ornamental tree. I doubt if spraying would accomplish much in the treatment of this disease, for it seems to live perennially after it once gets a hold. It attacks the fruit as well as the leaves in some varieties, especially the Shockley. The bitter rot of apples is the disease commonly causing apples to "rot", and is due to a fungus which attacks the fruit even before maturity. It is not confined to any particular locality. It seems to attack some varieties much more virulently than others. The spores, or reproductive bodies of the fungus, appear in concentric circles within the shrunken rotten spots. Successful experiments have been made in the treatment of this disease by spraying, at intervals of about three weeks, with ammoniacal copper carbonate. Begin just before the flower buds open. The third apple disease, so far as observed in this State, is known as the scab. This disease has come to us from one or two localities in West Tennessee, and is likely to occur in any part of our State. Several remedies have been tried for this disease. Bordeaux mixture is probably as good as any. An application should be made before the flowers open, followed by another just after the flowers shed, and afterwards applied at intervals of about three weeks during the growing season. PEACH. Only two fungus diseases of the peach occur in Tennessee, so far as I know; viz: the peach rot and mildew. The first disease has been made a subject of special investigation at this Station for the past two years; and although it is one of the most serious of all fruit diseases, but little progress has been made in the way of successful treatment. The ashen-colored dust that appears in spots on the surface of a rotted peach is made up of myriads of spores, the crop from one peach being sufficient to infect a whole orchard, if applied under proper conditions. The old mummified peaches remaining in the orchard over winter begin to infect the young peaches even in the blossom, in most cases destroying both bloom and twig; and the effect of the fungus upon the ripe or half ripe fruit is too well known. It is a popular idea that warm, damp weather causes peaches to rot. This is true if we consider that just under these conditions the fungus thrives best and gets easier access to the pulpy part of the fruit. This disease does great injury to the peach crop throughout this country, and much good would result from the discovery of a successful method of treatment. About all that can be recommended at present is the removal and destruction,— best by burning, of all mummified fruits remaining in the orchard after the crop is gathered. The mildew of the peach has been sent to us from near Chattanooga. It may be recognized by its white powdery appearance on the leaves and twigs. It attacks only a few varieties, but deserves further attention. PLUM AND CHERRY.-The same fungus causing peach rot also attacks the plum and the cherry, and the statements made relative to that disease also apply to the plum and cherry rot. By far the most serious disease of these trees that we have is the black knot. This disease attacks the younger wood of the plum and cherry, being more prevalent on the plum. I have not seen specimens anywhere in the State except about Knoxville, but it doubtless occurs in all parts of Tennessee. The only method of treatment known is to cut out all knots as fast as they appear and burn them. PEAR. Only two diseases of the pear have been observed in this State, viz: leaf blight and fire blight. These two diseases are due to entirely different causes. Leaf blight is caused by a fungus, while the fire blight is caused by bacteria-the same group of vegetable parasites that produce the infectious diseases of the human body. The leaf blight has been observed only in East Tennessee. It can be controlled very well by spraying with the Bordeaux mixture according to the usual methods. I have in In the writer's opinion, the most serious disease that orchardists have to contend with in this, State is fire blight of the pear. The many orchards in all parts of the State in which are found trees dead or partly killed bear witness to the statement. spected very few pear orchards in the State that do not contain blighted trees. The only remedy is to cut out every blighted twig and burn it. Mr. M. B. Waite, formerly of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, has succeeded in exterminating this disease in an orchard by following this line of treatment and observing certain other rules. When an orchard is attacked every precaution must be taken to prevent rapid growth and the formation of soft wood. This is one time when all cultivation, fertilizing, and irrigation should be discontinued. The pruning process should be applied to every apple (which the disease also attacks), pear, quince, or crab apple within a quarter of a mile of the orchard. RASPBERRY AND BLACKBERRY.-The orange rust was very abundant the past season on wild blackberries in all parts of the State. I did not find any raspberries affected. Some specimens of raspberry anthracnose have been sent to us from near Columbia. The Bordeaux mixture may be used for anthracnose, but the rust is best controlled by destroying affected plants, root and branch. STRAWBERRY.-The leaf blight of strawberry has been observed about Knoxville, and near Humboldt, but not in sufficient quantity to merit serious attention. If abundant, spray with Bordeaux. Suggestions as to spraying may be gotten from Bulletin No. 1, Vol. VIII. BULLETINS OF THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE. VOLUME I, 1888. No. 1.-History and Reorganization. Dehorning Cattle. No. 2.-The Experiment Station, Building and Laboratories. Germination of Seed Corn. Analyses of Commercial Fertilizers. No. 3.-Weeds of the Farm. First Annual Report, 1888. VOLUME II, 1889. No. 1.-Notes on Fertilizers and Fertilizing Materials. No. 2. Diseases of the Irish Potato. No. 3-Cotton-seed Hulls and Meal as Food for Live Stock. No. 4-Grasses on Mountain Meadows and Deer Parks. Chemical Composition and Tests of Varieties of Strawberries. Second Annual Report, 1889. VOLUME III, 1890. No. 1.-Experiments in Growing Potatoes. No. 2. Tests of Varieties of Barley, Corn, Oats, Wheat and Sorghum; Methods of Culture of Wheat, and Effects of Fertilizers on Oats and on Clover. No. 3-Points about Country Roads. No. 4.-Practical Experiments in Reclaiming "Galled" or Washed Lands, with Notes on Mulch and Mulch Materials. No. 5.-Fruit Trees at the Experiment Station. No. 6.-Index to Volumes I, II, and III. SPECIAL BULLETINS. B.- Analyses of Commercial Fertilizers. C.-Treatment of Certain. Fungous Diseases of Plants. E. The Cotton Worm. The Hessian Fly. Third Annual Report, 1890. VOLUME IV, 1891. No 1.-Crab-grass Hay. Sorghum as a Forage Plant. Test of Feed-value of First and Second Crop of Clover. Pasture Grasses. Blackknot of the Plum and Cherry. Pruning Fruit Trees. The Glassy-winged Soldier-bug. Diseases of Live Stock. Experiment Station Record. No. 2.-The Peanut Crop of Tennessee, Statistics, Culture and Chemistry. No. 3.-The True Bugs, or Heteroptera of Tennessee. No. 4.-Some Fungous Diseases of the Grape. No. 5.-A Chemical Study of the Cotton Plant. Fourth Annual Report, 1891. VOLUME V, 1892. No. 1.-Fruit Trees and Experiments with Vegetables. No. 2.-The Grasses of Tennessee. Part I. No. 3. A Contribution to the Study of Economies of Milk Production. No. 4-Experiments with Fruit Trees and Vegetables. Fifth Annual Report, 1892. VOLUME VI, 1893. No. 1.-Some Injurious Insects of the Apple. No. 2.-The Rational Use of Feeding Stuffs. Winter Dairying in Ten nessee. No. 3.-Small Fruits: Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Grapes. No. 2.-Fruits: Grapes, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Pears, Apples, and Peaches. No. 3.-Co-operative Experimentation. No. 4.-Dehorning Cattle. Notes to Correspondents. No. 3.-Some Experiments with Fungicides on Peach Foliage. No. 4.-The Chinch Bug. Eighth Annual Report. VOLUME IX, 1896. No. 1.-Apples of Tennessee Origin. No. 2-.Strawberries. No. 3.-A Contribution to the Study of Sonthern Feeding Stufts. Ninth Annual Report. |