344 Journal of Agruiilturc. Y'lctona. [lo June. 1912. 



PROPAGATION OF FRUIT TREES. 



{Continued from -page 211.) 

 C. F. Cole, Orchard Supervisor. 



Diseases. 



In compiling the diseases, both insect and fungi, to be found at times 

 attacking the stocks and young trees during and after their development in 

 the nursery, the writer wishes to strongly impress upon propagators the 

 importance of keeping a sharp look-out for the first signs of attack, and 

 •of taking immediate steps to check the spread or eradicate the disease. 

 To do this, and be successful, it is essential to have a sufficient knowledge 

 of the different diseases with regard both to their life history and their 

 methods ot attack. As there are several illustrated and instructive works 

 published dealing with destructive insects and fungus pests, and a special 

 staff of experts attached to the Department of Agriculture, growers or those 

 interested have no excuse for remaining ignorant of such subjects. To be 

 fully conversant with the habits, the manner in which diseases obtain their 

 food, and the season of attack, is to be forewarned, and if the propagator 

 is intelligent, he will be prepared for an attack by being forearmed with 

 the necessary appliances and chemicals needed, which, if used correctly, 

 and at the right time, will give him the victory. The insect pests dealt 

 with will be arranged according to the manner in which they attack the 

 plants to obtain food, those that eat the foliage, twigs, or bark being 

 called chewing, whilst those that puncture to obtain the sap being called 

 suctorial. Upon classifying them as such will depend how they are to 

 be attacked and destroyed. 



With chewing insects it will be necessary to control them by applying 

 with a tine spray poison to their food, so that when taken internally it will 

 cause death. With suctorial insects it is necessary to bring them in direct 

 contact with a suitable insecticide which causes death by smothering, com- 

 bined with its caustic action. By the enumeration of the following insect 

 and fungus pests, the novice or those about to start propagation should not 

 be frightened, as in a nursery conducted upon sound lines, and where care 

 is exercised in securing the buds, scions, or rooted stocks from clean trees or 

 localities there is very little likelihood of diseases giving serious trouble. 

 Many of the diseases adapt themselves to certain localities where the 

 weather and other conditions are more suitable for their development. But 

 it should be borne in mind that if such diseases are transferred from one 

 locality to another, and the conditions are favorable, there will be trouble, 

 e.g., take the root-rot fungus {Armillaria mellea). Although it is commonly 

 found in cool mountainous and timbered localities having a fair rainfall, 

 yet, if transferred upon rooted stocks from such localities to a warm dry 

 one, and the spring or summer following planting is suitable for its develop- 

 ment, it will cause trouble if imjnediate steps are not taken when first 

 noticed to check its spread. As most of our insect pests multiply with 

 astonishing rapidity, delay in attacking them is dangerous ; by destroying 

 the first brood whole days of toil will be saved. It is generally through 

 neglecting this brood that future trouble is brought about, and instead of 

 a few insects to fight in a few days or weeks there are thousands. A 

 nurseryman should have a suitable spray pump, an 8 or 10 gallon hand-^ 

 pump will answer the purpose, and also keep many of the necessary 



