Fruit Investigation, 1906. 7 
ture and arsenate of lead. No further signs of burning or Alter- 
naria rot appeared on either block during the remainder of the 
season. 
The fifty Ben Davis and Gano apples were sprayed with Bor¬ 
deaux on the same dates as the pears, leaving the remainder of the or¬ 
chard as a check. The owner being anxious to get the first cod¬ 
ling moth spray on at the proper time, applied it five days earlier. 
Both blocks were injured severely by this first spraying with lead. 
Most of the injured fruits dropped early and at picking time no 
injury from burning or Alternaria was noticeable on the fruit of 
either check or sprayed trees. On the shaded portions of large 
trees sprayed with Bordeaux a slight russeting of the fruit was 
noticed but not serious enough to cause damage. 
The experiments in the third orchard were practically the 
same, only on a smaller scale. A good grade of arsenate of lead 
was used and no injury from burning or Alternaria rot was found 
at picking time. 
With these experiments, and after observations in many 
other orchards the following conclusions were reached: 
First; that Alternaria is in most cases a secondary factor in causing 
the decay of fruit. 
Second; that it does not seem to be able to gain entrance to the fruit 
through healthy tissue, unless it be in cases where it enters the core cavity 
through the calyx tube, but may follow any injury, as spray burn, bruises or 
worm holes. During the season it has been found under these conditions, 
as well as on blighted fruit spurs of the pear and in the germ cavity of 
peaches with split pits. 
Third; that Keiffer pears cannot be sprayed with any degree of safety 
with other than a standard make of arsenate of lead. The nearer mature the 
fruit, the more liable it is to injury, and if possible, no sprays should be 
applied later than July 10th. With thorough spi'aying early in the season,- 
applications later than this date are unnecessary. 
Fourth; that if Gano and Ben Davis apples are to be sprayed with 
arsenite of lime, special care should be given to its preparation and a good 
clear day selected during which to apply it. 
•PEAR BLIGHT. 
Pear blight has been severe on many varieties of pears this 
season and many neglected orchards are practically gone. Where 
reasonable care is given to cutting out affected limbs, most var¬ 
ieties are doing well. By very careful cutting, many growers are 
proving that pear culture is still profitable. A great deal may be 
accomplished, I believe, in selecting varieties. Comparisons made 
during the season of pear orchards seeded to grass with those under 
cultivation seem to show little difference in the amount of blight. 
The Flemish Beauty, Clapp Favorite and Idaho, fortunately 
three worthless varieties from a commercial standpoint, should 
. never be planted, as they blight badly. Not only this, but trees 
of these varieties should be taken out. While it is possible that 
these Varieties may be worked over to other varieties to advan- 
