1890.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 23 



remove the source of infection. You must cut out the knot 

 and burn it, so that tlie spores cannot propagate. 



Question. Does that rule apply to the plum tree as well 

 as to the cherry? 



Dr. FisiiER. Yes, sir ; precisely. 



Question. What would you do when they come out all 

 over a tree simultaneously ? 



Dr. Fisher. Why, I should cut in the same way. 



Question. Cut at the bottom ? 



Dr. Fisher. I should cut at the bottom. If you had a 

 plum tree in your yard that you valued very highly, and took 

 a great deal of pleasure in, you might, perhaps, cut out a 

 hundred knots, where you would not if it was in an orchard. 

 It is a question of dollars and cents in any case. 



Question. Do you consider the black-knot liable to be 

 communicated to other trees ? 



Dr. Fisher. Yes, sir. If you let it alone, you will find 

 that it will always spread. It has two sets of spores, — 

 winter spores and summer spores. Both of them will spread. 

 The only way is to cut them out at any and all times, and 

 burn them. 



Question. What varieties would you graft on the Flemish 

 Beauty ? 



Dr. Fisher. Whatever varieties I wanted. Almost any- 

 thing will thrive in a good stock. 



The Chairman. We will let this matter rest now, and 

 invite Mr. Augur to take the floor. 



Mr. Augur. Mr. Chairman, I was very much pleased 

 with the lecture that Dr. Fisher has given us, and I hardly 

 feel like combating it at all. I have not for a Ions; time 

 heard anything with which I so heartily agreed. In regard 

 to the black-knot, I would like to say just a word. I have 

 been into a battle with that, and came out beaten, I must 

 confess. I had the same idea that he has of cutting it out, 

 and I calculated to cut out every black-knot that I saw ; but 

 the time came when it became epidemic, as it were. When- 

 ever it came on, and almost at the same time, you could see 

 a green exudation coming out all over the trees, and I had 

 to cut away a good many trees. I have come to the conclu- 

 sion that it is better to choose those varieties that are the 



