42 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
THEY FAVOR FUMIGATION. 
Practical Experience of Members of the Southern Association of 
Nurserymen — Ex-President Van Lindley says it Prevents 
Loss by Aphis—For Buds Too—President Miller 
Finds it of Especial Value with Apple Stock 
— Mr. Harrison’s Experience. 
“ What is the result of fumigating, or is fumigation beneficial 
to nurserymen as well as to fruit growers.’’ 
This question was asked at the recent meeting of the South, 
ern Association of Nurserymen at Charleston, S. C. Mr. 
Berckmans said: “I don’t think a nurseryman should be 
allowed to send out stock with the present diseases that exist, 
unless his stock has been fumigated. There are state laws 
now to that effect, and I think all stock should be fumigated.’’ 
President Van Lindley—We commenced the practice as soon as we 
found the states around us forced us to do it. We not only fumigated 
the stock that was sent out, but everything put in the storehouse, and 
we find that we have less per cent, of aphis in apples, which is an old 
disease. I find that by fumigating the stock and everything else the 
less aphis about the stock. 1 am satisfied there is less aphis about the 
stock put in that way than formerly. If that is true, then it is the best 
investment we ever made. Build first class fumigating houses and 
fumigate everything. 
Mr. Killian—If fumigation is beneficial to the purchaser or the farmer 
to whom we sell our trees, it certainly is beneficial to the nurserymen. 
If it gets rid of the pests which are ruining the trees, why certainly it 
will be beneficial to the nurserymen because the orchardists want good 
trees—they want clean trees—they want trees that are not infested 
with these pests, and the nurseryman that will fumigate and put clean 
stock on the market will be the nurseryman who will succeed. I 
would not buy from any man if I knew his stock was not clean, and 
the farmers are going to find out who puts clean stock on the market. 
These things will not be hid under a bushel, but they will be placed on 
a candlestick, and it won’t pay us to do otherwise. It will not cost 
much ; only make a little preparation and after you make preparation 
the first time, you will not have any trouble after that. 
Mr. Miller—I think that fumigation of nursery stock is right, and I 
want to say particularly in reference to fumigation of stock of apples. 
We found it of decided benefit, more marked than in anything else. 
President Van Lindley—Mr. Harrison is one of the oldest fumigation 
men in the association. We would like to hear from him. 
Mr. Harrison—We have had a lot of experience, but it has not all 
been pleasant. We lost several thousand trees before we learned how 
to use it right. We have gained considerable trade by fumigating. 
But we lost several thousand trees, killed out by fumigation. For 
instance, early in the fall, before we had experience enough to teach 
us not to use the full strength we lost a good many trees; but since 
then after the trees are thoroughly matured we can use the strength 
which is described and we have no trouble. Of course I cannot tell 
you every detail off-hand. I can tell you from my books exactly what 
our experience has been. 
President Yan Lindley—I am like Mr. Harrison. I cannot give it 
here, I can give it from the office. The receipt for fixing it was sent to 
us by Mr. Alwood of Virginia. 
Mr. Killian—Is there anyone here who has fumigated buds before 
budding, and has succeeded in it.. That is something that seems to be 
very tender. 
President Yan Lindley—I think you understand everything that we 
put in the nursery is fumigated. We have a special formula for buds. 
Mr. Killian—We have not done it, and don’t know how to do it. 
Mr. Berckmans—We have fumigated everything and have a formula 
for the buds, and have had greater success in buds than in anything 
else. 
President Yan Lindley—A few years ago we had a great deal of 
trouble w T ith bud worms. We bad hard work to make trees out of our 
buds during the whole season. We had trees from Georgia and they 
were treated the same way, and I saw trees from different parts of the 
United States that year and they had the same disease. Some years it 
is worse than others. Well, we took the buds year before last and 
fumigated the whole thing thinking that might be of benefit—it is a 
small insect that cannot be seen, and this past year after fumigating 
the buds in 400,000 trees I have not seen a single bud with that disease 
on it. I don’t know why we did it, but if that fumigation did save it, 
it is an experience w r orth something. 
Mr. Hood—I don’t think fumigation would help that bug. 
President Van Lindley—If 1 continue the fumigation and don’t have 
it any more, I will think the fumigation was the cause of it. 
CAUSE OF APPLE ROOT GALL. 
At the recent convention of the Southern Nurserymen’s 
Association at Charleston, S. C., the question was asked: 
“ What causes root gall on apple roots ? ’’ W. T. Hood said 
he did not know. 
Mr. Killian—I believe there is something in the variety. If you 
notice the Transparent is very much subject to this gall root. We 
have iu our community a local apple that we have been grafting for 
the people of that community, and I never have seen one tree but what 
had that disease. 
Mr. Hood—The Lady apple will have it. 
Mr. Killian—The Transparent seems to be the worse. Never have 
seen trees that did not have them on. When I put them up for-that 
community, never have taken up one tree that did not have them on. 
Mr. Hood—Do you wrap grafts with thread ? 
Mr. Berckmans—No, we have used raffia for a number of years. 
We have used cotton. We use no wax and we tie it. 
Mr. Killian—We once used paper with wax on it. Liked it, but it 
is tedious. Have been using thread for the last six years. 
Mr. Hood—No use wrapping grafts if they are on small roots. 
I don’t wrap with anything. My earliest work was never wrapped and 
I had as good stand then as any. 
Won’t they be knocked out of place ? 
You have to handle them carefully 
When you graft you pack away in moss or sand ? 
Pack away in moss. 
Does it make any difference what they are put away in ? 
No difference, they do well in either unless they grow too large. 
Mr. Killian For the last few years we have been using leaf mold, 
and it has worked admirably. 
Mr. Hood—Before the war they always packed in leaf mold and 
never wrapped anything. I have been using it and have been wrap¬ 
ping for 10, 12 or 15 years, only to save breaking in planting time. 
You wait until they are callous. No advantages in wrapping apples 
at all. 
Mr. Young—We people in North Carolina did until three or four years 
ago have poor success in our grafting of apples on account of being in 
bad condition in the spring, and Mr. Wilson gave me his way of pack¬ 
ing. In the spring of 1900 we used his plan of packing and the graft¬ 
ing turned out that spring in excellent condition. We planted new 
land that had never been planted before and the prettiest stand we 
ever had. Last fall we thought we would have the best stand but 
when we came to dig them they were affected with the root gall, some 
were yellow, and from 25 to 50 per cent, were-ruined with root gall, 
aud 1 wondered if it could have been this callus. I wondered if it 
could have been this callus that had continued growing, and from all 
appearances it was, but whether they would have the knot, or whether 
that was the place for it to form I could not say. 
Mr. Killian—What time did you transplant them ? 
We began about the 1st of April. 
Mr. Killian—I have always believed that thread was not the best 
thing to use. It is too strong, and when they begin to grow thread 
cuts in. You take one year’s growth. That thread is still wrapped 
around there, saw some last year. I believe that the old plan of taking 
wax paper will be better than the thread, but it is more tedious. You 
have to keep it warm all the time. 
