REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 89 



The following tabular statements were arranged with a view of showing the dis- 

 tribution of the disease principally in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and to 

 bring out the opinions of practical growers with regard to those methods of culti- 

 vation which seem to favour its appearance. It is plainly indicated that without a 

 systematic and very lengthy course of experiments, it is impossible to arrive at 

 satisfactory conclusions regarding any line of remedial treatment; varying con- 

 ditions of soil and environment lead to results at one point, which are contradicted by 

 the experience of a grower in another section. It is interesting to note that of the 

 replies from Ontario, while 44 per cent had observed no difference in the relative 

 prevalence of " blight " on cultivated ground, and in orchards in sod, 38 per cent were 

 in favour of growing in sod and 17 percent in favour of giving high cultivation. 



There seems to be no doubt that any system of cultivation conducive to rapid 

 succulent growth which is not well ripened in the autumn, furnishes a favourable 

 condition for the development and spread of the disease. Prof. Arthur has clearly 

 demonstrated the truth of this statement. 



In Quebec blight appeared during the year, in several of the fruit growing sections, 

 notably in the Counties of Shefford, Argenteuil and Eouville. The soil in the portions 

 most affected, is of a loamy or gravelly nature and frequently strongly impregnated 

 with limestone. As pears are not grown to any extent outside of the Island of 

 Montreal, the disease has principally been restricted to apples. Eussian pears 

 at Abbotsford 10 years planted, were very much injured this season. These have 

 been grown in sod since planting. 



