266 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



tive. From the fact that the early varieties of the peach seem most sub- 

 ject to the disease, many growers have given them up entirely. In seasons 

 when damp, muggy weather prevails, it is doubtful if the rot can be entirely 

 kept in check by fungicides, but under fairly favorable conditions there 

 will be little if any loss from this disease, if Bordeaux mixture is used as 

 directed for the treatment of the peach-curl, and of course there will be no 

 additional expense. When we consider the loss that often occurs from even 

 one of these diseases, it should induce every fruitgrower to make use of 

 this simple and cheap remedy. 



In case the month of July is wet and lowery, there will be danger that 

 the early applications of Bordeaux mixture' may not be sufficient to hold 

 the rot in check, while in case of the plum, the shot-hole fungus may 

 need treatment. For late varieties that will not be harvested for six or 

 eight weeks, the Bordeaux mixture may again be used, but for the August 

 sorts it will be better to use the ammoniacal solution of copper carbonate, 

 although this should not be used within three weeks of the time the fruit 

 is to be gathered. 



PEACH-LEAF CURL. (Exoascics deformans. Berk.) 



This disease, which is known to be of a fungus nature, is in wet, cold 

 seasons very destructive to the foliage of peach trees, often causing all of 

 the older leaves to drop from the tree, and the result is that much of the 

 fruit also falls. The tissues of the affected leaves become thick and later 

 on are blistered and distorted. At first they are of a light olive color 

 but, later on, as the spores develop, they are covered with a whitish 

 powder. It was at first thought that as the conditions that favored 

 the appearance of the disease (wet, cold weather) were so unsuited to suc- 

 cess in the application of fungicides, that at best they would prove only 

 partially satisfactory, but although the past season was so wet during May 

 and June that in some parts of the state the disease was quite trouble- 

 some, the results were unexpectedly favorable. At the college little curl 

 appeared, but along the lake shore many growers were considerably 

 troubled and where tested the fungicides were of value in keeping the dis- 

 ease in subjection. 



When in attendance at the summer meeting of the State Horticultural 

 society at Shelby it was my pleasure in company with others to visit manj 

 of the neighboring peach and plum orchards. The curl was quite pre- 

 valent, but where the trees were sprayed a marked difference was noticed. 

 In the extensive orchard of A. Adams about one half of the trees 

 received a single application of Bordeaux mixture after the disease 

 appeared, but at the time of our visit (June 15) the effect was very notice- 

 able, as the loss of foliage and fruit was far less upon the sprayed trees. 

 At our South Haven sub-station, as will be seen by the accompanying 

 report of Prest. Lyon, the curl was almost completely held in check, 

 although fully half of the leaves had fallen from unsprayed trees in the 

 neighborhood. 



With such a cheap and effective remedy at hand, this disease need not 

 be especially feared. To secure the best results the trees should be 

 thoroughly sprayed with Bordeaux mixture in the spring before the leaves 

 start, the application should be repeated within a week after the petals 

 have fallen, and a third application should be made in about three weeks. If 

 very rainy, a more frequent use of the fungicide may be necessary, and an 



