Arizona state miner., 1926-05-29
RESTORE BRAMBLE
CROP INDUSTRY

Although the growing of blackber-
ries, raspberries and dewberries, COM
monty known as brambles, has been
an industry of Importance for many
years, the acreage planted during the
last decade or more has not kept
pace with the market demands for
these fruits. The disease factor is
the most serious one that has to be
overcome in re1nedying the situation,
in the opinion of A. S. Colby, associate
chief of pOmOlogy, and III. w. Ander-
son, associate chief Of pomological
ture, University Of Illinois. They are
the joint authors of a new circular en-
titled, Diseases of Brambles and
Their Control" which the college has
just published for free distribution to
interested persons.
Bramble crops may be grown at
profit If varieties are chosen which are
adapted to the particular soil and eli
mate; if proper methods for cOntroll-
ing insects and diseases are used, and
If correct cultural practices are fol-
lowed, the circular points out. Dis
ease is the most important of all
these factors, however, since there is
considerable latitude in choice of va
rieties adapted to different localities;
since correct cultural methods are be-
ing worked out experimentally, and
since insects affecting brambles are
not numerous, and are fairly easy to
control, the publication adds.
AnthracnOse, one Of group Of fun
gous and bacterial diseases, has en-
tirely stopped the growing of rasp-
berries in some sections of Illinois,
and many growers are compelled to
renew their patches after two years
Of bearing, according to the circular.
In 1908 the loss in Illinois through
anthracnOse Is estimated to have been
more than so per cent of the crop,
while 25 per cent of the berry crop
is lost annually because of this dis
ease.
Red, purple and black types of rasp-
berries are all susceptible to anthrac-
nose, although the disease is most de-
structive to the blaekcaps. In ILL.,
nois the blackberry and the dewberry
also are sometimes attacked by the
disease.
No variety of raspberry is known to
be entirely immune, but the Quillen
may be regarded as practically free
from the disease. Also this variety
is quite productive and bears fruit of
good quality on vigorous canes. The
variety commonly grown in Illinois,
namely, Cumberland, Plum, Farmer,
Gregg, Munger, Older and Honey
Sweet are moderately susceptible,
while Scarf and Earhart are very
unsusceptible.
Anthracnose, which is caused by
fungus, first appears on young canes
in the spring as small, purplish, slight
ly raised spots. AS the canes grow,
these spots get bigger and become
lensshaped or oval, with slightly
raised, purple edge. The center grad
ually takes on dull grayish color and
later becomes sunken and fssured.
The LESSONS often are so close to-
gether that they form large, irregu-
lar spots with ill-defned edges. Dur
ing the early part of the second year,
the cracks which were developed dur
ing the previous year are deepened,
so that the entire bark and wood of
the cane underneath the spot becomes
dried out and unable to mature the
fruit. Similar LESSONS are found on
the stems and midr1bs Of the leaves
and occasionally on the stems Of the
berries. On the leaves, small purple
bOrdered spots are developed rather
late in the season. This disease should
not be confused with the Septoria
leaf spot Of the raspberry, which ap-
pears much earlier in the season and
is more destructive, causing prema-
ture defoliatiOn.