IO 
The Colorado Experiment Station. 
While no large number of trees have been treated, experiments 
seem to show that a vertical slitting of the bark about the affected 
trunk or branch during the early stages will save the tree. Use a 
sharp knife for this work and do not be afraid of cutting too deep. 
Make the cuts about two inches apart. While I do not pronounce 
this a sure cure in all cases, it seems worthy of a trial on trees in the 
first stages. When the drops of gum reach the size of marbles, 
the tissues are broken down to such an extent that no practical 
method of treatment would save the tree. 
ROOT ROTS. 
Two apparently distinct forms of root rot are found. One 
form, which is proving the least destructive of the two, 
seems to show no preference for varieties, and confines it¬ 
self to that part of the tree below the ground. The other 
seems to work exclusively on the Ben Davis and Gano. 
and the trunk as well as the roots are affected. The disease 
often extends upward into the large branches. The first indication of 
the disease is the appearance on the trunk of spots of a chocolate 
color. When peeled off the bark has a peculiar marbled appearance, 
the diseased portions standing out in sharp contrast to the healthy 
tissue. The disease soon kills the bark and it dries down to the 
wood, taking on a dark brown color. Two seasons are required for 
the disease to kill the tree. The first season the trunk is girdled and 
the foliage drops early. This early ripening of the foliage is 
often the most prominent symptom, and diseased trees can be 
easily picked out in the early fall. Trees showing an early bronzing 
of the foliage are generally found girdled by this disease. The sec¬ 
ond season the tree starts into leaf as the normal tree, generally set¬ 
ting fruit, and dies in mid-summer, the fruit and leaves clinMne*. 
I he disease seems to be infectious, as the trees appear in groups, and 
in many cases it appears as though it were carried by water. When 
a diseased tree is found, several more are generally found in 
the same row. However, other varieties besides the Ben Davis 
and Gano may stand in the same row with diseased trees on either 
side and show no sign of contracting the disease. The fact that 
Ben Davis and Gano are very tender as regards the application 
of arsenical sprays has suggested to my mind that the trouble may 
be due to arsenic collecting about the crown of the tree and kill¬ 
ing the bark. However, the fact that trees sprayed with arsenate 
of lead and arsenite of lime are alike affected, seems to be contrary 
to such a hypothesis. 
