HOW TO GROW FRUIT. 
711 
"blister the unprotected bark, and this, in many cases, is the direct 
cause of many trees dying from what is commonly known as “ Fire- 
blight.” 
Another most important consideration in looking after an orchard 
—in fact, I may say, the most important consideration of any — is to 
keep the orchard free from the ravages of insect and fungus pests as 
far as it is possible to do so. 
Fruit-growers have to thank science for the knowledge of how to 
deal successfully with the many diseases that attack fruit and fruit 
trees, and, if for no other reason than this, science has proved its great 
value to them. Every orchardist owes a debt of gratitude to those 
scientists who have devoted years of careful study to determining the 
habits and life histories of our insect friends and foes, so that we may 
know which to preserve and which to destroy; and, in the case of 
destructive insects, that we may know when and how they may be 
most easily kept in check, as without having a thorough knowledge of 
the habits and life histories of the insects causing the damage it is 
impossible to suggest remedial measures. 
It is not only in the case of in jurious insects that science has proved 
of such value to orchardists, hut the various microscopic fungi that 
cause such an immense amount of damage to the fruit industry have 
been made an especial study of by vegetable pathologists, and the 
results of their investigations have been even more marked than those 
of the entomologists, as diseases of which comparatively little w as- 
known a few years since, and which were generally looked upon as 
incurable, are now thoroughly understood and easily prevented by the 
application of the right remedies at the right time. 
Evory orchardist should make himself thoroughly acquainted with 
the appearance of every disease that the fruit or fruit trees he is growing- 
are liable to, so that he may be able to detect the presence of disease 
as soon as it makes its appearance. This is of especial importance in. 
the case of fungus diseases, as these diseases, if taken in hand in time, 
can be usually easily kept in check, hut if neglected they spread so 
rapidly, and obtain such a thorough hold of the orchard, that it requires 
very careful treatment to bring the trees round to a healthy condition. 
Never consider any blemish of the fruit or tree, no matter how 
insignificant it may be, as of no consequence. It may be of no conse- 
quence, but it may be the first indication of a disease that, unless it is 
stamped out at once, will overrun the orchard. Therefore treat alL 
blemishes as diseases till you have proved them to be harmless. 
The various diseases of fruit and fruit trees are most economically 
and efficaciously treated by means of spraying, the remedies used 
being distributed over the trees affected with considerable force so as 
to reach every part of the tree, and in as fine a state as possible. 
The object of spraying is not to drench the tree, but to distribute the 
material used evenly and finely, as this is found to he far more effica- 
cious than Hooding one part of the tree and missing another, a? to be 
successful every part of the tree must be reached. 
In spraying for microscopic fungi it is impossible to get the spray 
too fine or too well distributed, as the spores of the fungi are on every 
portion of the tree, so that to be successful the spraying must be 
