THE PEAR-BLIGHT. 235 



Question. While Professor Farlow is kind enough to 

 answer our questions, I wish to ask him if he can give us 

 any information in regard to the cause and prevention of 

 pear and quince blight. 



Professor Farlow. The pear-blight has caused so much 

 trouble throughout all the eastern portion of the country, 

 that of course I have been asked a great many times to study 

 it. I have examined it, and I am free to say I do not know 

 what the cause of it is. The entomologists say they have 

 studied it, and they cannot find out the cause. It may be 

 caused by a fungus, or not : there is not the slightest proof 

 that it is. Although a thousand and one fungi have been 

 shown as the cause of it, they are all common things, that 

 grow upon trees of various kinds ; and that which is found 

 upon every thing cannot be the cause of any special disease 

 on a particular tree. It may not be a reproach to the 

 entomologists that the cause has not been found. It is like a 

 great many other tilings. People say, " Where are you to 

 look for the cause of the disease ? " Of course, " cause " is 

 hot used in this connection in the sense of " final cause," as 

 in theology, but simply the immediate cause. Nobody has 

 been able to find fungus growing on a limb of a pear-tree 

 affected by blight. It ought to be the simplest matter in the 

 world to find it if it is there. If it is caused by fungus, 

 it is because the threads of the fungus go down the limb. 

 Just there is the key to the whole ; and no one has yet 

 found the fungus there. 



Capt. Moore. I desire to offer at this time, for the con- 

 sideration of the Board and of the meeting, the following 

 motion : — 



Voted, That the State Board of Agriculture express their sense of 

 gratitude to the citizens of Waltham and the Waltham Farmers' Club, 

 for their cordial reception and many courtesies, which have added so 

 much to the success of the meetings of the Board and the pleas ui-e of its 

 members. 



I offer this vote by the direction of the Committee of 

 Arrangements and members of the Board whom I have con- 

 sulted, because it is no more than just and due, and every 

 word of it is true. [Applause.] 



Mr. Whittaker. I desire to second the motion to tender 



