60 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



checked, will soon destroy many valuable trees. Its general 

 prevalence is proved by the fact that every respondent to our 

 questions upon diseases of fruit trees has described it, and all 

 regard it as tending to the inevitable death of the tree. Its 

 effects are manifested by a burned appearance of the bark 

 appearing usually in the first instance, either at the junction of 

 the scion with the stock, or at some point where a limb has 

 been removed by the saw, or where the bark has been bruised 

 by the plough or some other mechanical means ; but wherever 

 commencing, its course appears to be steady and rapid, until 

 the tree dies. Upon removing the blackened bark, the wood 

 is found to be dead beneath it, and sometimes, not always, a 

 borer mav be found beneath the bark and wood. 



Theories of course abound in explanation of the diseased 

 appearance, one calling it " frozen sap-blight, " another attrib- 

 uting it to the effect of the sun's rays, others to grafting or 

 injudicious trimming, others again to improper treatment in 

 the nursery. Now we propose to all observers to cast all these 

 theories behind them, and to enter upon the investigation in a 

 manner something like the following: — 



Take a given number of cases — the larger the better. Note 

 carefully the part of the tree affected, and, if possible, the point 

 of its commencement. Was it budded or grafted ? Its age, as 

 nearly as possible. The system of treatment applied to it in 

 the nursery, and after its transplantation, should be recorded, 

 as well as the character of the soil in which it grew. The 

 period of the year in which trimming was performed, and the 

 manner of operating, is an important point to be looked after, 

 as well as the particular variety of the fruit. The diseased 

 bark should be freely dissected, and the state of the wood 

 recorded, and also if any worms are found, they should be 

 carefully described in each case. Let every observer note 

 whatever may be of any importance in his view connected with 

 each diseased tree, and the results of each yearly observation 

 be transmitted to the Secretary of this Board, that all such 

 examinations may be compared together, and all the circum- 

 stances and symptoms classified. 



If such a course as this could be followed for three successive 

 years, all theory being carefully eschewed, we think it more 



