gary:

I don't think having those trees around will make any difference for future trees. The bacteria that causes BC is everywhere waiting for an opening. At least that's my understanding. UC Davis has a good section on BC.

Thanks for the reply, Fruitnut. I spent the evening reading up on bacterial canker.

The reason(s) I consider destroying the trees is because of comments in several documents to not interplant new trees with old trees, specifically to reduce the amount of bacterium the new trees are exposed to; and to remove and destroy branches and trees killed by p.syringae (same reason).

Granted, mine haven't died yet and a couple look they've actually beaten the infection.

I'd especially hate to toss my 2 Lamberts on Gisela 5 as Lambert is hard to find on dwarfing rootstocks (at least for Californians).

Maybe I'll move the infected trees to an isolated corner of the yard.

gary