1890-91.] PEACH YELLOWS. 211 



" That it is practically worthless for the following reasons : 



1st. A petition of 50 ratepayers is necessary to secure the appoint- 

 ment of an inspector, if council is not disposed to appoint one 

 without. 



2nd. The inspector can act only on a written complaint. 



3rd. The fine is trifling both for neglect to destroy trees and for 

 selling fruit. 



4th. No provision is made for the immediate and complete destruc- 

 tion of trees and fruit in case of neglect or refusal on part of the 

 owner to comply with the law." 



And now to continue the history of the spread and destruction by 

 yellows. It spread throughout Michigan, and that State from being the 

 foremost one in the world for peach culture has fallen of late years to a 

 much lower place, and to cite figures — the number of acres in peach 

 orchards in 1874 was 6000, making about 654,000 trees, while in 1884 

 the numbers had fallen respectively to only 503 and 54,827. 



The same tale is reproduced in each State where the orchards have 

 become infected with the disease — -a few States are said to be exempt, 

 but some uncertainty prevails as to the truth of the assertion. 



Let us now pass on to the symptoms, better styled signs. 



Fruit.^OnQ of the first signs noticed in the early part of the century 

 and before the disease had been definitely described and located, was the 

 fact that some fruit ripened prematurely, and it was soon found that this 

 was one of the first or almost premonitory signs of the affection. This 

 early ripening is irregular in length of time, varying from a few days to even 

 six weeks, but the average is generally a ripening two or three weeks in 

 advance of the proper time. Along with this sign may be mentioned 

 the characteristic changes in the coloring of the fruit. As a rule there is 

 more color than usual, but along with that is the " coarsely blotched " 

 appearance with red or purple spots, these spots being irregular in 

 size and striking in appearance, giving to the fruit a mottled or 

 speckled look. They are, as a rule, well marked, being much darker than 

 the background. Sometimes they coalesce, and the fruit then presents 

 the appearance of a dark red or crimson color, [I might note here 

 that the sure diagnosis should not be made until the fruit is opened, as 

 we found in one variety in an orchard the small dots on the surface but 

 not at all in the substance of the peach.] In peaches which are diseased 

 these spots are not confined to the covering, but on cutting into the fruit 



