MEDFOBD MATT, TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OliEOON, MONDAY, MAY 9, 1910.
PEAR BLIGHT AND ITS CONTROL
UPON THE PACIFIC COAST
2
This Is tho Second of a Scries of Articles That Will Be Printed Dally
Until Subject Is Completed Every Orchardlst In the West Should
Savo These Issues for Future Reference, as They Contain Valu
able Information.
iy rnoFKSson o'cjaua,
Assistant Pathologist United States
Donartmcnt of Acrlcuture. Writ-
ton especially for tho Medford Mall
Tribune. Copyright, 1910, by tho
Modford Mall Tribune.
(Continued from Sunday, May S.)
Damage In the Eastern States nml
Cnllfornln.
In tho eastern states pear blight
haB done an enormous amount of
damage In tho past, more bo than the
Pacific Coast orchardlsts realize. In
fact, one of tho reasons of tho com
mercial bucccgs of pear growing on
tho Coast has been tho difficulty or
Inability of growlug the bettor va
rieties of pears In the face of at
tacks by this disease In most sec
tions of eastern states. During the
past two years pear blight has been
vory serious In Now York, Michi
gan and generally throughout tho
east. Tho same may be said of tho
southern states, such as Georgia and
Florida. Usually, blight has been less
severe In Michigan and New York
states around the cooler, morj damp
sections in the vicinity of tho Great
Lakes; however, Inst year in Niagara
county, Now York, which borders on
Lake Ontario, many Bartlett pear or
chards throughout tho northern por
tion of tho eastern states, but south
ward of this, Bartlett pear growing
Is almost abandoned. Tho Oriental
pears are more resistant and more
adapted to the climatic conditions In
tho south, and hence are grown quite
extensively, or were at one time.
Within the past few years the La
Conto and Kleffer varieties, grown
principally In Georgia and Florida,
have been practically wiped out by
pear blight. At ono timo these va
rieties were shipped Into New York
from tho south by the train load, but
even a car load has now become
rather rare. Apples have also suf
fered to a very great extent, al
though, as a rule, in the commercial
section of Now York, New England
and Michigan but little damage has
been done. Occasionally, Spltzen
berg, Ben Davis, and other varieties
havo been very badly blighted; how
ver, most of the trouble on the apple
come from blight in tho blossoms or
In the twigs, but on the Pacific Coast
it is not at all uncommon to see the
Spitzonberg apple entirely killed
With the Russian apple, such as the
Yellow Transparent, Alexander, Red
Astrakan, etc., the disease has killed
trees just as it does pears. In the
middle west In the states of Illinois,
Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas, the In
Jury to tho apples Is found to bo very
severe. The rich prairie soils of these
states, together with an ample supply
of rainfall during almost the entire
growing season, produces a rank
growth which causes tho trees to be
come very subject to the disease. The
disease has moved steadily westward
with tho settlement of the country,
but for a long time the wide stretch
of plnlnB free from orchards and giv
ing no opportunity for the disease to
lodge, resulted in complete freedom
from this pest on the Pacific Coast,
It is only about twelve or thirteen
years ago that the disease became
"known In Colorado, and about the
same timo we find Its occurrence in
the neighborhood of Vancouver, B.
C. About nine years ago tho disease
appeared In force in the San Joaquin
Valley, California, but it was prob
ably two or three years devoloping
before It had attracted much atten
tion. It has finally destroyed prac
tically all of the orchards In San
Joaquin Valley, and has moved up
Into nearly all tho districts of tho
groat Sacramento Valley, and In many
of tho smaller adjacent valleys. I
know of only one valley, namely, the
Santa Clara Valley, which, so far,
seems to havo oecaped Infection. It
Is only through tho offorts of the
commissioners and Inspectors In this
valley that the valley has been kept
free from this dreadful disease. To
allow tho extent of tho Injury to Cal
ifornia I may slate that fully two
thlrds of tho pear trees of tho Bart
lett -variety liavo been destroyed. As
an Instance showing tho extent of this
calamity, I noto In the report for 1901
and 1902 Issued by tho California
State Board of Horticulture that
Fresno county had 125,000 pear trees,
Kings county, 43,700 pear trees; In
1903 and 1904 we find that Fresno
county had only 1,500 and Kings
county had none. Tho dlseaso has
moved slowly up the Sacramento Val
id, and by slow stages over tho moun
' tains Into tho Rogue River Valley In
Southorn Oregon, where Its distribu
tion Is genoral, but under completo
control.
