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Fungus Disease of Fruit Trees. 



ever small, should be protected at once by a coating of gas-tar, 

 until the tree is at least ten years old. If this precaution is 

 neglected, spores frequently alight on the newly-formed wounds, 

 where they quickly germinate and spread upward and downward 

 in the living bark, which becomes discoloured ; finally the fungus 

 bursts through the bark it has killed, and produces spores on the 

 surface (Fig. 6). 



In order to prevent spores from germinating on the surface of 

 the stem, and then entering through the bark directly, the entire 

 stem of the tree should be painted with the following composi- 

 tion : — Reduce soft-soap to the consistency of thick paint by the 

 addition of a strong solution of washing soda in water. Add 

 one pound of powdered quick-lime to every five gallons of the 

 dissolved soap, and stir the whole until thoroughly mixed. 

 Apply to the trunk with a paint brush, being careful to cover 

 every part. This mixture is tenacious, not easily dissolved by 

 rain, and usually lasts for one season if properly made and 

 applied. 



Up to the present the disease has only been observed on a 

 large scale where the trees are growing in stiff clay. Under 

 such conditions it is very important to avoid deep planting, 

 otherwise the roots are liable to be killed, owing to the presence 

 of stagnant water, lack of air, &c, during a continuous rainy 

 period, especially in spring or early summer. If the trees are 

 not actually killed by this means alone, which is very frequently 

 the case, their vitality is considerably weakened, and they are 

 thus rendered more susceptible to the attacks of parasitic fungi. 



In a case of an extensive attack which the Board have 

 recently investigated in Notts, the trees had evidently been 

 seriously crippled by being planted too deep in a strong soil, 

 and were consequently specially susceptible to attack. 



It is important that the fungus should be recognised by 

 gardeners, as its frequent occurrence on wild trees in hedgerows 

 might lead to the infection of nursery stock in a wholesale 

 manner, as has in fact taken place more than once, unless 

 detected and removed without delay. 



All diseased plants should be burned at once, as, if allowed to 

 lie about, the spores mature on the dead wood, and are scattered 

 by wind, a risk of further infection being thereby incurred. 



