PEAR BLIGHT IN ILLINOIS. 



all repeatedly saw an animalcula3, which, under the great power of the glass, much re- 

 sembled, in color and shape, the common " sow-bug," (as it is called,) running among 

 the fibres of the bark, with about the same ease and freedom that a pig would run in a 

 thicket. But we could none of us decide whether this animalcule was a cause, or only a 

 consequence of the disease — as multitudes of coarser insects will always be found around 

 dead bark — evidently only because it is dead — and therefore gives them a proper nidus. 



I made however, on this hint, a strong wash of soap suds and tobacco water, scraped 

 all the trees thoroughly root and branch, and washed them all over, removing and burn- 

 ing every dead piece of limb or bark. I also threw about one peck of coal ashes from a 

 steam mill around the trunk of each tree. I was then obliged to leave for several weeks 

 for the east. 



On ray return I was rejoiced to see all my pear trees greatly improved in health and 

 general appearance. But whether the effect was to be ascribed to the changes in season, 

 or to the treatment, or both, T cannot say as yet. 



I shall continue my experiments next season, with some hope of ascertaining the pre- 

 sence of Fungus or animalculte, and a remedy for the same, if they exist, and hope others 

 will do the same, and to prompt this research or inquiry is the sole object of this present 

 paper. 



Meantime I think the following points established: 



1. It is certain that this form of blight differs from all others mentioned above, and from 

 all other forms we have ever before had in this place. 



2. It is certain that it begins its final destruction on the outer bark of the larger limbs, 

 by a peculiar, though at first invisible poisonous blotch, which first throws up a poison, 

 or something analagous to it, that kills the terminal shoot — while many feet of perfectly 

 sound wood, bark, and leaves, may lie between the dead top and fatal spot, until at last 

 the return current of sap kills all down to this blotch, and often below. 



3. If this blotch is found, and all the dead parts thoroughly removed, especially if washed 

 in spirits turpentine and lamp black, carefully, the limb above may be saved without am- 

 putation, but if any dead or poisonous bark is left, it will generally keep spreading from 

 year to year, till all is dead. 



4. It is probable that the disease really begins near the ground in the neck of the tree 

 or its roots, and that the blotches in the crotches and rough places of bark above noted, 

 are merely a secondary symptom of the disease, though they always precede the dying of 

 the twigs. 



5. It is probable that the black specks on the leaves in fall, and the red carbuncled spots 

 on the bursting buds and younger leaves in spring and summer, are also premonitory 

 symptoms of the same dreadful disease, which takes several years to run its full course. 



All spots on the leaves and branches being an effort of the tree to throw off the annual- 

 ly accumulating disease, and the deadly blotches in the crotches and consequent dying of 

 branches, only the fatal catastrophe of the previous course. 



I ought more properly to ask if these things are not so. Let our friends this spring 

 scrape away the dirt and carefully examine the condition of the necks of tlieir pear tices 

 under ground, and see if they do not find indications of a scurvy, rustj^, disese; then 

 let them examine all the bark above, especially all rough places, and see if the dead bark 

 is peeling off and growing healthy as it ought to do, or cleaving down and turning red and 

 black 



Then let them notice the condition of the blotches on the leaves in summer — of the 

 in spring — and see if they do not find all this followed sooner or later, with sudden death 



