The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-12-02
Fall Measures to c Control Blight
of Pear, Apple and Ounce
Trees Are Outlined.

1 "a
management of the orchard, espe-
cially the apple and pear orchard,
there is a period in the autumn after
the fruit is gathered, and perhaps
after other crops have been safely
harvested, that is most convenient
for doing some Of the careful work
In the control of certain diseases and
pests. The control Of peach borers
and insect pests and fall spraying for
San Jose scale have been discussed
in a previous article. There are
certain fungous and bacterial dis
leases. particularly pear blight. and
apple canker, which are best work.
ed upon at this time. These dis
eases are principally controlled by
the eradiction methods rather than
by spraying. With both these dis
leases 1t is not only a matter of
convenience but 1t is a fortunate
thing that some Of the most import
ant work Of the season can be best
accomplished at the time when 1t is
most convenient. The mild autumn
days before the snow flies or dis
agreeable rainy, or cold weather
comes give the very best opportunity
for careful work and close inspec-
ton.
Pear Blight
Pear blight is bacterial disease
which works mostly in the fleshy,
growing, tender parts of the tree,
including the blossom clusters, young
twigs, and the bark of larger
branches. and even on the body col
lar, and root system of the tree.
Under certain conditions the bac-
terra spread into the wood to a con-
siderable extent. The disease at
tacks. the pear, apple, ounce, and
other related fruits of the pome
family. While the leaves are at
tackled to some extent particularly
the leaf stem and midribs of the
younger leaves, the main killing of
the foliage results from the death
of the twigs and branches on which
the leaves are located. The dead
branches and othersparts give no evi-
dence to the naked eye of the cause
of their death and thus resemble
somewhat limbs killed by fire; hence
the name fire blight, particularly
with blight on the apple. is often
applied.
How the Tree is Infected.
The germs get into the tree in.
several ways. First and most i'm
portant is the blossom blight. Flies
and other insects carry the germs
from the gummy exudate on the hold
over blight to the opening blossom
and infect the nectaries of the flow.
er. Bees and other insects carry
the germs from blossom to blossom
and tree to tree and even to ada
cent orchards and spread the dis
ease rapidly during the blooming
period. During the present season
pear blight has been particularly bad,
especially the blossom blight on both
pears and apples. The outbreak of
1915 stands out as one OF the worst
in history, particularly on account
Of the unusual amount OF blossom
blight on the apple.
Next in Importance after the BIOS
som blight, and in some cases the
most serious phase of the disease, is
the infection of the tender tips OF
growing twigs. Thousands Of these
young twigs may be killed on a. sim
gle large apple or pear tree. The
blight may extend from the infection
on the blossoms or from twigs down
on to the large branches, thence to
the body OF the tree The branches,
bodies, and more particularly the
collar and even the root system Of
the tree, may be infected directly
by the germs. The infections may
come from fruit spur, water sprout,
or even sprout from the root, or
the germs may be introduced by
punctures by insects, birds, imple-
ments, or other means, directly into
the fleshy bark, or even may enter
In certain cases, through growth
cracks. Ordinarily the cuticle of the
tree protects 1t from the entrance Of
the germs, otherwise there would be-
much more destruction Of trees than
actually occurs.
Each infection, no matter where
4 1t occurs, should be looked upon as
an individual case Of pear blight.
The diseases resulting from the var
ious modes Of attack for convenience
are given various names, such as.
blossom blight, twig blight, body
blight, collar blight and root blight.
The lower down ON the tree, as q.
rule, the more dangerous is the.
lb1ighE The tree may have q sthous-
sand or more twigs and blossoms;
killed IN the top and not be serious