Tho blight Infection now extends
Into tho Umpqua Vall3y somo dls
tanco beyond Roseberg, but, under
tho writer's Instructions, tho samo
ed and tho disease Is being vigorously
fought. Many have asked how tho
disease could havo come from the
upper Sacramento River near Red
dtng, which Is the northern limit of
pear growing In California, Into tho
Roguo River Valley, since there Is a
groat mountain range separating tho
two localities. However, anyone
riding over the Southern Pacific Rail
way and being ohservaut would notice
that at evory station along tho rail
way, and even at Intermediate places,
pear and apple trees may be found;
furthermore, It may bo noted that
these pome fruits have blighted more
or less seriously, depending, of
course, upon the varlettes as well aa
upon the care given tho trees or tho
type of soli in which they are grow
ing. These small plantings, together
with the native pome fruits, have
been stepping stones for tho blight
germ In Its passage from the upper
California orchards to the orchards
of the Rogue River Valley.
Tho blight infection which we find
in British Columbia Is an extension
of the Colorado lnfectton which has
passed through the Salt Lake country
in Utah, and northwestward through
the state of Idaho and through east
ern Oregon and Washington. There
fore, tho Willamette Valley, together
with the orchards northward and
west of the Cascades, have not yet
been invaded. In other words, the
two infections from the south and
the north have not yet met, but It
Is only a question of time when they
will come together. When blight
does finally reach these untouched
districts, the , climatic conditions will
tend to favor Infection to a great
degree. The Increased ralu fall as
well as the late spring and summer
precipitations favor Infection, and add
difficulties In the way of control.
The above statements are made In
order that all districts which are still
freo from blight will make a hard
fight to keep it out. There is
every reason to fear blight and to fear
It all the time.
There Is a common Impression
among some of the older residents
of the Rogue River Valley that pear
blight existed In the Valley eighteen
years or more ago. An unpublished
"History of Pear Blight In the Rogue
River Valley" Is ono of the best his
torical evidences that the blight did
not exist so long ago. The statements
that certain varieties of pears known
to be practically immune were badly
affected and thoso very susceptible to
the disease remaining untouched even
though alongside the blighted varie
ties, is proof positive that the trouble
was really something olso. Further
more, the quince and the Spltzen-
burg apple were not noted as having
been attacked at all. Again, several
orchards In which it was said blight
occurred eighteen years ago, had not
come into bloom at that time. It
TO THE PUBLIC.
"Wo are now loon tod nl West Main, oonior Laurel, next
tho "Washington School, whoro wo nro unloading and ar
ranging for display several carloads of high-grndo and
modern to priood furniture, stoves, rugs, carpets, nnd floor
coverings, lnee curtains, refrigerators, etc. Wo will open
a complete show line of all tho a hove named goods in the
next few days. In tho meantime, we will bo pleased to
have our friends call. and inspect our goods.
WE ARE HERE TO STAY.
West Main and Laurel Streets, next to Washington School.
pear. Tne tune is now at naua wueu
tho uncared-foi family orchard,
whethor It be In town or la tho coun
try, must bo eliminated. The com
mercial orchardlsts fool that with
these out of the way, tho problem Is
very slmplo one to solve.
(To be Continued.)
CENTRAL POINT NEWSLETTER
f5t
W Wfc. x
LOOK
for tho big yellow warehouse hot ween the railroad
tracks on Seventh and go there io Dr. Goblo's
Optical Parlor for your glasses, repairs, oic.
NO. 18. WEST MAIN STREET
Medford Iron WorRs
IS. 13. TROWJilUnCIK Proprietor.
FOUNDRY AND MACHINIST
All kinds of Engines, Spraying Outfits, Pumps,
Boilers and Maehinorv. Agents in Southorn Ore
gon for FAIRBANKS, MORSE & CO.
-
TO TAX AUTOMOBILES
PER HORSE POWER
Governor Hay of Washington Advo
cates Taxing oMtor Vehicles for
Maintenance of Roads.
