52 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



respecting these diseases, yet some observations gained from a long and 

 painful experience may not be without interest or profit. 



Twenty years ago the peach yellows was especially virulent in parts 

 of southwestern Michigan, not only wiping out whole orchards, but in 

 instances taking all of the peach trees in whole townships. Yet while 

 this is true there are districts in that te.rriton^ which have continued 

 to grow peaches, and, except for the severe freeze of half a dozen years 

 ago, southAvestern Michigan would now no doubt be growing peaches in 

 as large quantities as ever. In spite of all its untoward vicissitudes 

 that section still markets large quantities of this luscious fruit. The 

 yellows may be said to be virtually eradicated. Nobody there in the 

 strictly peach-growing sections fears it. In the last ten years I have not 

 seen ten cases of it. Rut in places where people have not yet learned the 

 lesson of vigilance the losses caused by yellows is large. 



With the little peach the progress in the work of extermination has 

 not been so salutary. First making its appearance some twenty years 

 ago the experience of growers with the yellows led them to wage war 

 on this disease as well, but the fight has not terminated in the same 

 successful issue, for it is still wdth us, and in some instances to an extent 

 to cause some apprehension. Like the yellows it seems to be more 

 virulent in some years than in others, and the past season seems to have 

 been one of the unfortunate ones. The fact of its continuance is doubt- 

 less due to the obscure nature of its symptoms. It is not so readily 

 detected as the yellows and so is probably overlooked in many cases, 

 thus allowing the spread of the contagion. 



That it is possible to hold the little peach disease under complete con- 

 trol has been demonstrated. A few years ago Prof. M. B. Waite of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, undertook the work of eradi- 

 cation in co-operation with the local yellows commissioners and peach 

 growers, in four or five sections of Saugatuck township, Allegan county. 

 The territory selected was fairlv well isolated from other orchards and 

 so was comparatively free from outside infection. Every orchard in 

 this district was visited once a month during the time when the disease 

 was apparent and every diseased tree found was promptly removed and 

 destroyed. This work was continued three years, I think, and the re- 

 sult at the time appeared to be complete extermination. But the disease 

 has since made its appearance in these orchards, whether from infec- 

 tion still existing or from outside sources is not known. Quite possibly 

 it may be from the latter. But in orchards where ordinary vigilance 

 in its removal is employed it is not present to an extent that is at all 

 alarming. 



In spite of the fact that the only known means of controlling these 

 diseases is in the prompt removal and destruction of evei'y^ affected tree, 

 there are still a number of questions arising respecting them which en- 

 gage the attention of growers. WTiat is the origin and nature of these 

 maladies? 



Can vacancies be safely refilled? 



Is there not grave danger of introducing the disease through nursery 

 stock by means of pits or buds from infected trees? 



Must we go out of the peach business? 



These and other things are matters of vital importance to peach grow- 

 ers. 



