470 TIEPOKT OF THE SECRETAET OF THE 



larger branches. The leaves are very narrow and small, quite 

 distinct from those of the natural size, and are either pale 

 yellow or destitute of color. 



*■' 2. The premature ripening of the fruit. This takes plac© 

 from two to four weeks earlier than the proper season * * * 

 always marked externally (whatever may be the natural color) , 

 with specks and large spots of purplish red. Internally, the 

 flesh is more deeply colored, especially around the stone, than 

 in the natural state. 



" Lastly, it is the universal opinion of all orchardists that 

 the Yellows is a contagious disease." 



He gives his own opinion that " the contagious nature of 

 this malady is an unsettled point."' 



Another symptom not noticed by Downing is a peculiar 

 watery condition of the ripening peach, the taste being insipid ; 

 and the peach, if left upon the tree, often dries up into a 

 brownish mass, remaining attached to the tree ; and the branch 

 upon which such decayed peaches remain, invariably dies, 

 never leaving ont on the return of spring; whereas, if the 

 peaches are removed, the branch may live through part of the 

 succeeding season. 



MODE OF PROPAGATIOX OF THE DISEASE. 



Much diversity of opinion exists on this point. Some sup- 

 pose it is propagated by use of diseased peach pits in producing 

 nursery stocks, or, at least, the use of pits from trees of 

 enfeebled vitality. Others suppose it is the result of budding 

 trees for many generations of the tree life ; i. e., the dying out 

 of a variety from repeated propagation by budding or grafting, 

 instead of producing a tree by seed. Some persons believe a 

 variety of fruit has a limited period of life, just as any 

 individual tree has, and as the tree which is the origin of any 

 variety will grow old and die, so its offspring propagated by 

 budding, must, as a variety, grow old and die like its parent. 



Another large class believe the disease is contagious, and 

 capable, like small-pox in the human subject, of spreading 