Ernest lluthnwiy bought ti lot in ,11. Smith, the new owner of the .Mad
tho new Shields tract this week, just dux orchard, to this spot to invent,
east of tho lets now being built upon J One of the host evidences of the rec
by tho Whiteside brothers. Mr. tognized value of thin locality is tint
llnthawny will erect n homo this'pcoplo who come hero to live rocom
sunuuer. mend it to their distant friends, nml
Ward Whiteside, wito last week, the result is that the locating of one
conducted tho calo of the Maddux, family invarinblv means tho eomm
orchard, is owing rapidly to the of more of tho snmo permanent, do
front no ono of Central Poiut's mostsirnblo class.
Tho Civio Improvement Indies will
I
w ...... u. ...... v. " .. .
n fearless ndvertiser, a booster oy
nature, as well us by pro fees ion, nml
withal u young man of fine sterling
business qualities. Long may he
wave.
Tho ladies of the Civio Improve
ment club nre going to ask the conn
cil for tho privilege of renaming the
park. They believe that it should
have n numc more euphonious nml
significant than tho present one
SPOKANE, Wash., May 9. Main
taining tl'e public highways In Wash
ington by a tax of SI for each horse-
nower on nil nutomntillps. trucks nml i
motor cvclen onerntpil In tbn atntn In i Central Point park
advocated bv Governor Marlon E. At tlie ,ast "etiiiK of tho Ladies'
Hay In a letter to J. A. Perry, scc-'Civic Improvement club officers were
retary of tho Spokane County Good c,ectcd for the nr cndi"K M-v'
Roads association. Owners of cars auu """--era " vo mj
are cenerallv In f.ivor nt thn now mv faithfully served during this first
the Importance of which will bo strenuous year of the club's exist
brought to the attention of tho Lee- unco weru """"""ously re-elected,
Islature at Its next session. Licenses thcir nam03 he'K as follows: l'resi
for n.74s nminr roiipia vith n fni dent, Urs. George Fox; vioe-presi
of 83.31G horse power,' were issued dent L,ouis Hatfield; secretary,
for the year ended April 30. This lrra- E- Kahler; trensurer, Miss
would brlnir J83.31G into thn rnndn 1 nrKS- A committee was also np-
fund, or more than enough to main- Ionttid at this meeting to take up
tain all tho existing roads and those . 1,10 mnttcr of supplying temporary
under construction, thus leaving a accommodations for the tourists and
balance to bo expended upon high- prospectors "w Hooding ttio city,
wavs which am without r.irn nf nnv, hotels being unable to meet the
kind, because the present laws mnko 1,-,ma",l for accommodations, he
0ff, memuers or this committee
no nro vision for enr-h vrnrk. Off I- "uiucr& Ol UHS committee Wore:
Is very rare that blight Is troublesome cer8 of the varlolIS coo., roatla Mrs. Evelyn MnIc, Mrs. W. II. Nor
oeiore tne trees come into oioom, clatIons ,n Washington are keenly vroH3 aiul -re. . .1. l-'reemnn.
and tho reason for this we will show
later on. The explanation which
seems best to fit what may of tho
old settlers thought to be blight Is
that unfavorable soil and weather
conditions was the real cause of their
trouble. Wo know that undralned
soils, especially If they are cold, have
had effect on many varieties of
trees, especlilly apples and some va-i
rletles of pears. The common term,
'sour sap," Is certainly the thing they
had In mind and no: blight.
Pear blight did not Infest tho or
chards of the Rogue River Walley
until tho sprint: and summor of 1007.
As a matter of fact, the real out
breaks were not found until past mid
summer. Wo know that this Is true
by our knowledge of tho blight con
ditions In the upper Sacramento
River Valley. Beginning with the
fall of 1907, when tho writer first
saw the Roguo River Valley, up to ;
the present timo tho loss In the com
morclal pear and npplo orchards has
been comparatively small A care
ful estimate taken from tho Inspec
tor's books shows that a total of
about 2,000 trees, both applo and
pear, will cover tho loss, for tho en
tire Roguo River Valloy and Us trbl
utary valleys. This Is a remarkable
showing for a period of three years. I
It should bo said, however, that fully
1,000 trees had already been so badly
affected hefo -e tho wrltor came to tho
valloy that It was necessary to re
move thorn immediately. Tho losses
which havo occurred since 1907 havo
boon largely duo to tho unwillingness
of a very few to co-operato. In ono
T ... TV ... . . ... ..
