PEACH YELLOWS. 233 



examination by some one familiar with the disease, because where orchards 

 are small and scattering the disease might remain localized and be overlooked 

 for many years. 



Yellows is now more or less prevalent in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New 

 York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Vir- 

 ginia, Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario. Very likely it occurs to a considerable 

 extent in Indiana and Illinois, and probably also to a limited extent in some 

 parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, G-eorgia, and more southern states. I am not 

 •able to determine the exact southern limits of the disease. It should be said, 

 however, that its presence is generally denied in all the Gulf states, where also 

 it may be added that peach raising is not an important industry. I have my- 

 self seen the disease in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West 

 Virginia, and Michigan. 



This disease, so far as I can determine, does not occur anywhere in Europe. 

 Whether it occurs in China, Japan, Algiers, Cape Colony, New Zaaland, 

 New South Wales, Argentine Republic, or other parts of the globe where 

 peaches are extensively planted, is a matter for future inquiry, especially with 

 reference to the origin of the disease or to its possible introduction from this 

 country. At present the United States appears to have exclusive possession 

 of this most insidious and destructive disease. 



EARLY HISTORY OF PEACH-GROWING IN" THE UNITED STATES. 



Peach yellows is not a disease of recent appearance. It has been known 

 for some time and the literature of the subject ia extensive. For a better 

 understanding of the present situation it is desirable to learn as much as 

 possible of its early history, and also of the early history of the peach in this 

 country. 



It is uncertain exactly when peach trees were first introduced into this 

 country, but it was prior to 1633. From two entries in the records of the 

 governor and company of the Massachusetts bay in New England, it is prob- 

 able that they were introduced into the New England region soon after the 

 year 1629. On page 24 of the first volume of these records is an undated 

 memorandum of things " to provide to send for New England," among 

 which are included '* stones of all sorts of fruits, as peaches, plums, filberts, 

 cherries." Somewhat later, in a letter of April 17, 1629, from Gravesend, 

 England, by the governor and deputy of the New England company to Capt. 

 John Endicott, then " governor and council for London's plantation in the 

 Massachusetts bay in New England," we read (p. 392) : 



As for fruit stones and kernels, the time of year fits not to send them now, so we 

 f)ropose to do it pr. our next. 



In 1633 the Dutch sea captain, DeVries, found peach trees in Virginia in 

 the garden of George Minifie, on the James river, between Blue Point and 

 Jamestown. They were the first seen by him in North America. The follow- 

 ing is copied from the entry in his journal : 



Arrived at Littletown, where Meniflt lives. He has a garden of two acres, full of 

 primroses, apple, pear, and cherry trees. ♦ * * Around the house were planted 

 peach trees, which were hardly in bloom. 



Minifie settled there in 1623. 



In 1635 appeared the following mention of peach growing in Maryland: 



