PAET YI.— DISEASES OF THE PEAK. 



The Pear has several times in this country been 

 subject to most fotal epidemics. Men and animals 

 are not alone the victims of pestilence, but I^ature 

 suffers these violent perturbations through all her 

 dominions. It is not surprising that the sudden loss 

 of one tenth of a line pear orchard should discourage 

 and alarm the fruit-grower ; still he ought not to forget 

 that its cause is exceptional, and will pass away. 

 These diseases, though prevailing for several seasons 

 in succession, occur only at long intervals ; and the 

 period of a disease being terminated, we may usually 

 calculate upon exemption from it for a considerable 

 time. 



WrXTEE, OR FEOZEK SAP BLIGHT. 



Tlie diseases of the Pear, known by Pomologists as 

 Leaf-Blight, Summer-Blight, Winter-Blight, Insect- 

 Blight, and Frozen-Sap-Blight, are generally, at pre- 

 sent, recognized under the two latter terms, though 

 we think the leaf-blight an entirely distinct disease. 

 Tliere has been so much speculation upon the causes 

 of Winter or Frozen /Saj? Blighty and so many reme- 

 dies recommended, that we are not prepared to adopt 

 any of the theories in exphanation of it, or any nos- 

 trum as a speciiic. 



The pear tree is a greedy absorber of fluids, and 

 ( 173 ) 



