368 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Treatment. — While scab is a surface parasite it is not as readily controlled 

 by fungicides as might be expected from that fact. Nevertheless persistent spray- 

 ing with Bordeaux mixture has been found to materially reduce the amount of 

 scab. 



Fig.520. — Peaches affected with the [scab fungus, showing [gum oozing from cracks in the 



fruit. (Original.) 



LITTLE PEACH. 



Within the. past few years a serious disease of the peach which has come to 

 be known as "Little Peach" has appeared in the western fruit belt of Michisran. 

 Dr. Erwin F. Smith of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, who 

 has made extensive investigations of the peach yellows disease has also studied 

 the little peach and from a paper by him on this subject the symptoms which 

 characterize the disease have been taken. 1. The Little Peach, as its name im- 

 plies, produces a dwarfing of the fruit. 2. The fruit is retarded in ripening. 

 3. There is no red spotting of skin or flesh. 4. The leaves are dwarfed and yel- 

 low from the beginning. 5. The winter buds do not sprout in Peach Yellows. 

 In most cases these symptoms differ decidedly from those of yellows with which 

 this trouble is apt to \<e associated by persons not familiar with that disease. 



So far no definite cause leading to this disease has been discovered, although 

 the subject has been carefully studied during the past season. So far as noted, 

 the trouble is not confined to trees of any particular age, variety, or location 

 as to soils, although the majority of attacks seem to occur on trees over five 

 years of age and on the heaviest bearers such as Chili, Gold Drops and Smock. 



While no specific organism of a parasitic nature has been assigned as the true 

 cause of little peach the trouble is apparently one originating in the under- 

 ground portions of the tree, thus leading to the reduction or cutting off of the 

 water supply. Thus far the only method which seems capable of holding this 

 disease in check is the prompt removal and destruction of the affected trees. 

 This is the treatment which is being followed by the most extensive growers of 

 the peach and the same that has been successfully employed in checking the 

 extension of the yellows. 



Other fungous diseases of the peach of less importance to Michigan peach 

 growers. 



BUST. 



(Puccinia pruni-spinosae Pers.) 



The rust which attacks the leaves of the peach in some portions of the country 

 also affects the leaves of the cherry and plum. This fungus is closely related to 

 the rust of grain (Pucciuia graminis) and causes rust-like spots on the lower 



