A Bulletin on Orchard Practice 21 



GUMMOSIS. 



The gummy exudations often seen on cherry trees and other 

 stone fruits, indicate defective nutrition. It is the transfor- 

 mation of large groups of tissue into a waste product with 

 which goes the vital forces of the tree. Young trees suffer 

 great loss of vitality when so affected and will often die. Im- 

 perfect nutrition may be brought about by: excessive moist- 

 ure, poor drainage, a dry subsoil, and a lack of the proper 

 elements of plant food. Cherries should be planted on well 

 prepared land, and attention always given to good cultivation. 

 Wherever gum appears it should be removed, then the parts 

 should be cleaned, and an application 'or two of orange shellac 

 varnish made upon the parts affected. I wish to emphasize 

 the value of this treatment with orange shellac varnish. 



To prepare the varnish take pure alcohol and add enough 

 orange shellac scales to make a liquid of the density of thick 

 cream. Apply the varnish with a brush. When dry it is re- 

 sistant to moisture. It is well to have the surface dry when 

 the application is made. There is no better dressing for 

 wounds of all kinds on plants than this varnish. It is better 

 than waxes for dressing cut surfaces after pruning. 



Orange shellac varnish is an antiseptic. F. A. H. 



PEAR BLIGHT. 



This disease is sometimes called "fire blight," as an in- 

 fested tree has the appearance of being scorched by fire. The 

 leaves and twigs turn black, and if neglected will continue 

 to die downward. It has been fully determined that pear 

 blip-ht is caused by a species of bacteria, exceedingly minute 

 germs, which gain entrance to the soft growing tissues of the 

 plant through the blossoms or wounds, and circulate in the 

 sap. Bees will carry these germs from an infested tree to 

 others when in bloom. Owing to the nature of the attack, 

 external remedies cannot be made to reach the disease. The 

 only remedy is to cut out the diseased branches, and it is best 

 to cut about a foot below the apparently diseased portion, as 

 a fresh attack does not always have a surface indication. The 



