Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-03-01

concerned. 1t is not possible for the
inspectors, be they ever so efficient
In their work, to keep the pests of
thls county under control. Neither
is 1t possible for the district commits
sloner, county pathologist and in
spectors, working together, to ac-
complish this purpose. We must also
nave the unanimous help of the
growers if we would succeed These
are community problems in which we
are all Interested and upon the solu-
ton of which depends the success or
failure of our greatest industry. We,
therefore, appeal to the orchardists
to aid us in this task, not alone by
prompt and thorough work in their
individual orchards, but also by ex-
ertlng an influence in favor of sani-
tary methods in adjoining proper
ties. 1t frequently happens that an
inspector finds an unkept orchard
which is apparently abandoned, and
1t requires great deal of time and
energy to locate the owner or person
responsible for that property. Resi-
dents of such a neighborhood would
render Us a very material aid if they
would call our attention to such
neglected orchard and could give us
information that would enable us to
locate the responsible person.
1t sometimes happens that an in
spector is looked upon as an intruder
in an orchard, and when calling at
tention to the fact that blight exists
in the orchard may be met with the
reply, do you think that need you
to come around here and tell me
that?" The inspector has no choice
in such cases. He is instructed to
inspect every orchard in his district
and report its condition and make
recommendations to the owner for
cleaning it up. We do not purpose
antagonizing the grower in these in
stances and we much prefer that he
remain our friend; but the interests
at stake, not alone in his orchard but
in those of his neighbors, demand
that he receive the same attention
that is accorded to everyone else.
Pests must be eradicated wherever
and whenever they are found.
Our most pressing problem at the
present time is the eradication of all
blight cankers before the active
movement of sap begins in the
spring. The time is short and there
is still much to be done. This ap-
plies to apple, pear and ounce of
whatever variety. and no one should
make the mistake of thinking that
his orchard or any part of it is i'm
mune, for it is not. We advise a
very careful and critical examination
of every tree below ground to make
sure that the crown, and Immediately
adjacent root portions are free from
this disease. The eradication of one
virulent canker at this season prob
ably means more toward blight con-
troll than would the blowing out of
an acre of infested trees after the
blight begins to run. The only sure
way to hold it in check is to destroy
the centers of infection before any
distribution from those centers takes
place. Great care should be eXer-
cised in uncovering the roots to pre-
vent injury and to avoid the possibil-
ity of producing infection where
there was none. All tools should be
thoroughly disinfected between trees
to make sure that the disease is not
carried from one tree to another
Again we would emphasize the i'm
portance of the use of clean sponges,
good fresh solution free from any
, sort of precipitate, and of thorough
drenching of the parts to be steril-
ized. NJ. p. HENDERSON,
Plant Pathologist, Jackson Co.