670 ANNUAL REPORT OJr' tHE Off. Doc. 



of the frees the only course is the knife or carbon bisulphide. Pre- 

 ventive applications are useful, and deserve more general use every- 

 where. 



Pear or Twig Blight has been exceptionally prevalent and destruc- 

 tive on pear and quiiue. It is qnestioiiable whether much damage 

 will be done to apple on the limbs, as it has a tendency to self limita- 

 tion on apple twigs. Collar liiiglit, however, which is said to be 

 caused by the bacillus of Pear Blight is one of (he most seiious diseasesj 

 of the apple orchards in some sections of the State. 



Leaf Blister Mite is spreading through the orchards of the north- 

 ern half of the State. It is easily controlled by the lime-sulj)hnr 

 treatment given for San Jose scale and Oyster shell scale. Canker 

 Worms do much daumge in the western half of the State. For these 

 spray with arsenicals early as the caterpillars are seen feeding, and 

 before the trees are defoliated. 



Seed Chalcis and Railroad ^A7)rm are more numerous than for- 

 merly, and these pests because of their habits of feeding inside the 

 fruits are a real menace to the apple industry. No other means of 

 controlling these insects is known to science than the destruction 

 of the infested fruits while the pests are inside them. Unless this be 

 done by the grower recourse must be had to legislation on the sub- 

 ject, and a strict enforcement of the same over the entire infested 

 areas. 



One correspondent mentions ignorance as the most menacing 

 pest of fruit growing in Pennsylvania, and with probably some sign 

 of reason. This is an enemy we are constantly fighting, and there 

 is no let-up in our battle against ignorance, especially at the ses- 

 sions of the Horticultural meetings such as the present. Like the 

 poor, however, we shall always have the ignorant Avith us, but not as 

 fruit growers. Competition with the well-informed will automatically 

 drive the ignorant fruit grower out of business. Another mentions 

 the "humbug" as the worst enemy the fruit grower has to deal 

 with. The crop of humbugs is, unfortunately, perennial. The hum- 

 bug goes about often in the garb of an angel of light, like another 

 well-known personage seeking whom he may devour. We can not 

 spray for the humbug it is true, but since it is known that he thrives 

 on ignorance and cui>idity by withholding his natural food he starves, 

 to death and disappears. 



Taking conditions as a whole the Pennsylvania horticulturist has 

 Diuch to encourage him. We have within our borders the finest 

 fruit soil in the world. We can grow all the fruits indigenous to 

 our climate right here at home. Killing spring frosts are very un- 

 usual, and on proper sites entiiely unknown. The markets at our 

 very doors are unsui passed by any anywhere. Our people in the 

 cities are employed as skilled labor earning high wages, which makes 

 them good customers. We have no serious pests not now under con- 

 trol. The markets afford fair prices. Care of trees, co-operative 

 selling of fruit, and buying of supplies is being undertaken. All 

 signs point to the time when Pennsylvania, great in so many indus- 

 tries will be the gf^.ntest fj^uit growing ^Xate in the Union., 



