White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-07-04
CALIFORNIA RULES FOR
Pear BLIGHT CONTROL

we notice considerable blight show
ing in pears and Jonathan apples.
Many growers do not seem to be
taking steps to clean up the infesta-
ton. The following information IS
a brief synopsis of information con-
tanned in circular number 20 of Cali
fornia, "Pear Blight in California. !"
Water shoots about the body OF
the tree and suckers should be re-
moved only during the dormant sea-
son, during blight years, unless in
tested. In developing new trees it is
well to leave 6 or permanent scat
fold branches so that if one is lost
by blight the tree will not be seri-
ously misshapen.
Many insects capable of biting in
to or penetrating tender things and
the soft callous tissue of healing
wounds form a possible blight car
rier. A number of growers have re
ported that blight infestation Is heavy
near hedges and other wind-brakes.
Careful control Of all insects should
be advantageous.
Throughout the summer try to
cover the orchard once week to
cut out infested twigs and to treat
cankers in order to keep ahead of in
sect spreaders of the. disease. The
greater the number of infestations IN
a tree, the greater the number OF
new infstations that may be carried
to healthy twigs. Furthermore sue
cess in saving the larger branches,
with zinc chloride solutions depends
upon finding the cankers while they
are still young.
In removing twigs and branches,
cut to some lateral, (if possible), a
foot or more below the last signs OF
the disease. Examine every piece cut
off to make sure that the cut was
made far enough below the disease.
If the disease was within 8 or 10
inches of the main branch, the
branch should be treated with Zinc
chloride solution. Do not allow the
cut pieces to fall through the tree.
Trees severely killed back by
blight throw out great many sue
culent branches and these are very
susceptible to blight. On this ac-
count it is desirable to cure as many
diseased branches as possible. Yet
during severe blight epidemic it will
not pay to waste much time treating
small branches with zince chloride
because difference of two or three
days In getting over the orchards
may make the difference between
saving or losing many large branches.
The removal of late and out-of.
season blossoms while cutting off
blighted twigs assists very materially
in lessening the number of infections
during seasons of blight epidemics.
Some growers begin removing these
late and out-of-season blossoms just
as soon as they discover that the
blight is becoming epidemic in their
orchards.
Disinfect all cuts and wounds and
keep the tools and shears smeared
with the mercury-glycerine disintec-
tant. made as follows:
Formula No. 5Mercury- Glycerine
Disinfectant !!
Quart distilled water Cor rain
water).
3 Oaurts commercial glycerine.
16 Tablets cyanide of mercury Tor
"a or. of the crystals).
Is Tablets bichloride of mercury
Tor IA OF. of the crystals).
Add the water to the glycerine IN
a clean enameled kettle. Heat to loo
or us dgrees Fahrenheit. Remove
from the stove. Dissolve the cyanide
Of mercury in this by stirrying rapid
" with a clean dry stick, glass rod
or enameled spoon. Next add the
of mercury and stir until
dissolved. The tablets are the IN
grain, or half-gram size, known also
as large tablets. The powder or
crystal form of the pure compounds
is usually much cheaper than the
tablets. Glycerine should be pur-
chased in 1-gallon or 5-gallon lot.
and should be the commercial and
not medicinal grade for the latter
is more expensive. This solution will
keep for long time in bottles, well
A water solution without the gly-
cerine is also effective, but the gly-
cerine disinfectant remains on the
shears longer without drying up and
hence is more efficient in the hands
of careless operators.
Mercury compounds are very poi
sonous. Keep the tablets under lock
and key, for they are very attractive
to children. In case of accidental poi
soning the following is the simplest
of the official treatments: Administer
white of eggs and then induce von1it-
ing by use of mustard water, e to
teaspoonfuls of mustard thorough
ly stirred. into a cupful of warm
water). Send for a physician or rush
the patient to the nearest hospital.
This disinfectant solution is eco
nomicaly and efficiently applied with
a paint brush about w inches wide.