Ceratocystis fagacearum causes the destructive tree disease called oak wilt. One means of pathogen spread is by insect vectors (Nitidulidae) that transmit spores into fresh wounds on healthy trees. Experiments were conducted in central Texas on native live oaks (Quercus fusiformis) to test pruning methods and paints on disease development. Three treatment combinations were tested on 30 trees (10 trees/treatment): flush cut unpainted, flush cut painted, and unpainted pruning cuts made according to the Shigo method. Unpainted puncture wounds were made on the lower trunks of an additional 20 trees as controls. C. fagacearum spores were applied to the pruning cuts and half of the puncture wounds (positive controls) after treatment, whereas the other half of the punctures received distilled water as negative controls. Oak wilt symptoms first appeared in the flush cut unpainted treatment 31 days after inoculation. Infection rates, in decreasing order, were; positive control (70%), flush cut unpainted (60%), Shigo pruning method (40%), flush cut painted (20%), and negative control (10%). Pruning wounds, regardless of method, were effective infection courts for the oak wilt pathogen. Fewer trees became infected when pruning cuts were painted, but differences among infection rates for pruning cuts were not statistically significant. Tree diameters and stem aspect ratio had no bearing on infection rates. The Shigo method is recognized as a superior method for pruning, but there is no reason to change current recommendations to paint fresh wounds on susceptible oaks in high-hazard oak wilt areas.

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Dear Sir: Please mail me your catalogue as I wish to order some | I plants . Mr.' McGaughey a customer of yours advised me to order of you. i Yours* truly, J. C COLYER.

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Tn presenting my annual strawberry plant catalogue I am offering the best new and standard varieties, plants of the best quality that it is possible to grow and at reasonable prices. Owing to the very late, cold, wet spring last season plants could not be set early and many did not get to set half as many as they had intended; then, owing to the dry summer in many sections plants suffered for moisture and failed to make as many young plants as they should, so that in most sections there is a shortage, I have at least seventy-five per cent, of a good stand of plants, and they are so large and heavy-rooted that I am sure they will please all purchasers. I have always endeavored to give every customer full value for money received of good live plants, true-to-maine, just as represented, and nicely trimmed and packed When you buy plants from me you do not have to pay expressage on a lot of worthless plants with dead leaves and runners attached, yet this is the way many growers ship their plants. The plants that I have for this season are extra large, healthy and heavyrooted such as customers that have been dealing with me for the past 20 years have found that I always send out. To those that have never dealt with me I will be pleased to receive at least a share of your patronage, and I am sure you will find my plants as good as you can buy anywhere, and at lower prices than many ask for plants. I am sure that most of you who receive this catalogue know as much, or more, about growing strawberries as I do, and I am not going, to take your time telling you "How to get rich growing big crops of berries." It you have never grown berries and wish to begin one of the best ways is to consult a neighbor that has, but if there are any questions you would like to ask me I will be pleased to try and answer them. I will say, however, that with good plants, good soil, early setting, and with good cultivation there is no reason why anyone should not have a good crop of berries if they wish As it is one of the earliest fruits to ripen it is very nice for the home-garden, and is usually one of the most profitable crops for commercial purposes. Again thanking you for your patronage of past seasons, hoping to continue to receive your favors, wishing you all a prosperous season and to assure you that I shall continue to do my very best to please you, I remain, Faithfully yours,