EXPERIMENT STATION KKl'ORT. 551 



mixture. Tlic write has followed the trials in sprayin<r; where the 

 loaves were saved to the trees and the heavy ero]) of fruit matured 

 handsomely by treating the orchard to ruprani, whicii is a mixture 

 consisting of — carbonate of cop]ier, tive ounces; strong aimnorii;i, 

 three quarts, and water, fifty gallons. This mixture has the advan- 

 tage over the Bordeaux in Ix'ing without lime and not coating the 

 fruit seriously. Some pear growers use the Bordi'aux for tlu> first 

 three sprayings, one before blossoming and two at intervals of about 

 two weeks, afterwards, followed by the cu})ram as the fruit reach.'s 

 larger size. 



The third pear enemy is the Scab (Fusidadium piriiiuw Fcl.), 

 which is easily mistaken for the leaf blight, just considered, but a 

 close examination shows the spots upon the leaves to be more super- 

 ficial. The fungus, by means of a network of fine, dark-l)rown 

 threads, becomes fastened to the leaf and produces a patch, suggest- 

 ing the common name of scab. It grows, also, upon the twigs, and 

 frequently seriously defaces the fruit. Wlicn it attacks tho young 

 pear, just as the ilower falls, a missliapen and worthless fruit is often 

 the result. This fungus is very closely related to the ona causing 

 the scab upon apples, -and should receive the same treatment, namely, 

 at least three sprayings Avith Bordeaux mixture at intervals of about 

 two weeks, beginning at the time the buds are opening, but not while 

 the flowers are in Idoom. 



Aside from the fire I)light, leaf blight and scab, above considered, 

 there are other fungi that prey upon the pear, but these arc the 

 chief enemies to this crop. During this season there have been speci- 

 mens of twigs and foliage sent to the Station that were almost black 

 with a growth of various "soot fungi." These usually follow the 

 injuries of insects, and the black coating often develops from the 

 exudation produced by ants and other of the tribe. It is seen that, 

 when a pear orchard suffers from a falling of its foliage, the trouble 

 may be due to one or more of many causes. Any increase in the 

 rainfall will usually be followed by a greater development of these 

 enemies. As a general rule, in sections where pears are liable to 

 suffer, it is well to anticipate the troubles by spraying the orchard 

 early in the spring, as above indicated, and continue the applications 

 throughout the season should the weather ho fnvorablc for the de- 

 velopment of the diseases. 



