Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-03-12
APPLE. CROP DAMAGE
Cedar Rust Unusually Destruc-
tive in 1912 Season.
Leading FUNGUS Diseases Of Fruit In
Certain Sections-Nuts are Very
Concentrated Food-Potato an
Important Food.

ton on the req Ceudr, 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 inves.
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 cult
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 Lime-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 tmprac-
ticable to prevent the disease by
spraying
For several years the bureau OF
plant industry, department OF agricul-
ture, has been recommending the de-
structon of cedars in the vicinity Of
arge commercial orchards which they
injure, as a result Of which consider
able cedar destruction has been &C.
complished The unusually severe out
break of 1912 and the poor results
L.,
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 pathologists 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
completely in a single season after
having the cedars cut down with a
radius of one or two miles. In order
to insure thorough infection and thus
make the effect of eradication stand
out prominently, cedars were in some
eases allowed to stand in the vicinity
OF certain orchards. From the result
obtained in the work during the past
year, it appears satisfactory to cut
the cedars within a radius OF IL
miles, even though hillsides were coy
cred with cedars beyond that dis
lance
Nuts as Food.
The department of agriculture says
that nuts are a very concentrated
food even more so than cheese, but
when nationally used they are well
assimilated and may form part OF
a well.balanced diet. Nuts are very
valuable source of protein and fat,
these two nutrients being the charac-
teristic constituents of the more com
mon nuts, of which the walnut and CO.
coanut may be taken as types In
nuts, like the chestnut, carbohydrates
are a characteristic constituent. For
most families it is undoubtedly wiser
to use nuts as the regular diet than
as continent or supplement to an
otherwise hearty meal.
Vegetarians and others who use nuts
in place of meat should not depend
upon them as the main food supply, but
should supplement them with more
bulky foods with low content of
protein and fat. AS whole, nuts
may be classed among the staple foods
and not simply as food accessories.
At usual prices, nuts are reasonable
sources of protein and energy. Pea
nuts supply protein and energy very
cheaply, even compared with such
staple foods as bread and beans.
There are a number of nut foods on
the market, but it may be stated that
there is little to be gained from the
standpoint of food value or economy
in their use in place of the ordinary
nuts and homemade nut products, es-
pecially by healthy persons who are
willing to masticate their food thor
oughly and to use nuts In reasonable
combinations. Unless something has
been added, the nutritive materials in
such special preparations can not be
greater than the nuts from which they
are made, though in the mechanical
condition or in some other way the
foods may be better filter for ready
assimilation. Furthermore, nut but
tiers, and similar foods give pleas
ant variety to the diet, and they are
relished by many who would not care
for the unprepared nuts.
Though less subject to contamina-
ton than other foods, nuts should be
handled and stored under good condi.
tions, and especially should be pro-
tected from dampness and insect en-
emies.
Tho Role Of Potatoes In the National
Dietary.
The potato stands next to the &C.
reals as the most important food OF
northern nations, according to the de-
partment of agriculture. In Germany
this is particularly true, for the per
capita consumption is 7.3 bushels,
while ours is estimated at &c bushels.
An interesting study of Behrend
shows that the consumption of pota-
toes in Germany stands in inverse ra-
ito to the wealth and social status of
the people The well-to-do people there
use $50 bushels each per annum, the
peasantry SS bushels, and the labor
ers in western Germany 1873 bushels,
while In the eastern provinces the
per capita consumption of the poorer
laborers is II bushels each per year.
Potato Starch.
certain quantity OF potato starch
10 col In, ,tr,r for. cinia In