FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. 65 



The students' judging contest was won by J. A. Petrie, with I. R. 

 Notteware, of Bellaire, second, and H. S. Bird, of Lansing, and A. L. 

 Coons, tied for third. 



Of the growers exhibiting at the fruit hall, A. J. Rogers, of Beulah, 

 got first prize; E. W. Lincoln, of Greenville, second, and F. H. Hem- 

 street, of Bellaire. was awarded third. 



Following are the addresses of the students: 



DOES IT PAY TO RENOVATE APPLES? 



ERNEST HART^ ROCHESTER, N. Y. 



(First Prize Article in Students' Speaking Contest.) 



In the rapid advances made along the lines of pruning, spraying and 

 marketing, the progressive horticulturist has been able to give little at- 

 tention to the rotting of trunks and limbs of apple trees. But the most 

 casual survey of the average orchard of 25 years or more will reveal 

 the importance of this subject. Here we may find trees with large cavi- 

 ties or rot holes which are the result of decaving heartwood. At some 

 time the bark has been injured, possibly a stub left in pruning or a 

 limb has been broken off in a storm, exposing the heartwood. Fungi 

 have entered and, in the presence of moisture, are eating away the heart 

 of the tree, therebj' destroying its chief mechanical support and shorten- 

 ing its life bv manv vears. Xot onlv will the tree succumb sooner but 

 it cannot be depended upon to support a large bearing surface. The 

 familiar sight of one of these effective trees, loaded with beautiful fruit, 

 but hopelessly checked and split demonstrates this all too well. 



The best way to cure a disease is not to have it, and as these fungi 

 can only gain entrance into a tree through a wound in the bark, the 

 preventative measures are verv simple. If all prunings are made flush 

 with the main limbs and all cut surfaces are kept covered with white 

 lead or some similar substance the cambium layer will soon heal over the 

 wound and there is no danger of fungus infection. On the other hand, 

 if the rot has already gained a foothold there are two methods of com- 

 bating it. First, to allow trained tree surgeons to come into the orchard 

 and treat the trees at the rate of 60 cents an hour. This method is not 

 to be advised, but if no other way can be found even it will pay in the 

 end. The other way is for the grower to do the work himself. The 

 o]ioration is comparatively simple and if the workman is handy with 

 mallet and chisel and has a little skill in dealing with cement he is 

 bound to succeed. 



The rotted parts of the tree are dug out and cleaned away until. solid 

 wood is reached, then some disinfectant such as creosote or coal tar is 

 coated over the exposed surface to remove as far as possible the last 

 traces of the rot organisms. The hole is then filled with concrete which 

 is shaped on the surface to allow of good drainage. The purpose of 

 the cement is to prevent the re-entrance of the fungi, to prevent the col- 

 lection of excessive water and provides a strong, solid core to take the 

 place of the decayed heartwood. In time a wound callous will grow 

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