The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-01-30
APPLE CROP DAMAGE
Cedar Rust Unusually Destruc-
tive in 1912 Season.
Leading FUNGUS Diseases of Fruit In
Certain Sections-Nuts are Very
Concentrated Food-2otato an
important Food.


prepared by the United States Depart |
ment OF Agriculture.)
The cedar rust or orange rust of the |
apple, which has its alternate genera
ton on the red cedar, was unusually
destructive during the season Of 1912. |
especially in the Appalachian fruit
belt. and resulted in severe losses to
apple growers in the autumn of that
year. The main facts about this dis
ease have been worked out by inyes-
tigators and known to science for
several years.
The remarkable increase Of the ce-
dar rust, apparently due to its new
adjustment to the Mork Imperial and
other commercial varieties of Guilt
waited apples which has taken place
within the last eight to ten years, has
| caused this to be the leading fungous
disease of this fruit in certain apple
growing sections. Lme-sulphur solu-
ton, the standard fungicide for spring
treatment of the apple, will kill the
| fungus, but on account OF weather
conditions and repeated infection Pc
RODS during the time of leaf forma-
ton, it is difficult and usually imprac-
ticable to prevent the disease by
spraying.
For several years the bureau of
plant industry, department of agricul-
ture, has been recommending the de-
struction of cedars in the vicinity of
large commercial orchards which they
injure, as a result of which consider
able cedar destruction has been ac-
complished The unusually severe out
break Of 1912 and the poor results
Of spraying in that season, however,
emphasizes the necessity Of cedar
eradication more than ever before. and
the last year this was taken up more
actively by the growers, particularly
in Virginia and West Virginia, the de-
partment and the state experiment
station Psychologists lendiig their aid
and advice to the movement.
The results Of this work proved
remarkably satisfactory during the
spring infection period Of 1913. In
the valley of Virginia, where heavy
| losses were sustained the previous
year, orchard after orchard recovered
i completely in a single season after
4 having the cedars cut down with a
II radius Of one or two miles. In order
Il to insure thorough infection and thus
make the effect of eradication stand
out prominently, cedars were in some
cases allowed to stand in the vicinity
H Of certain orchards. From the result
II obtained in the work during the pas
II year, it appears satisfactory TO cu
II the cedars within a radius OF /.
II miles. even though. hillsides were GOV
H cred with cedars beyond that dis
II lance.
II Nuts as a Food.
II The department of agriculture say
II that nuts are a very concentrate
II food even more so than cheese, Blu
II when nationally used they are vel
II assimilated and may form part Q
III a well-balanced diet. Nuts are yer
III valuable source Of protein and IA
II these two nutrients being the chara'
HI teristic constituents of the more con
II mon nuts, of which the walnut and Ct
III coanut may be taken as types. l
III nuts, like the chestnut, carbohydrate
are a characteristic constituent Fo
most families it is undoubtedly wise
II to use nuts as the regular diet tina
as a condiment or supplement to
III otherwise hearty meal
II Vegetarians and others who use nut
II in place of meat should not depen
II upon them as the main food supply, bl
X should supplement them with mol
II bulky foods with q low content I
nrotein and fat. AS a whole, nu
NAV be classed among the staple fooG
II and not simply as food accessorie
II at usual prices. nuts are reasonab
II sources of protein and energy. Re
II ,uts supply protein and energy vel
II cheaply. even compared with SUI
II staule foods as bread and bean
II There are a number of nut foods {
II the market, but it may be stated tn
II there is little to be gained from L
II standpoint of food value or econon
II il, their use in place Of the ordina
II nuts and homemade nut products,
pecially by healthy persons who a
willing to masticate their food tht
oughly and to use nuts in reasonat
II combinations. Unless something h
been added. the nutritive materials
such special preparations can not
II greater than the nuts from which IN
. are made, though in the mechanic
condition or in some other way I
he foods may be better filter for rea
en- assimilation. Furthermore, nut b
ters and similar foods give ple'
m. ant variety to the diet, and they a
%, relished by many who would not ca
,ry for the unprepared nuts.
rts Though less subject to contamiI
tIon than other foods, nuts should
handled and stored under good con
for tons. and especially should be p
tected from dampness and insect
emies.
The Role of Potatoes In the Natiol
~ Dietary.
me The potato stands next to the
vsals as the most important food