Miscellaneous. 341 



with active fungicides, is imperative. Copper sulphate solution or 

 Bordeaux should be used, and two applications, in many cases, 

 ought to suffice — one with a four-pound solution before tree growth 

 starts, and one with a two-pound solution just before the buds 

 begin to swell. As the tree comes into full bloom and the polleni- 

 zation has taken place, use the dust, and repeat when the fruit is 

 set. An occasional repetition till the fruit is ready to harvest will 

 be beneficial in all badly infested districts. 



3. Leaf Curl. — This disease is sometimes called simply 

 "Curl ;" by some Frenching — why, I know not. These are all pro- 

 duced by the same fungus, and are known wherever the peach is 

 grown. The affected leaves become distorted, crumpled, enlarged, 

 curled, and in early summer fall to the ground. If the season be 

 favorable, new leaves soon put forth, but the tree is overtaxed and 

 the fruit stunted. The loss in the United States from this source 

 has amounted to $3,000,000 in a single year. In 1898 New York 

 estimated her loss to be many thousands of dollars. It is much 

 worse near bodies of water, or moist locations subject to heavy 

 dew, than in dry regions or elevated situations. 



Messrs. Lodeman and Wilcox think that this fungus grows 

 also inside the terminal portions of the young twigs, and causes 

 them to become swollen and paler in color ; that these swollen por- 

 tions constitute the only home of its perennial portions ; that here 

 the white threads or spawn, from which the fungus is developed, 

 called mycelia, live through the winter, and that the infection in 

 the spring time takes place from the mycelia present. Mr. Pierce 

 is of the opinion that the spring infection is due to the spores of 

 the fungus, and not to a perennial mycelium. Notwithstanding 

 this opposite opinion, they both recommend the use of copper sprays 

 as the remedy. Spray as for brown rot, and you will surely reap 

 large benefits therefrom. In California they find that winter 

 spraying for San Jose scale holds the leaf curl in check. If Mr. 

 Pierce, upon whose authority this statement is made, is right, we 

 can put the more confidence in proper spraying as a remedy. 



4. Leaf Rust. — In general appearance this disease is very 

 similar to leaf blight on plum or cherry foliage. The affected areas 

 are dull red upon the upper surface and yellowish-brown on the 

 lower surface of the leaf. The spots are small, but often the foli- 

 age drops prematurely. If not checked, this fungus causes serious 

 loss; but fortunately it is more easily controlled than those pre- 

 ceding. As soon as the leaves appear, dust thoroughly with the 

 dry fungicide mentioned above. Repeat the application in a few 



