54 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



spring. I have trees now going out with old age that were planted 

 where trees were removed on account of the yellows. One of my finest 

 bearing orchards is now growing where ten years ago the trees were 

 largely taken out with little peach. A few trees are affected each year, 

 but less than one per cent were cut out this last season in this orchard. 



If a person is intending to grow peaches there are certain things he 

 must have reference to resi>ecting these maladies. He must first be lo- 

 cated in a neighborhood where all appreciate the fact that both are very 

 contagious and where all will unite in promptly destroying every affected 

 tree. Yellows commissioners are not a very certain reliance in holding 

 the diseases in check without the hearty co-operation of all. One man 

 who is careless or indifferent can cause large loss upon his immediate 

 community. A healthy public sentiment will hardly be maintained or 

 encouraged without a corps of efficient and energetic yellows commis- 

 sioners, however. See that these are appointed in every township where 

 men are presuming to grow i^eaches. This will help in building up a 

 wholesome public sentiment. 



Then eveiy groAver should familiarize himself with the characteristic 

 symptoms of both these diseases. The indications of the yellows are quite 

 jjronounced and are easily recognized, but those of the little i>each are 

 more obscure and may l>e produced by any one of half a dozen different 

 causes. A severe drouth, or lack of cultivation, or too wet ground, or 

 an injury by harrow or cultivator, or unfavorable conditions of various 

 kinds may any of them produce an appearance in the tree that may be 

 mistaken for the little peach. But it is best to give the orchard the 

 benefit of the doubt and remove every suspected tree when the disease is 

 known to exist in the orchard or the vicinity. It is better to cut out 

 half a dozen sickly trees that do not have the disease than lose several 

 times that number later with the disease because one has been allowed 

 to go over that has it. 



To recapitulate, then : 



Both yellows and little peach are very contagious and will spread 

 rapidly if allowed to stand, but if promptly removed upon the appear- 

 ance of the first symptoms may be completely controlled if not entirely 

 exterminated. 



There is small danger of introducing the diseases upon uursei-y stock 

 either from pits or buds from affected trees, as they will probably show 

 the presence of the maladies before the trees are large enough to plant. 

 If neither of the diseases exists in the vicinity of the nursery it is quite 

 safe to plant the trees. 



Diseased trees may be removed and young trees again planted in their 

 place without contracting the disease, though I have found that a bushel 

 of rich earth mixed in the soil is an advantage in giving the young tree 

 a good start. 



But if they are either of them known to exist it is necessary that all 

 shall unite in combating either of these diseases in order to keep them 

 under control. 



Where either yellows or little peach is known to exist eternal vigilance 

 is the price of growing peaches. 



