THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 103 



The resolutions were heartily supported by remarks from prominent 

 members of the society and unanimously adopted by a rising vote. 



BLACK-KNOT IN OCEANA COUNTY. 



It having been understood that no black-knot existed in Oceana county, 

 the secretary took with him a very large specimen from an Allegan county 

 plum orchard which had been ruined by the disease, and Prof. Taft pro- 

 duced two smaller ones. But upon sight of these, several growers recog- 

 nized them as like what they had met in certain orchards but presumed 

 to be nothing serious. There was one exception, however, the orchard 

 of Mr. Tower, southwest of Hart, which had been totally ruined by the 

 disease. 



Mr. Gurney called upon Mr. Tower to describe it. He said his orchard 

 comprised 500 trees situated on clay loam soil with clay subsoil, three miles 

 from the lake and 80 to 100 feet above it. The trees, chiefly Lombards, 

 came from Geneva, New York. Mr. Tower reported them diseased, but was 

 told to set them out at risk of seller. He did so and 300 lived, 200 more 

 being furnished and set out. Though they had the best of care, none were 

 as thrifty as they should have been. The first stage of black -knot appeared 

 in the second year, and in the third year it showed at its worst. He cut 

 off the knots but knew of no other remedy, and shaved them off from one 

 side of a trunk or large limb, only to find them the next year upon the 

 other. The disease progressed so fast that he could not keep up with it. 

 In the fourth year the orchard bore fruit, but inferior and in small quanti- 

 ties. The trees began to die in four or five years and were dug out and 

 thrown away or burned. This year ( the beginning was nine or ten years 

 ago) there was not a pliim. The soil was new and as good as any in the 

 county. Other trees on his place were infected and killed, and the nearest 

 plum orchard half a mile away, is now in a like condition. 



Thomas AYilde : Black-knot is a very dangerous enemy to the plum. In 

 New York he had seen the plum orchards entirely killed by it, and again in 

 Kalamazoo comity this state. In New York it was thought the spores 

 were carried on birds' feet. '\\'liere it becomes very bad, the best thing to 

 do is to cut out the trees and begin with new healthy ones. 



It was the opinion of Prof. Taft that Mr. Tower's trees were diseased 

 when they came from the nursery. The roots of the fungus grow one year 

 before making their appearance outside. 



Prof. Taft : If Mr. Tower should now cut out and burn all his trees it 

 would perhaps be safe for him to plant again in two years. I would as 

 soon plant that plat as the next one; yet, if spores then still existed, black- 

 knot would be likely to reappear. 



Mr. Tower had at first said he meant to cut out and burn his trees next 

 spring, but by the appeals of several members, under the energetic lead of 

 Mr. Morrill, he was induced to say he would do so immediately; and his 

 good resolution was greeted with hearty applause. 



