THE PEAR LEAF-BLIGHT 



41 



black, and die, in a manner similar to that of jiear 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 



Entomosporium maculatum 



This is probably the most generally destructive fun- 

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

 early in spring, soon after the leaves develop, usually 



revealing its presence at 

 first by minute, dull red- 

 dish spots on the upper 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. As the fungus de- 

 velops the spots enlarge, in- 

 volving more and more of 

 the tissues of the leaf, until 

 the tissues directly affected 

 within the spots, and those 

 indirectly affected between, include nearly or quite the 

 entire leaf, which appears sere and brown. 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. When leaves are badly 



FIG. 21. 



QUINCE LEAF SHOWING 

 LEAF-BLIGHT. 



