36 VEGETABLE BLIGHTS. 



their tribe do but indicate decay within. They should of course be 

 removed at once, though the disease upon which they have fed 

 will exist there still. 



Mildew. — Blight, or Mildew, is another fungus, or Microscopic 

 Oidium growing on the young leaves and shoots of the tree. It 

 may appear at any time from Spring to Autumn. It causes first a 

 white mealy appearance of the young shoots and leaves ; which 

 then curl up, grow black, and drop off to the great detriment of 

 the trees, if the Mildew has attacked them extensively. This fungus 

 appears under certain atmospheric conditions, such as moisture 

 with a sudden prevalence of cold winds, checking growth. Its 

 remedy is well known to be sulphur, when it admits of proper 

 application, which can seldom be the case in an Orchard. The 

 common practice of whitewashing the trunks of the trees would 

 render good service in checking all Fungus Blights, if they would 

 but remember to add to every gallon of whitewash a handful of 

 sulphur to be exhaled by the sun, during the heat of summer; and 

 if too they add a handful of soot to sober down the glaring effect 

 of the whitewash, it will be a great improvement. 



Rust (Helmmthosporum pyrorwn). — This is another micro- 

 scopic Fungus, which, in cold wet summers, as in that of 1879, is 

 most destructive to the Perry Orchard. It appears in patches on 

 the leaves of the Pear trees and on the fruit, and seldom ceases to 

 spread, so long as a leaf, or a Pear, is left on the tree. RcEstelia 

 cancellata and some other microscopic plants could also be named, 

 but their presence and power of inflicting injury, depend more on 

 the season, than on any other cause ; and they admit of no remedy 

 that would be available over the extent of an Orchard. 



Vegetable Blights. — Lichens and Mosses of many kinds 

 often abound in low lying Orchards. The Lichens, commonly 

 called "Old Man's 'S>&2ixd" (Jiomali?ia fastigiata, Eveniia prunastri, 

 Usnea barbata, ^c.)., sometimes completely cover the great and 

 small branches ot the trees. They are the attendants of a damp 

 atmosphere, and derive their sustenance from it. The trees want 

 more air and sunshine, and the ground is seldom well drained, 



