THE DISEASES OF THE PEACH TREE. 2S 



"Poor soil and over-cropping, together with careless or indiflPerent culture, 

 will develop the disease when already latent in the trees; and this is a predis- 

 posing cause. 



" SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE. 



"The production upon the branches of very slender, wiry shoots, a few 

 inches long, bearing starved, diminutive leaves. The leaves are very narrow 

 and small, quite distinct from the natural size, and are either pale yellow cr 

 destitute of color. 



"The premature ripening of the fruit. This takes place from two to four 

 weeks earlier than the proper season. The first season of the disease it grows 

 nearly to its natural size, but is always marked externally (whatever may be 

 the natural color) with specks and large spots of purplish red. Internally the 

 flesh is more deeply colored,_ except around the stone. 



"Either of the foregoing symptoms (and sometimes the second appears in 

 advance of the first) are undeniable signs of the Yellows. 



"MEAIS'S OF DISSEMINATION. 



"By the intermingling of healthy roots with those of diseased trees. 



*'By planting a healthy tree in a hole from whence a diseased tree has 

 recently been removed. 



*' By a knife, in taking out grubs, or in pruning healthy and diseased trees 

 indiscriminately. 



" By propagation, — budding from diseased trees, or budding on stocks grown 

 from diseased pits. 



"Also, though this opinion is by no means approved, by the wind, and by 

 the bees and insects." 



This, after a most thorough examination, was the extent of the information 

 to be had from documents, books, and authorities on the subject of the Yellows. 

 No person in tljis fruit region had any practical acquaintance with the disease, 

 and might have sent, just as did the fruit groivers of Nortliivestern Michigan, 

 diseased fruit to a pomological exhibition, thinking it a true variety or a neio 

 variety ; indeed, the great m;ijority of the fruit growers in the St. Joseph fruit 

 region regarded the subject unworthy of serious consideration. The article 

 Lad, however, the effect of creating a general interest, and close observers 

 directed a careful eye to every enfeebled tree. Mrs. Wilson, a colored woman, 

 poured boiling suds upon a peach tree and made it thrive. Kosa Smith Horsey, 

 another colored woman, claims she cured a diseased tree with hot water and 

 ashes. Eev. Mr. Taylor used hot water and ashes upon his trees with beneficial 

 effects. Mr. W. H. Judson, P. 0, Benton Harbor, treated his trees to ashes 

 and good manure, and though some persons pronounced them fatally diseased, 

 he nevertheless secured one of the best paying crops, and, as he claims, as per- 

 fect a crop of fine fruit as the trees ever produced. Mr. A. R. Nowlen, P. 0. 

 Benton Harbor, tried various remedies on different trees, and found the appli- 

 cation of simple hot water to the top and branches of a peach tree produced a 

 -decided effect in checking the progress of the disease. It restored color to the 

 leaves of the trees, and caused the fruit to ripen well. 



Mr. M. S. Owen of Benton, P. 0. Benton Harbor, found great benefit to his 



orchard by slitting the bark of the trunk and limbs of the peach tree, whereby 



the ligature of the bark was relieved and a new healthy bark formed. Mr. 



Owen claims that by this simple treatment the Yellows may in every instance 



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