122 GARDENING DIFFICULTIES SOLVED 



A. Your trees are infested by the American Blight (Schizoneura 

 lanigera). In the autumn procure some ammoniacal liquid from the 

 gasworks, and with a stiff brush well work the liquid into all 

 cracks and indentations of the bark. Paraffin may be used. Very 

 loose pieces of bark remove altogether. Having dealt with the 

 branches and the trunk of the tree, carefully remove the soil from 

 around the base of the trunk down to the roots, and treat it in a 

 similar manner. Remove all the surface soil as far as the full spread 

 of the branches, burn it, and put on some fresh loam in its place. 



Grafted Apple Trees Dying 



Q. Can you tell me the disease which has caused the death of 

 enclosed Apple tree ? I have grafted a good many trees the last year 

 or two, many of them have been stricken in the same way. E., Kent. 



A. It is very seldom one hears of the death of an Apple tree 

 grown under the usual natural conditions, but it is not at all unusual 

 for grafted trees to succumb to the operation in the course of a year 

 or two's time. This is more particularly the case with trees which are 

 fairly old when grafted, the reason, we believe, being that the shock 

 of cutting away the trees' limbs has so disorganised and weakened 

 the trees' functions, both root and branch, that they have never re- 

 covered. We think that the death of your trees is due to this cause. 



Transplanting an Apple Tree 



Q. I moved an apple tree from one part of my garden to another 

 on September 18th, All the leaves have shrivelled and appear dead. 

 What can I do ?- W. II. C. t -Essex. 



A. It is a pity you moved the tree so early. You should have 

 waited until the leaves had fallen and growth had ceased say at the 

 end of October or early in November and the tree would scarcely 

 have felt the check of removal. Being a young tree, we have 

 no doubt it will soon get over any injury received. The symptoms 

 you mention as regards the leaves dying and sticking on the 

 branches, and the branches shrivelling, are the usual indication of 

 too early lifting. Prune the tree about the end of December. 



Pears Cracked and much Disfigured 



Q. Can you tell me why my Pears are cracked and disfigured in 

 this way ? I enclose a few fruits. E, 2\ W., Slough. 



A. The fruits are infected by the disease known popularly as Pear 

 scab, caused by the parasitic fungus, Fusicladium dendriticum var- 



