fall.
1T has also been found that Bor-
(deaux mixture is much more effective
as a summer spray than lime sulphur
|or any of the other fungicides tried.
We would suggest at least three appli-
cation of Bordeaux mixture after the
foliage appears, using the 1850 form
ula, I. e.. four pounds copper sulphate.
three pounds fresh stone lime to so
gallons of water, adding two pounds
of commercial resin fish oil soap. The
soap increases the efficiency Of Bor-
deaux mixture by causing 1t to spread
and adhere to the plants much better
than the plain mixture.
When the fruit is so far developed
that there is danger of unsightly stain
ing with Bordeaux mixture, solution
of neutral copper sulphate. one pound
to so gallons Of water, should be sub
stituted. This, according to our ex-
perience, Is a more effective non-stain-
ing fungicide than ammoniacal copper
carbonate, copper sulphate solution, or
the other copper compounds tried.
"The Importance of thoroughness In
spraying should be particularly empha-
sized. A power sprayer or one which
will maintain pressure of at least
$50 pounds Is necessary. Efforts
should be made to cover as nearly as
practicable every portion of the plant,
and especially the fruit
Besides the spraying. the best san
itary conditions possible should be
maintained by cutting out all the old
canes as soon as possible after the
fruit has been picked, and destroying
as completely as practicable all sources
of infection by burning, as this is 4
fungus disease. which is spread by
spores from diseased plants.
Spraying for insect and fungus en-
emies is coming to be generally re-
garded as necessary operation in
successful fruit culture, and provision
for regular spraying Is in most cases
as essential as cultivation and prun-
ing.
"Since there seems to be no likeli-
hood of selling berries affected with
anthracnose to advantage hereafter,
every grower whose berries have been
affected to any extent by anthracnose
should make plans for thorough treat
ment the coming season, and clean and
murn at once all old canes IL this has
not already been DONE"
Growers should get busy immedi-
ately on their bush blackberries," Mr..
Paulhamus adds, so that next year
they will be able to ship them instead
of permitting them to spoil on the
ground"