144 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



ooB elusion us to what peculiarities of soil and temperature induce the favor- 

 able conditions for the development of this fungoid vegetation. 



In the experimental gardens of the Department of Agriculture at "Washing- 

 ton, the following mixture is prepared: Place a half-bushel of lime and six 

 pounds of sulphur in a close vessel, pour over it about six gallons of boiling 

 water, adding enough cold water to keep it in a semi-fluid state until cold. It 

 is used as a wash and applied to the trees and branches as high as can be 

 reached. It should be applied two or three times during the summer. Since 

 this preparation was used, no trees thus treated have been lost, although small 

 limbs not coated Avith the mixture were attacked and destroyed. Carbolic acid 

 has also been used without any perceptible difference in the result from the 

 lime and sulphur mixture. Boiled linseed oil, applied to the trunk and limbs, 

 has been tried near Norfolk, Va., with marvelous cures, as reported. We men- 

 tion this instance of the use of an extraordinary ingredient resulting in good 

 effects as contrary to what is usually the result when using this application 

 upon the body of trees, its effects being to seriously injure the tree, if it does 

 not destroy it. 



Still another form of blight is doubtless caused by mechanical action, by the 

 rupture of tissues consequent to a sudden superabundant flow of sap. This 

 attacks only our most thrifty-growing trees, either in early spring, when vege- 

 etation first becomes active, or after a period of drouth and partial stagnation 

 of vegetation, when abundant rains suddenly force out a luxuriant growth ; 

 moderately vigorous trees are never attacked. 



It is often noticed in very vigorous trees that the bark of the trunk is split 

 longitudinally; whenever this is apparent, such trees are always free from this 

 form of blight, as the pressure upon the cellular and vascular tissues has been 

 relieved. From a series of experiments commenced in 1867, it is demonstrated 

 that trees whose bark had been longitudinally incised and divided never showed 

 any signs of this form of blight. 



Peculiar methods of culture undoubtedly influence the causes of blight ; but 

 upon this there exists a wide range of opinion. Clean culture and repeated 

 stirring of the soil, while it may in many instances be conducive to most ben- 

 eficial results, will often cause a total destruction of a pear orchard. In seasons 

 of zymotic fungoid or blight highly cultivated trees fall early victims to the 

 scourge, while those cultivated in grass with an annual top-dressing of manure 

 usually escape the contagion. 



The third form of blight caused by mechanical action is seldom found in 

 orchards where the soil is left undisturbed, but is so common in gardens or where 

 the trees are thoroughly worked that it has become only a question of time for 

 the entire destruction of one's orchard. 



In the Southern States this form of blight is the most destructive, as it has 

 become endemic to all highly cultivated soils. Wherever the land is allowed 

 to become coated with grass or weeds, but kept cut down every few weeks and an 

 annual top-dressing of manure is applied, the result has been most satisfactory 

 in an abundant crop of fruit and an almost entire freedom from blight. 



P. J. BERCKMAN, 

 JOSIAH HOOPES, 



Committee. 



