I907-] 



Cherry Leaf Scorch. 34$ 



The great improvement shown by the tree in Plate II as 

 compared with that in Plate I was obtained simply by two 

 thorough applications of Bordeaux mixture, and when it is 

 remembered that this tree (and the remaining twelve trees, 

 which presented the same appearance) stood throughout the 

 season surrounded by diseased trees, and thus exposed for 

 many weeks to continual infection, the efficacy of this fungicide 

 against the present disease is clearly demonstrated. A quicker 

 and more complete recovery might be expected in a case where 

 the whole orchard was thus sprayed. 



It seems clear that we can eradicate this disease in an 

 orchard by a few thorough sprayings with Bordeaux mixture, 

 and that the owners of the numerous cherry orchards (scattered 

 over a considerable area in Kent) now becoming unproductive in 

 consequence of the injury caused by cherry leaf scorch have in 

 their hands a cheap and easy method of quickly restoring 

 them to health. 



It must be pointed out, however, that so long as the disease 

 is allowed to flourish generally in the numerous orchards in 

 the affected districts annual sprayings will be required to keep 

 any one orchard clean, and the root of the evil will remain 

 practically untouched. 



There is no doubt that the scientific, and at the same time 

 the most economically sound, method, of dealing with this 

 infectious plant disease, which is limited to a definite area, 

 would be to ensure its eradication by the simultaneous collection 

 and burning in early winter of the diseased leaves hanging on the 

 trees in all the orchards over the affected area, such measures 

 being carried out co-operatively by the growers under State 

 supervision. This method- has been successfully employed 

 abroad. An epidemic of the present disease occurred about 

 1880 over an extensive area of country between Harburg and 

 Stade, in one of the best fruit growing districts of Prussia. 

 After the disease had ravaged the orchards for six years, and 

 increased in virulence to such an extent that in many orchards 

 not a single leaf fell from the trees in the autumn, the Govern- 

 ment stepped in and put the matter in the hands of Prof. B. 

 Frank, an eminent mycologist of Berlin. Prof. Frank, who 

 was the first to work out the life-history of the cherry leaf 

 scorch fungus, recommended the collection and burning in 



