THE PEACH. 251 



some extent, by the same means it has been disseminated — 

 but the rich alluvial soils. of that region, has, in a manner, 

 limited its progress. 



Poor, sandy soil, poor cultivation, and overbearing originated 

 the Yellows, and in order to succeed in the culture of this 

 fruit, these evils must be remedied. It is particularly impor- 

 tant, for cultivators in northern latitudes, in order to over- 

 come this and other difficulties attending an uncongenial 

 climate, that they should, by careful pruning and culture, and 

 training where that is necessary, secure their orchards from 

 the destructive effects of this disease. 



Indications of the Yelloivs, by slight observers, has been 

 confounded with the appearance of the tree produced by the 

 horer^ as in both cases the decline of the tree and the color 

 of the foliage is very similar ; also the premature ripening 

 of the fruit is common in either case. It is not uncommon 

 for the trees to be attacked by both the disease and the insect, 

 and the decline of the tree is at once rapid and beyond remedy. 



Symptoms. — The Yellows is considered a constitutional 

 taint, and all intelligent orchardists consider it contagious, and 

 in accordance with this view, destroy root and branch of all 

 suspected trees. The following symptoms of infection are 

 almost infallible. 



1. The growth of shoots or twigs on the branches are slen- 

 der, wiry and almost sapless. The leaves small, thin and 

 narrow ; very different from healthy foliage. The color of 

 the leaves are either pale yellow or destitute of color. The 

 shoots are no longer grown on the extremities of the boughs, 

 but are protruded from the latent buds on the large branches 

 and on the principal portions of the stem. 



2. The premature ripening of the fruit which occurs from 

 two to three weeks in advance of the proper season. The 

 first year of the disease, the fruit grows to nearly its natural 

 size ; but ripens sooner than usual ; the following season, it 

 does not attain half that size — or even a fourth of the usual 

 size, and the color is variable, with specks and large spots of 

 dark or purplished red. Internally the flesh is deeply colored, 

 much more than a natural or healthy state, and it is more so 

 just around the stone. 



