81 



In the newer sections of British Columbia, however, many of the more 

 serious insects, notably the codling moth, have not as yet obtained a serious 

 foothold, and too much emphasis cannot be laid upon the importance of keeping 

 these localities as free as possible from their ravages. The most rigorous and 

 aggressive action in dealing with any insect infestation in these newly developed 

 sections is to be highly recommended, as only by such action can the growers 

 in those sections hope to keep free from some of the difficulties which are con- 

 fronting their fellow orchardists in other parts of the country. 



The San Jose" Scale, which causes an immense annual loss to fruitgrowers 

 in the United States, is practically confined in Canada to a small section of the 

 Province of Ontario, and all nursery stock grown in that Province is carefully 

 inspected and fumigated before being sent out. Up to the present time this 

 insect has not been reported from any district in Canada other than the one 

 mentioned, and should this pest be found in any new locality it would be the 

 first duty of the finder to notify the proper authorities and to see that immediate 

 steps are taken towards its eradication. When first reported in Canada, it 

 caused considerable anxiety as to the ultimate result of its entrance and infes- 

 tation, many fearing that it would gradually spread over large fruit areas and 

 entirely destroy the orchards. Efficient methods for its control having, however, 

 been discovered, and demonstrated, it is no longer feared as formerly since it 

 may be readily held in check. 



The ' Yellows ' and ' Little Peach ' are the two most serious diseases with 

 which the peach grower has to contend, and these diseases, while in evidence 

 for many years, are obscure in their origin and methods of spread. No 

 remedy has as yet been discovered and the only thing to do is to learn as thor- 

 oughly as possible the symptoms attending an attack of either one, and promptly 

 remove and destroy the trees in the early stages, thus preventing further spread 

 as fully as possible. The same treatment applies to blight of the pear and black 

 knot of the cherry and plum. 



In some sections of Canada, occasional severe periods of protracted cold 

 temperatures, are likely to appear at infrequent intervals and have caught the 

 fruitgrower unprepared for their arrival. Where clean culture is practiced 

 and continued until too late in the fall, thus inducing a soft growth of wood, 

 and where no cover crop is provided to protect the soil and the roots of the trees 

 in winter, grave danger of winterkilling of both root and branch arises. The 

 remedy for this is to secure, as far as possible, well ripened thrifty wood 

 and protect the soil with cover crops. 



In the west the 'apple pit' or 'fruit pit' as it is called — -being a destruction 

 of the tissue of the apple in various spots under the skin — has caused some trouble 

 the past few years. As it has not been found to be due to a bacterial or fungous 

 spore but rather of a physiological character, its control has not been as yet 

 accomplished. A good many experts are studying this disease and it is hoped 

 that very shortly methods of control may be discovered which will prove satis- 

 factory. 



OUTLOOK FOR EXTENSION. 



In view of the enormous planting of fruit trees of all kinds during recent 

 years, the possibility or probability of over-production is a factor that should 

 demand careful attention. There have been times within the memory of many 

 who are still actively engaged in fruitgrowing when the prospects did not seem 

 very flattering or bright. Thousands of bushels of apples have laid rotting in 

 Ontario orchards, peaches and plums by the carload have been allowed to fall 

 to the ground unharvested, small fruits in quantity have been neglected and 

 handed over to the birds of the air, and on more than one occasion the Canadian 

 fruitgrower has felt that his fruit plantations were more of an expense and encum- 

 brance than a source of revenue and profit. Strange to say, at the very time 

 22553—6 



