THE SOUTH HAVEN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 509 



To the Honorable Legislature of tlie State of Michigan : 



The disease known as tbe "Yellows" in the peach lias made its appearance in our 

 orcbards, by nursery trees baving been received from sections affected with the Yellows, 

 "which trees first show the disease in the premature ripening of the entire first crop of 

 peaches some two weeks in advance of the other trees of the same variety ; the diseased 

 peaches becoming unusually red, especially at the pit, and acquire an insipid and unwhole- 

 some taste as they approach maturity, if the diseased trees are allowed to remain, tbe 

 neighboring trees become affected, and in a few j^ears the entire orchard becomes diseased, 

 the trees developing weak and feeble growths, having small, narrow, yellowish leaves, after 

 which the trees gradually die. 



Pollen taken from the anthers of blossoms on diseased trees and used to fertilize the pis- 

 tils of blossoms on healthy trees conveys the disease of such trees. 



The first appearance of the disease in these identical peaches can be seen, usually, one 

 month previous to their ripening, by the appearance of small red specks next to the pit — 

 first at the stem and then all over the pit. These daily increase in number, and gradually 

 extend through the larger veins into the smaller ones until every cell contains one or more 

 of these specks. Seen under a powerful microscope the specks resemble small red globules 

 in the fidid of the cells. When exposed to 180 deg. Fahrenheit in a fruit drier the globules 

 dry and remain in the cellular tissues. 



The next appearance of the disease in tbe tree is seen in the starting out of dormant buds 

 on the affected limb, towards tbe trunk of the tree. The following year tbe peaches on the 

 remainder of the limb become diseased ; the sap in the limb acquiring an orange color, a 

 slimy touch and sickish smell. As the disease increased it can be traced down the trunk of 

 the tree, which is frequently followed by tufts of unnatural growth springing up at the base 

 of the tree, the new wood and bark on the tree acc[uiring a softer, lighter and more spongy 

 growth with the development of the disease. 



TJie peach, apricot, nectarine, and almond are not exempt from the spread of the disease, 

 even though budded on plum stalks. Vigor, health, age, soil, drainage, exposure, cutting off 

 the affected limb, slitting the trunk, applying ashes, lye, salt, potash, superphosphates, or 

 hot water, do not prevent the spread of the disease in the tree or orchard when once 

 attacked. Nothing but the axe applied promptly and vigorously to the roots of the trees 

 Las prevented the spread of the disease. From the fact that the disease is first seen in the 

 prematurely ripened and highly colored peach, before it has spread, by promptly removing 

 the tree then and there the disease is efftctually destroyed. By this means it has been en- 

 tirely removed from our orchards. 



Mr. Hurlbut, chairman of the committee apijointed to draftabill to prevent 

 the spread of the yellows in the peach, not being present at the opening of the 

 meeting, at the reqttest of the society and with the consent of the rest of the 

 committee, T. T. Lyon read a bill for that purpose, one of its essential features 

 being that each township, at its annual election, must elect to come under the 

 law by the appointment of a commissioner who shall have the general man- 

 agement of the disease. The bill was accepted by the society and held for dis- 

 cussion. When "W. H. Hurlbut came in with his bill, which was read and 

 accepted, the objection to this bill, as a whole, was raised that it did not pro- 

 vide for the appointment of a suitable person to look after the disease. 



L. H. Bailey said as far as South Ilaven was concerned we had no need of a 

 law. 



C. H. "Wigglesworth thought there might be need of it hereafter. He said 

 that taking action against nursery trees was carrying the law too far. 



C. H. Wigglesworth said a man might be sued for having diseased trees, but 

 could not sue a man in a neighboring State who raised the trees. 



Mr. Hurlbut replied that it should not prevent a law for ourselves. 



Mr. Bailey said, Buy the trees of home nurseries. 



A. T. Linderman said a penal law would prevent irresponsible persons ped- 

 dling diseased trees. 



A. S. Dyckman said a summary law shotild be passed for the entire destruc- 

 tion of the yellows in the State; the law was just and right, and ought to be 

 enforced. 



