198 Wisconsin Statb Horticultural Society. 



after. There is also a leaf blight caused by the bite of a small 

 insect, an aphis rather, and by a small gnat, which raises small 

 blisters on the leaves; these turn brown and then black, and some- 

 times extend to the whole leaf, causing it and those near it to 

 drop off. At times drops of dew or rain standing on the leaves 

 in a very hot and sultry time produce the same result; the part 

 of the leaf covered by them first turns a yellowish green, then 

 yellow, and brown, first light and afterwards darker, followed by 

 a fungus growth. These are my own observations, and from 

 them I conclude that blight may be produced by various causes, 

 by anything which will injure the vitality and cause decay to set 

 in, then fungi, or bacteria, will commence their work. 



The question will be naturally asked, what are the remedies? 

 If the blight has struck the tree so as to discolor the twigs, the 

 parts aftected should be removed at once, cutting some ways be- 

 low where the visible effects are seen. Where the limbs are large, 

 too large to be easily removed, taking off the bark so as to pre- 

 vent the downward flow of sap will serve the same purpose. If 

 the weather and other conditions are such as to lead you to expect 

 blight, mulching the ground under the tree, or applying salt to 

 keep the temperature d^wn, will doubtless be beneficial. Also 

 it is well to whitewash the bodv of the tree and the large limbs 

 with a mixture of lime-whitewash and sulphur. Mr. Saunders, 

 of the experimental gardens at Washington, thinks this is good 

 as a preventive. Any method that tends to promote the vitality 

 of the tree, and secure a steady, uniform growth, will also tend to 

 prevent blight. 



Mr. McDonald inquired why a tree was more apt to blight 

 standino- near a house. 



Mr. Petfer answered that it was probably owing to a greater 

 degree of heat from the reflection from the house and the inter- 

 ruption of free circulation of the air. A high degree of heat 

 seems to scorch the ends of the leaves and the blight extends to 

 the tree. 



Mr. McDonald said a neighbor of his had a tree standing 

 on the south side of a stone house, so close that the limbs 

 touched the building. This tree had been loaded with fruit for 



