28 Second ANNUAii Report 



cherries. Of course it is more expensive than it would be if 

 we did not have these enemies to contend with. At the same 

 time it is quite easy to get rid of them. The black knot 

 disease comes from careless cultivation. There is no necessity 

 of having black knot in the orchards or gardens because it can 

 be gotten rid of and prevented the same as any other diseases. 

 The disease is spread by means of spores which are blown 

 or carried through the air by the wind ; these alight on the trees 

 and in the leaves or in the flower buds and when the conditions 

 are favorable these little spores germinate and penetrate the 

 stem of the cherry and then this disease goes through the 

 branches and ruins the trees in a short time. It comes to the 

 surface to produce its seeds or spores. This is the time that 

 we see this knot developing. If you are observant you will 

 find the small knots are of a light color but these gradually en- 

 large and toward the month of June become of a fluffy or 

 velvety appearance,, and just at this time you will find the spores 

 are all ready to be blown through the orchards and reinfest the 

 trees again. In order to check the disease one must get rid of the 

 knot as soon as possible, because when they get to this velvety stage 

 it is almost impossible to get rid of them before the spores 

 spread. If the knots are on small branches they should be cut 

 off three to six inches below the swelling and burned; if it is 

 not advisable to do this, the branches being so large as to injure 

 the tree, they should be cut out and the wound painted over 

 with kerosene. Kerosene will destroy any spores that are alive 

 If there are very large knots that cannot be cut off you can 

 paint them with kerosene. It is well to mix a little coloring 

 m.atter with the kerosene so you can tell just how far the liquid 

 extends. Kerosene will injure the healthy wood and cause 

 more injury than the knot itself, so confine it to the diseased 

 part of the tree. It will destroy the black knot, and it should 

 be destroyed as quickly as possible. It is not only 

 advisable to destroy the knots, but if you have a spray 

 pump the tree should be sprayed as you spray for 

 scab. Spray just before the buds break, and before the flowers 

 open and lo days afterwards, by giving them these three spray- 

 ings it will entirely destroy all spores that have come in contact 

 with the trees. This may seem a long and difficult way of getting 

 rid of the disease, but if you will do it you will have no black knot. 

 It is perfectly certain that black knot can be prevented by this 

 method, because some of the best growers are not troubled at 

 all. 



In regard to the birds,, we know that robins especially 

 do a great deal of damage to cherries. In Germany and Great 

 Britain where they have been troubled with birds the same as 



