300 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



DThe fermentation that ensues causes tlie bark to crack and a thick, 

 gummy sap with a disagreeable odor exudes; the bark soon becomes dry, 

 and if the affection extends entirely around the stem the entire branch 

 soon takes the characteristic appearance of blight. The leaves dry up and 

 remain attached to the stems for a considerable length of time. 



If the disease enters through the blossoms, the flowers and fruit spurs 

 are first attacked and turn brown, after which the disease spreads along 

 the branches. 



While the germs could undoubtedly be destroyed, if all parts of the trees 

 could at all times be kept covered with Bordeaux mixture, or some other 

 fungicide, this is impossible with the nectaries and to some extent with the 

 young leaves and the cracks in the bark. While the sprayings that should 

 be given the pear trees to destroy the other fungi will aid in holding the 

 blight in check, it will not entirely prevent it. 



As a further means of prevention, various precautions can be taken that 

 will do much to lessen the liability of the trees to be attacked by the blight, 

 and among them are the following: 1. Select varieties that have small, firm 

 twigs, and that ripen their growth soon after it forms; 2. while the pear 

 needs a deep, strong soil, care should be taken not to use one that is unduly 

 rich in organic matter, as it would be likely to cause a rank growth that 

 would admit the germs, either through the tissues or the punctures made 

 by the insects, or a late growth that would be injured by the winter; 

 3. avoid the use of excessive quantities of undecomposed manure, which 

 will also cause a rank growth. The principal dependence should be placed 

 upon mineral manures; 4. in case the trees are making too rapid a growth, 

 the orchard may be seeded down for a year or so. 



In case the pear blight makes its appearance in a tree, the diseased 

 branch should at once be cut out, making the excision a foot or so below 

 where any signs of the blight appear on the outside, and if the cut surface 

 seems discolored, a cut still lower down should be made. While this may 

 not in all cases prevent the reappearance of the blight, there is nothing else 

 known that will aid in the matter. 



PEAR LEAF BLIGHT (Entomosporium maculatum. Lev.). 



This disease is particularly destructive to seedling trees in the nursery 

 and to those that have borne large crops of fruit in seasons of severe 

 drouth. It is known that it is of fungous origin, and remedies have been 

 found that will hold it in subjection if they do not prevent it altogether. 



It first shows itself on the leaves as small, brown spots, which soon 

 coalesce if sufiiciently numerous, and thus form spots of considerable 

 extent. 



Later in the season, small, black spots appear upon the brown patches, 

 which are composed of great numbers of spores. When the conditions 

 are favorable for the development of the disease, it spreads with great 

 rapidity and so injures the foliage that all of the leaves sometimes fall, 

 leaving the tree, in its denuded condition, unable to ripen its wood. The 

 same disease often appears upon the fruit, where it is known as the 

 "cracking of the pear." If the spots are sufl&ciently numerous, the growth 

 of the affected parts is checked and a crack is formed. With some varieties 

 the injury is so severe that, before fungicides came into use, it was not 

 possible to obtain marketable specimens from them. 



