WHAT IS BEING DONE TO CONTROL CANKER 65 



ax, a 2-inch gouge, and a wood mallet make a handy combination of tools 

 for this work. 



As with other diseases, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound 

 of cure. Orchard sanitation is the most important step in preventing 

 this disease. Many men pile the pruned brush about in ditches and 

 leave it to decay. This is intended to prevent erosion, which it does 

 to some extent, but also forms a hotbed for fungous diseases. All such 

 brush should be burned. When spraying, take care to cover the trunk 

 and limbs as well as the foliage. In pruning, make all cuts smooth and 

 cover at once any wound larger than one inch in diameter. Disinfect 

 pruning tools before going to another tree. We simply dip the tools in 

 a pail containing a solution of corrosive sublimate. 



Practice these measures of sanitation in your own orchard and per- 

 suade your neighbors to do likewise. 



Prevention by sanitary methods and the removal and destruction of 

 diseased parts appears to be our only method of controlling blister 

 canker. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Pollard: The gentleman has given us a very good discussioii 

 of this question, and I would like to ask a question or two relative to 

 it. In the first place these orchards you have inspected, where you 

 have found canker, are they orchards that have been sprayed right 

 along, or neglected? 



A. Both sprayed and unsprayed. 



Q. Well, have yon found spores in orchards that haA-e been sprayed 

 right along with sulphate of copper? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Well, have you found no difference in orchards that have been 

 sprayed with copper and lime sulphur? 



A. I can not answer that question because I have made no such 

 comparison. 



Q. Well, given an orchard where the canker or spores are on the 

 bark, will a spraying of sulphate of copper arrest that? 



A. I see no reason in the world why it should not, if, as you say, 

 the spore is on the bark. I might add, that we spray the whole tree, 

 bark, limbs, and all, as you suggest. 



Q. Then why should you find these spores in an orchard that has 

 been sprayed regularly? 



A. You will find that they got in before the spraying came. As 

 quick as it gets below the surface, you can spray until you are gray- 

 headed, and never touch it. 



Q. Does the lime sulphur serve as a fungicide? 



A. Yes, sir, I think so. 



Q. The reason I am asking that is you did not mention that as an 

 antidote for canker. 



A. I do not believe you can spray a canker with anything and con- 