Interested In tho proposed law and '01.1" " ,,0","r,l t Molme, 111.,
will do everything possible to secure was m tIie cit' Saturday lookup
Its enactment. Governor Hay sug- .vcr ,tue for n suitable loea
gests that the moneys collected by,tio" m w''ii to establish a cleaning
taxations be disbursed to tho various nnd ""ycinfT business,
counties by tho secretary of state. ,rE- T- en. who purchased the
Monkers place about three months
jaf;o, was instrumental in hriiipiiK L.
nsk tho city council to appoint uu
annual "clcnn-up" day, probably on
or about Juno 18, at which time tho
ladies will uo-opcratc with the citi
zens in the laudable and ncccsHUT
work of mnkinjr Contral Point io
scmblo "Spotless Town" as near as
may be. J
A letter received by tho '"utj
from friends in New Hampshire this
week states that, while the snow i
now Rone, tho maple trees aro not'
yet leaved out, the fruit trees are,
just beginning to show the buds, atid
that tho ground frozo quite hard a
few days boforo. Strnngo that any.'
one who may live in this charmed
valloy would choose Now England's
rigorous climntol
Evangelist Robert E. Johnson of
Minneapolis, .Minn., will conduct a
enes of meetings hero beginning
.May 10. Hio Baptists, Methodists
and Presbyterians of Central Point
will unite in supporting these evnn-
gelistic services, which will probab
ly bo held in n largo tent or tnber-
nnole. Mr. Johnson has a most ex
cellent reputation ns a successful
worker in this line, and it is hoped
that much good mny result from his
efforts.
little daughter of Frank Gregory
and wifo was operated on for ailo
noid tumors last Friday. Tho opera
tion wns successfully porformed by
Drs. Anderson and Pollentz and tho
ittlo ono is greatly relieved nnd do
ing nicely.
'Hasklns for Health.'
.Hnsklns for Healta.
Do You Wish
To Buy a Home
ARE YOU WANTING A HOME?
WHY RENT WHEN YOU CAN TAKE ADVAN-
TAGE OP OTHER PEOPLE'S MISFORTUNES?
Parties arc compelled to leave the eitj', and offer a
fine new two-story, eight-room house, completely
furnished, with high-grade furniture, hest light and
plumbing fixtures, lawn, cement walks and curb,
south front, street to be paved. This is a beautiful
home and is located on one of the best streets in the
city. Price is very low, with or without furniture.
Modern Cottage For Sale
A neat, modern, five-room cottage, close in onOak
dale, east front, fine lawn and shrubbery, cement
walks and curb, paved street, large range goes with
house, large barn; lot OOxMH.
New Five-Room Cottage
New five-room cottage, south front, lot oOxlfiO,
near South Newtown; price $2000, terms.
J. W. Dressier Agency
WEST MAIN STREET
BENSON has 17 lots for sale
4
" at gonuine bnrgnin pricos.
4
QOODFR1END HOTEL
SAM FRANCISCO I. QOOOmiCNO, Mnpw
I'nmwrly llntrli tftnlifnnl ntul Ht. Ilrl, Pnwrll
Htlict, nmr (imry, mhiiliiliiK Unti l Mum. 'Iiilm
llntrl Main nr Mnrlrl MtrrcM'iiin, tmn(rr
to I'iiui'II. Mi'itl Iioiim) iilul locutluii for laillr
vUIUiik llio vlly iilolic.
BATEfl, Jt.OO pna DAY AND UP
READ THE
Step This
Way
For quality For that is a :4ip
ahead hero to what you'll find in
most other places.
You'll find our furnishings a de
cided stop ahead evory form and
fabric Fashion puts on tho back
is found bore.
When you step in hero you're nor
tain of stopping out pleased, for
wo carry what you want in Flats
and Furnishings at prices you don't
Instance this unwillingness caused a!navo to sleP to
loss of GOO trees a very sovero los-1
son which wlli novor bo forgotten. So j JL JtXe
far as keeping tho blight under con-j
trol In tho pear orchards of tho va,"'"77" J "1
Is concerned tho work Is very easy,1 yy 3.r0rO0e
but the most difficult problom Is tho
methods of control employed In tho Spltzenburg npplo which Is moio se- Farmers' and Fruit Growers' Bank
nbguo Hlvor Valloy havo been adopt- rlously injured than practically any ' BUllUlnfl.
Classified Pa
gel
SISKIYOU REALTY
COMPANY
Room 22, Jackson County Bank Building'