Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1908 — Farm and Garden [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Farm and Garden

BLACK KNOT IN PLUMS. Mors Light on ths Failure of Plums In the East. F. C. Sears of the Massachusetts agricultural college writes as follows about black knot in plums: I have been interested in looking through the college orchard recently to notice the comparative susceptibility of the different varieties and classes of plums to black knot and In comparing present indications ' with past experi ence along the same lines. The tree agent who sells plum trees which are warranted to be “knot

proof” is undoubtedly a nature fakir, but if he selects the right varieties among the Japanese he will come much nearer than usual to the truth. In two rows in the college orchard of twentytwo trees each, one of Red June and the other of Burbank. I found in a reasonably long search not a single specimen of black knot. And last year their record was almost equally clean. On trees, in adjoining rows of Engelbart and Bradshaw, however, knots are all too abundant, though not nearly so bad as last season. They would probably average half a dozen knots to the tree this season, while last year the same trees yielded a couple of bushels of knots from (he two rows. While this is a little discouraging to the man who wants to grow the domestic plums, as everybody does who wants high quality, still it is surprising how little time is required to keep down this disease if it is taken in time and systematically handled. And It is equally surprising how badly a tree can be affected and still be/recovered ■satisfactorily. A few years ago the writer undertook to revive some old trees which would ordinarily have been cut down and put on the brush heap. They were a mass of knots from top to bottom. We 'selected a time when the snow was on the ground so that the knots could be easily gathered up and cut out every vestige of the disease, though in some cases this left, a pretty small proportion of the original tree. In removing a knot we cut at least six inches below it, so as to be sure and take out the roots of the disease. That year the trees made a big growth, often three or four feet, but a good many new knots also came out which were removed that autumn, the trees also receiving two thorough sprayings with Bordeaux mixture during the summer. The following two years we did nearly all our cutting in the summer and found it much more satisfactory in its results than cutting .during the dor mant season. To begin with, as the knots were removed as soon as they appeared we saved the crop of sum met spores which would otherwise have spread the disease. Then, the knots being young and soft, we could frequently shave them off and thus save the branch on which they grew. Lastly, when it Itecame necessary to cut out a branch altogether, tn getting rid of a knot, the tree, being still in growth, would at once fill in the space thus made, so that by autumn ft could hardly be seen. This work was done in a section where the black knot flourishes like the proverbial green bay tree, yet we found it by no means a serious matter to rid these trees of the disease andiEeep them reasonably free. Three cuttings during the summer, with an autumn clearing up (after the leaves were off) of the knots which had escaped thus far, combined with three applications of bordeaux mixture, did the work. Our sprayings were applied one before the leaves opened, one after the blossoms fell and one about two weeks later. Lest some may think this a pretty serious programme, 1 may say that the summer cutting the third season took just four and one-half hours for an orchard of ninety trees.

Fresh Eggs. Secretary Wilson says that hereafter eggs sold as “fresh” or “strictly fresh” must be exactly what they are represented to be. Storage eggs must be sold as such or under the pure food law the dealer is liable to a fine of SSOO or six months’ imprisonment, or both. Thousands of i>eople do not know how a “strictly fresh” egg tastes. This will give them a chance to find out. Hauling Crops. Inquiries conducted in over 1,000 counties of the United States by the department of agriculture Indicate that the average length of haul of crops over country roads is 12.1 miles, the average weight of Ibe load 2.002 pounds and the average cost per mile 85.2 cents, or about $3 per load, the figures being based on cost of labor, teed, wear. etc.

TREE WITH BLACK KNOT.