mSECT-BLIGHT ^LEAF-BLIGHT. 177 



continued, or wide-spread, the fruit is lessened in size, 

 iind sometimes refuses to ripen. It is only sei»ious, 

 when appearing upon Pear seedlings, as it checks 

 their growth, and prevents their being budded during 

 the season of its attack. 



It is very probable that the winter-killing of seed- 

 lings results in great measure from the previous feeble 

 growth, as the roots produced are in exact proportion 

 to the quantity of leaves, and the active vitality of the 

 leaves being destroyed, the roots are too feebly devel- 

 oped to retain their hold in the soil. A curious fact 

 in the history of this disease is, its confining its attacks 

 almost entirely to seedlings and wild pears. A graft 

 or bud of the finer varieties, of the greatest luxuriance 

 of foliage, may not exhibit a single symptom of this 

 disease, while the leaves of the stock will be entirely 

 blackened. Its approach may be looked for, when- 

 ever warm and abundant rains are succeeded by hot, 

 bleaching sunshine. The leaves of pear seedlings 

 being very succulent, and in such a season as just 

 described, accustomed to a moist atmosphere and a 

 shaded sky, are not prepared for the great change, 

 and consequently are scorched and blackened. When 

 occurring in the seed-bed, I do not doubt tliat the 

 close planting of the young trees occasions this result. 



