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["Ernest Plutko" <ernestplutko@wiktel.com>]

Discouraged to see my Red Duchess apple has fireblight.  Small tree
about 8 ft.  Leaves opened up but I saw today the leaves died back. 
Big black patches on trunk and most branches.  I cut tree down
leaving a foot high trunk.  Several green leaves are sprouting from
short trunk underneath plastic trunk protector.  I used to fight fire
blight by spraying and pruning but always lost the battles.   If
necessary, I'll cut trunk back to ground level and allow rootstock to
sprout.   Any advice?