THE CHEM AW A
AM ERICAN
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common steel trap. Fasten the trap to a board about a foot square; dig
a hole eight or ten inches square down to the blind run-way where it
forks or runs off at an angle from the main run-way; place the trap here,
cover the hole with the board and the board with the soil so that it will
be dark in the hole. They are also poisoned by using crystals of strych
nine in raisins, prunes, or roots.
These little animals have our sympathy for we believe that they once
lived in the trees with birds and squirrels, but that on account of
some great wrong they did, they were sentenced to live underground in
the dark where they are fast losing all their outdoor habits.
One of the worst enemies with’which the orchardist has to contend is
the Fire Blight. This disease first appeared in the orchards on the At
lantic coast a few years ago. Gradually it has worked its way westward
and southward until now there is no section entirely free from its rav
ages.
Fire Blight affects the apple and pear orchards, principally, though
it will work on quince, apricot, and plum tree to some extent.
It is easily recognized from the dead twigs on the trees. On apple
trees the twigs and leaves turn brown; on pear trees they will turn black
as if scorched by fire, hence its name. The bark will swivel; if in doubt
cut off the bark and the outer portion of the wood will appear brown
instead of green or white. The younger and tender twigs of the tree
are affected more often than the older twigs, hence the tree while grow
ing is more apt to be affected than after it has made its growth. Hot,
dry weather has a tendency to check the growth of the tree and so the
spread of the disease.
The disease is spread in many ways; flies, millers, and especially, the
sucking insects will spread it from one tree to another; bees, gathering
honey, carry the germs from the diseased flowers to the unaffected trees,
while careless handling of the pruning tools is another mode. Blight
cannot be cured by spraying. The only way to eradicate the disease is
to cut off the diseased twigs and to burn them at once. Cut the diseased
twig well below the line of demarcation; this line can usually be
seen; if it can t cutten or twelve inches below where it appears to be;, in
other twigs cut five or six inches below, burn diseased twig and disin
fect tools before using again. Cut out the twigs wherever and when-
e\er seen; make weekly inspections for this purpose during the growing
season for thus only can the orchard be freed from this disease.
This is our most dangerous fruit disease and the worst to check.
Every citizen whether interested in growing of fruit for commercial
purposes at for home consumption should aid in combatting “ Fire
Blight.” —M. L. D.