Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-07-06
ERADICATE FIREBuCHT
HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN THE
WILLAMETTE VALLEY.
Growers Are Requested to Diligently
Search Their Orchards and Re-
port Suspected Gases.

Every possible effort must now be
made to eradicate fireblight from the
new sections of the Willamette Val
ley where it has recently been discov-
cred, is the recommendation of Pro-
fessor III. p. Barss of the department
of plant pathology of the oregon Ag-
ricultural college. Growers are ask
ed to search their orchards and to
report suspected cases to the fruit
inspector. Doubtful cases may be
sent to the Oregon agricultural col
lege at Corvallis for examination. The
only positive way of preventing an
infected tree from standing as source
of danger to neighboring trees and
orchards is to remove and burn it,
Wild shrubs susceptible to fireblight
ought to be cut down to prevent their
harboring the disease,
"Fireblight is the most greatly fear
ed of orchard diseases. 1t has now
appeared in region where it has new
er before been known, having been
found at scattered points in Lane.
Benton and Linn counties and possibly
in parts of Polk and Marion counties.
Fruit inspectors are energetictlly en-
gagged in a survey to determine the
exact extent of the trouble and the
to give them every possible assistance
i'm their fight against the disease.
While the present outbreak Is not
causing great loss thus far in most of
the districts mentioned, yet it is of tre-
mendous importance that campaign
for the eradication of the disease be
undertaken Immediately and vigorous
ly while it is still possible to handle
the situation which threatens such
serious consequences. A few years
ago active effort on the part of the
growers aided by thorough inspection
checked threatened outbreak of fire.
blight in the Hood River valley. 1t
is only by such persistent and thor
ough work that the spread of the dis
ease can be successfully halted.
"Fireblight is caused by bacteria,
which are disseminated largely
through the agency of insects. 1t may
attack any member of the apple fam
lily. 1t has wiped out pear growing
in some sections of the United States
and in certain parts of Oregon has
enormous losses in apple and
pear ne uloCdSC oiSO az
tacks the ounce actively as shown in
the case of the present outbreak and
blight of such wild trees as
service berry, and native
crab from which it may be transfer
red to the apple and pear. The i'm
fections usually start in the blossom
clusters or on the new shoots and
water sprouts. The dead leaves hang
on the blighted parts
and often pearly drops of bacterial
1oze exude from the surface of fruits
and succulent shoots in which the
blight is active. From the spurs and
new shoots the bacteria may spread
nto the bark of the main limbs anoI
branches, form large cankers and
,ause great damage. The trunk and
-oot system sometimes become infect
ID, resulting in most serious conse-
luences. The bacteria are carried
live over the winter in the edges of
iome of the diseased areas. These
1old-over cankers are sources of new
Infection in the spring at which time
he disease spreads with extreme
'apidity under the right conditions"