The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1914-09-04
SPYING OUT FIRE BLIGHT.
An OkanOgan Delegation Visits PEN
tictOn to Get Pointers on the Pest,

tictOn TO Get fOlnterS on the Fest.
Saturday morning a number of au.
tomobiles, carrying some so passen.
gers. left Oroville for Penticton, B. C
This party had been made up by j
Hughes, county agriculturist, and
the object OF the trip was to examine
the ravages and effects of fire blight
among the orchards in the vicinity OF
Penticton, where the disease, through
ignorance, thOughtlessness, neglect, or
Indifference, has gained a firm foot
hold, and has worked much damage,
The aim that Mr. Hughes had in taxi
ing a number of fruit growers upon
the ground, showing them the OBJECT
Upon the trees, how the blight can be
recognized, ard the best and really
caiy methods of combating its spread,
end what may be expected in this
valley If the feenest vig;ienca is not
exercised to guard against encroach-
ment, was wholly educational and
those who made the trip feel well re-
paid for thu time and trouble devoted
to the undertaking. We regre. to say
not as great interest was manifested
in the excursion among the orchard
las of this vicinity as there should
have been, and the Oroville contingent
was but small percentage of the
entire number in the party. The OBJ
ject was one in which every fruit
grower is, or should be, directly and
vitality interested, and for the value
Ct the information to be gained, and
the f-protectiOn that information
would be to every orchard owner, many
more Of the growers of this locality
should have made the trip. Those who
went from here were Mr.. and Mrs. A.
P. Murray, Dooley P. Wheeler, F. L.
Stansbury, l.. F. Pourtales, R. Butler,
J. R. Bowen, Samuel Blackler and Per-
ry Blackler. The balance of the crowd
was made up Of residents OF Riverside
0mak, Okanogan and the lower part
Of the valley.
At Penticton the visitors met with
pleasant reception from the land own
ers and residents of that place, and
were given every opportunity to ex-
anime orchards affected by the fire
blight, and all the information at the
command OF those familiar with the
disease, its character and remedies
used in fighting it. The people of that
section have awakened to the serious
ness of the blight, and the govern
ment has experts employed to eradi-
cate the pest. So far as could be OBJ
served the outward and visible signs
Of the inroads of blight were not so
impressive and shocking as was ex-
pected from the nature of the reports
tnat have reached this place. Still
tne evidence was bad enough, and
there was plenty of indications of the
presence of blight. In some instances
damage to orchards was noticeable. In
most cases the blight had only appear
ed on the twigs and limbs Of trees,
and the diseased parts could be re-
moved by amputation. In one orchard
tne trunks of many of the trees were
anected, and when this occurs all that
can be done is the destruction of the
trees. The expert engaged to treat
tne Penticton orchards stated that the
remedy, when once blight was discov-
ered In an orchard, should not be ap-
Piled by the owner. The knife is the
only resource, and when it is left to
tne owner to cut away affected parts
MS tlmidity prevents him following the
heroic treatment necessary. 1t is then
tnat the aid of an expert is needed,
ior he does not hesitate to carve deep
enough to insure the removal of the
diseased parts.
Wnen the blight be ZONES affixed to
hmb gum oozes out and this is car
i'ed from tree to tree by bees, or
otner insects, thus innoculating an en-
ure orchard. The smaller branches
'hat are thus innoculated can be re-
moved and the tree saved. When the
might fastens on the trunk it is con-
veyed by the sap through the tree and
ue Tree Is doomed. Some varieties
=. apples, 1t is claimed, especially the
"ihesaps, are largely immune. The
pear Is especially susceptible to blight
ana rapidly falls a victim when once
affected.
Inc Oroville members of the excur-
sion feel well repaid for the time de-
'oted to the trip. They were given
al opportunity to see blight in it's va
MUS stages, and feel that they could
! readily recognize it's presence in an
orcnard. This information will be of
eieat advantage in guarding against
.ne disease in this valley. The Orovil-
vans are enthusiastic in their appro-
'"uon and appreciation of the treat
neht received from orchardists of Pen
.o'on' and were delighted with the
UP over such roads as are only read
"oout on this side of the line. Most
" 'he visitors remained over night at
fenticton, returning home Sunday.
NlRRAW ESCADE