CROWN GALL ON RASPBERRIES BLACKBERRIES.

All the nurserymen are able to recognize crown gall, and whatever we may think regarding its effect or lack of effect upon apple, we know by personal observation that it may and does cause the death of raspberries.  This disease of course is, unfortunately, very common—­almost universally present in our nurseries.  The public, generally, are so well aware of its injurious effect upon canes that they are indignant when any such stock is received from nurseries.  It behooves all nurserymen, therefore, for the sake of their own business interests if nothing else, to be extremely careful that no diseased stock of any kind is sent to patrons.

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THE DESTRUCTION OF A CARLOAD OF DISEASED POTATOES.

The State Entomologist, by virtue of being a collaborator with and agent for the United States Horticultural Board, supervised the destruction by burning of 403 sacks of potatoes, seven per cent. of which, according to the testimony of our Plant Pathology Division, were infested with powdery scab.  The Great Northern Railroad, which had brought the potatoes from Canada, were given the choice by Federal authorities, either to return the potatoes to Canada or destroy them by burning, under our supervision.  They chose the latter procedure and the use of the Minneapolis crematory was secured for this purpose.  Ninety sacks of this same shipment which were illegally unloaded at Casselton, N. Dak., were buried by North Dakota authorities.  It is to be hoped that this disease does not find its way into the potato belt in the Red River Valley.

NOTES ON PLANT PESTS.

Prepared by Section of Insect Pests, A. G. RUGGLES, and by Section of Plant Diseases, E. C. STAKMAN, University Farm.

The first real spraying of the apple orchard should be given just as the center bud of the flower cluster begins to show pink.  The material to use in the spraying compound is lime-sulphur (1 to 40) plus arsenate of lead, 1-1/2 pounds of the powder, or three pounds of the arsenate of paste to fifty gallons of the made-up lime-sulphur.  If done properly this will get the scab of the apple, blossom blight or the brown rot in the plum, and is the most important spray for plum pocket.  The arsenate of lead in the mixture will control the young of leaf eating insects and precocious plum curculios.

The second most important spraying of the year is given within a week after the blossoms fall, the same spraying compound being used.  This spraying kills many of the germinating spores of such things as apple scab and also is the important spray for codling worm as well as for the plum curculio and for leaf eating insects.

Watch carefully for the hatching of plant lice eggs.  The ideal time to spray for these is just after hatching, and before the young lice become hidden in the bud scales or in the curl of the leaves.  The spraying material to use at this time is a sulphate of nicotine.