]^38 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



one-third sulphur and Iwo-Uiirds lime — in lumps ; slake it and you 

 have a liquid sulphite of lime, which may be applied with a syringe. 



Mr. Burrill — No doubt sulphur will destroy fungus if you can get 

 it upon it. In regard to the fungus upon the apple causing rot, I con- 

 sider it different from that on the peach ; it is on the apple in form of a 

 scab. The best living authority upon the subject recommend sulphur 

 and lime, mixed, as the best cure. 



m 



Mr. Earle — I want to ask a question — I understood the gentle- 

 men to say that the fungus is the cause of the rot. I wish to know if I 

 would not be correct in saying that the fungus is the ?-ot, and that the 

 fungus was caused by the Curculio .'' Is not the damage done by 

 this insect the immediate cause of the rot ? This is my own opinion ; 

 am I wrong } As peach growers, we ought to understand this thing. If 

 the surface of the peach is in any way damaged, it must rot. 



I think we may not be discouraged in peach growing, if we can only 

 circumvent the dread Curculio. 



Mr. Burrill — The fungus h the rot ; for as I have intimated if the 

 spores of the fungus are placed upon the moist surface of a healthy 

 peach, under favorable conditions, they will germinate, and in ten or 

 twelve hours the fungi will penetrate the peach and reveal themselves 

 in the form of " rot." 



Peaches situated immediately below the rotting peaches are more 

 likely to be affected than others, because more exposed ; the rains wash 

 the spores down upon them. 



It is not necessary to the propagation of this fungus, that the sur- 

 face of the fruit be ruptured, by Curculio or other cause. 



Mr. Flagg — We may partially prevent the rot by keeping up a cir- 

 culation in the orchard — letting in air and sunshine. 



DISCUSSION UPON VARIETIES. 



Mr Flagg — I would call attention to two very early varieties of 

 peaches that are new, and that promise well, originating in this state. 



The first is the Alexander peach, grown by one Mr. Capps in Logan 

 County, it is a very beautiful peach, resembling the Early York, and 

 ripening — Mr. Capps says — three weeks ahead of all others. I think 

 perhaps, he over estimates it, although I am inclined to think it will 

 prove a very valuable peach. 



The other peach of which I speak is one grown by a Mr. Lightfoot 

 of Springfield, and was dead ripe on the twenty-third day of July. I 



