the bark is peeled back.

the bark is peeled back.

A secondary symptom that, often occurs on infected dogwoods is epicormic sprouting or numerous sprouts forming directly on the trunk at the base of the tree. This is generally a sign of stress on dogwoods.

Since the dieback phase of the disease usually leads to death of the entire tree, the prognosis for the health of our state flower is bad, indeed. Once the fungus has caused cankers on the larger branches or trunk, control is impossible. Therefore, it is important to prevent the disease altogether or to control the disease in the leaf spot stage.

Cultural controls are the first line of defense for this disease. Keeping trees as healthy as possible should help to prevent the disease. Water trees during drought and mulch to prevent water stress, fertilize as needed according to soil analyses, and avoid transplanting wild dogwoods into the landscape.

So far, the disease seems to be more severe in the woods, so wild dogwoods or seed taken from the forest has a much higher chance of carrying the fungus with it.

Trees planted in sunlight and spaced for good air circulation in the landscape seem to have a much lower incidence of the disease.

The leaf spot stage of the disease can be prevented, as for other foliar diseases, by the use of fungicides. Since the fungus usually initiates infections on the leaves and then moves down the petioles into the twigs, the disease can theoretically be controlled by careful use of fungicides during the leaf spot stage.

Practically, this is often difficult since foliar fungicides can be washed off by rain, adequate coverage with fungicides can be difficult, and environmental conditions may be conducive to rapid growth of the fungus.

Currently, fungicides used for control of other leaf spot diseases of dogwood are recommended. A new fungicide especially effective for dogwood anthracnose is being developed but is not yet available for use.

Once dying twigs are observed, they should be pruned out immediately back to live tissue to attempt to limit spread. Pruning tools should be surface sterilized with a dilute (bO percent) solution of household bleach between cuts to avoid spreading the pathogen on equipment.

Dr. Diane Relf is a horticulture specialist with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service and a member of the faculty of Virginia Tech. For more information about Dogwood Anthracnose, contact Tommy Williams at the Rappahannock County Extension Office (675-3619).

Recipes

Continued from page 10

1/4 cup peeled, chopped cucumber

1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1 small hot red pepper

1 small clove garlic, crushed

11/2 teaspoons ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

11/2 cups vinegar (5 percent acidity)

Combine all ingredients in a large Dutch oven, stirring well. Cook, uncovered, over medium-high heat 2 hours or'until thickened, stirring frequently.

Quickly spoon chutney into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace; cover at once with metal lids, and screw bands tight. Process in boiling-water bath 10 minutes. Yield: 5 half pints.

Pepper relish

6 green peppers, minced

6 sweet red peppers, minced

6 medium onions, minced

2 cups vinegar (5 percent acidity)

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1 fresh hot pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large Dutch oven, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook, uncovered, 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard hot pepper.

Pack into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Cover at once with metal lids, and screw bands tight. Process in boiling-water bath 5 minutes. Yield: 11 half pints.