THE PEAR LEAF-BLIGHT 



41 



black, and die, in a manner similar to that of pear twigs- 

 affected by pear bliglit. Such injuries to apple are com^ 

 monly called ^Hwig blight," or "fire blight." They 

 are, however, due to the same germs as the pear blight, 

 discussed on a later page under the pear. Cutting off' 

 and burning affected twigs is the best remedial measure^ 



FUNGI AFFECTING THE PEAR 



The Pear Leaf=blight 



En torn osporiiim maciilatum 



This is probably the most generally destructive fun- 

 gous disease to wdiich the j^ear is subject. It appears 

 early in spring, soon after the leaves develop, usually 



revealing its presence at 

 first by minute, dull red- 

 dish sj^ots on the u^^tper sur- 

 face of the leaf. A little 

 later the spots appear on 

 the lower surface also, and 

 the reddish tint gives way 

 to brown, with a darker 

 center. x\s the fungus de- 

 velops the spots enlarge, in- 

 volving more and more of 

 the tissues of the leaf, until 

 the tissues directly affected 



FIG. 21. QUINCE LEAF SHOWING ^ 



LEAF-BLIGHT. witliiu thc spots, aud those 



indirectly affected between, include nearly or quite the 

 entire leaf, which appears sere and l)rown. Very young 

 leaves sometimes curl up, as a result of the attack. The 

 quince is also injured by this fungus, an infested leaf 

 being represented in Fig. 21. AYhen leaves are badly 



