140 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



in keeping it in check and, as a result of the spraying for the scale, 

 they have destroyed most of the other troublesome insects and have 

 kept the dangerous diseases in check. 



Tlie marked improvement in the condition of the apple orchards in 

 many sections of the state can be indirectly ascribed to the presence 

 of tiie San Jose scale as it was found that good crops were secured 

 where the trees were sprayed, and as a result there has been almost 

 a rcA^olution in the care given to the orchards, and more power orchards 

 spraying outfits were sold in Michigan last year than in the entire 

 period since spraying has been practiced. 



PEACH YELLOWS AND LITTLE PEACH, 



Both of these diseases have been more than usually troublesome dur 

 ing the past year. The former has become quite widespread in Oakland 

 county and cases of the genuine "little peach" have also been found there. 

 Both diseases are quite common in all of the southwestern counties of 

 the state. 



In most of the counties where these diseases have appeared even 

 greater harm has been done by Little Peach than by Peach Yellows. 

 Wliile this may in part be attnbuted to the fact that its presence is more 

 difficult to detect, as well as because comparatively few are familiar 

 with its characteristics, it really does appear to be more virulent, and 

 when they are both allowed to spread without restraint the orchards will 

 be more quickly wiped out and the destruction will be more complete 

 with Little Peach than with Peach Yellows. 



On the other hand, it has been demonstrated that, if all of the infected 

 trees in a given section are destroyed, the loss can be kept to a small 

 per cent and by replanting where infected trees are taken out the trees 

 will hardly be missed in the orchards. In order to have the work effectual, 

 however, concerted action is necessary and this will in most sections 

 require thorough and prompt action on the part of the orchard inspec- 

 tors. 



THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE. 



Many have claimed that the Yellows and Little Peach are spread in 

 nursery stock, through the use either of infected pits or of buds from 

 infected trees, but this does not seem to be based upon fact as trees have 

 been shipped by the thousands to Benzie, Grand Traverse and other 

 northern (•(nmties from the same nurseries as other trees which were 

 shipped to Allegan and Kent counties, but while the latter have been 

 attacked those shipped to the noHhein counties have never shown 

 the disease. If it was in the trees there is no reason why all of them 

 ehould not show it. Some may claim it was because of different climatic 

 conditions, but thousands of cases can be found where nurseries have 

 shipped peach trees from certain blocks to forty or more counties in 

 Michigan, as well as to other states, and the only trees which were at- 

 tacked by Yellows or Little Peach were those shipped to counties where 

 the disease prevailed. Had the trees been infected, the appearance of 

 the diseases would have been general, but as this was not the case the 

 theory does not seem to hold good. It would appear then that Peach 

 Yellows spreads chieMy in the orchards, if not entirely, and the spread 

 seems to be mainly in the spring. 



