| OCR Text |
Show Blight Threatens Tropic Fruit Orchard Loss "B A serious outbreak of fire blight, a bacterial dlreaie of pears and apples, has occurred In Tropic. If these fruit trees are to be saved, Immediate control practices are necessary. The proper control of fire blight Is very Important If you Intend to continue growing pears and apples. Blight Is not only ruin-Ing this year's crop but next year's too. Apples nnd pears bear fruit on two year old twigs. The blight Is killing most or this year's new growth, and there will be none left to bear fruit next year, unless action Is taken r(ght now to prevent the spread of the disease. Fire bllsht is a bacterial disease, and' spread by Insects, mainly bees at the full bloom stage. A spray can be applied at this stage for control, but the time Is past. Now there Is only-one method remove all Infected twigs at least six Inches be-low the signs of Infection. Cut these twigs or limbs off, ana hum them. Disinfect all tools used In cutting. A meeting was held In Tropic May tG. It was recomroende that all of you participate h controlling blight. If you are not Interested In pruning out the infected parts of the trees remove the whole tree. However, ihe group present at the meeting expressed Ihe opinion that all who have pear and apple trees will voluntarily participate In controlling blight and other methods will not be necessary. |
