60 Vict. Provincial Board of Horticulture. 51 



We have produced cultures of the canker or "dead spot" fungus and have inoculated 

 healthy trees, which have produced typical "spots" at the point of inoculation; these spots 

 have increased in size and run their cycle of growth, and in turn again produced their spores. 



As an ordinary preventative, autumn spraying would probably be sufficient, but in severe 



cases both should be used. All dead spots should be cut out and burned, ^for they hold 



myriads of spores that only await a favourable opportunity to produce new 



Preventives. infections. The midsummer spray to use on bearing trees would be five 



ounces coppper carbonate and three pints ammonia in 45 gallons water. 



On young trees, or trees not in fruit, six pounds sulphate copper, six pounds lime, 50 gallons 



water. The autumn spray should be six pounds sulphate copper, ten pounds lime, 50 gallons 



water." It will be noted that these sprays are about one-half stronger than the ordinary 



Bordeaux mixture, as advised for use in British Columbia. 



In British Columbia I have observed that dead spot does not occur in the interior valleys, 

 and either not at all or to a very slight extent in orchards of the lower Province situated on 

 soils containing plenty of lime, such as clam-shell beaches, where there is good under 

 drainage. It is now pretty well established that many soils on which orchards are planted 

 contain a very small per centage of lime, and again the question of proper drainage of orchard 

 land has not received the attention required. I have frequently noticed that fruit-trees are 

 standing in soil where the water table during the winter months is almost or quite level with 

 the surface. Now, whatever direct treatment is made to trees affected with "dead spot," it is 

 most important that these matters should receive attention — healthy trees cannot be expected, 

 unless they are surrounded with what may be termed proper "sanitary conditions," and 

 supplied with the elements of plant food necessary to promote healthy growth. Where wood 

 ashes are available in sufficient quantity, they should be used freely in the orchard, and if not 

 obtainable, lime and muriate of potash in their place, and,- if convenient, well worked in with 

 the harrow or cultivator in early spring, as far as the roots of the trees extend 



In planting new orchards, care should be taken not to plant the trees too deeply. I draw 

 attention to this as I find it is rather a common error, and one very difficult to remedy 

 later on. 



On soils inclined to be wet, it is better to plant on or near the surface and mound up tlie 

 soil over the roots of the trees. 



For young trees, stable manure should be applied very cautiously, as it stimulates wood 

 growth to an undue extent. On some rich soils it has been observed that frequent cultivation 

 has had the same effect. 



In regard to these matters orchardists should study their soil and local conditions, the 

 aim being to produce a fair amount of new wood on trees every year, which will harden and 

 ripen up properly in the fall, and avoid the production of overgrown sappy shoots, which 

 apparently indicate a condition of the trees highly favourable to the development of, " dead 

 spot." 



Give your fruit-trees as nearly as possible " ideal conditions," by planting on soil 

 suitable for the purpose, and supplying proper care, cultivation and plant food ; then, if disease 

 appears, treat them with remedial applications designated to destroy the intruding disease or 

 parasitic growth. 



This name has been applied to the gumming of stone fruit trees, especially of the cherry, 

 which prevails to a greater or less extent all over the Province, and has caused the loss of 

 large numbers of young trees. A great difference of opinion exists among 

 Gummosis. practical fruit-growers as to the disease itself or its exciting causes. In- 

 judicious pruning is no doubt the cause of gumming of the cherry tree in 

 some cases, and Downing's rule in this respect should be followed — that is : " Prune as little 

 as possible, and only to remove a dead or crossing limb, and this should be done in midsummer." 

 Over cultivation is another exciting cause, and frequently results in the production of too 

 luxuriant a growth, but perhaps the chief reason of the " gumming " in the lower parts of the 

 Province is the unsuitableness of location, the land being too wet in winter and too dry in 

 summer and early fall. 



Many trees have been set, which were • fore-doomed to fail, being already infected, and 

 intending planters cannot be too careful in the selection of healthy stock, and of land naturally 

 fitted for cherry growing. 



