54 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



felt lining being placed next to the trunk. The 

 iron circle thus placed is provided with a coil 

 spring which is calculated to keep the felt lin- 

 ing sufficiently close to the tree to prevent 

 insects or worms climbing the trunk and get- 

 ting at the blossoms or growing fruit. Mr. 

 Wm. Hendry, of Berlin, invested $8.00 in these 

 devices some time ago. His trees, however, 

 during last summer, showed unmistakable 

 signs of bad health, and this spring a number 

 of his best plum trees are dead. Mr. Hendry 

 never suspected that the insecticide rim was 

 the cause of his trees going wrong until lately, 

 when he found that wherever one of these 



rims had been placed around a tree the bark 

 was dead, or nearly so. This is a matter of 

 grave importance to fruit growers, wherever 

 this device has been used, and if the general 

 experience be the same as Mr. Hendry's the 

 loss will be heavy, as large numbers of these 

 rims are in use. 



In view of these facts it would be wise for 

 all persons having these rims in use to inspect 

 their trees and see whether they are being in- 

 jured. It is well for everyone to know that 

 the application of any kind of sticky or gum- 

 my substance around the trunk of a tree is in- 

 jurious and liable to kill it. 



THE NEW PEACH DISEASE. 



INHERE seems to be no end to the trou- 

 bles that beset the fruit grower, and 

 one of those that has lately taken hold of 

 the peach trees is known by the rather 

 strange name, " Little Peach." It has 

 doubtless been gradually spreading for a 

 good many years, but has only attracted at- 

 tention within the last two or more years, 

 and in the western part of Michigan, prin- 

 cipally. 



The principal symptom is the stoppage or 

 failure of the fruit in its growth in the early 

 part of the summer; and when this once 

 takes place there is almost no further de- 

 velopment. These little peaches are scat- 

 tered over the tree, and often on the same 

 branches with those of normal size. It 

 does not seem to occur or take effect equally 

 on all varieties nor to be worse on feeble 

 tahn on thrifty trees. However, there are 

 other causes for the fruit not developing 

 properly, such as poor soil or lack of tillage, 

 and it is often difficult or impossible to de- 

 tect the true Little Peach disease from such 

 troubles. In all of them th'e fruit is more 

 fuzzy than is normal and under sized, but 



where there are peaches of both normal and 

 abnormal sizes it is wise to watch for fur- 

 ther ailment. 



There is a gradual turning of the leaves 

 to a bronzy color and a slight curling. 

 Gradually the tree dwindles, in spite of ma- 

 nuring and the best of treatment and finally 

 dies. All ages and sizes of trees are af- 

 fected, and the spread is very rapid. The 

 disease breaks out very suddenly, and often 

 in orchards where there is no evident means 

 of infection. 



The true cause is yet a mystery. Some 

 think it is the effect of a fungus on the roots 

 while other scientific experts say that this is 

 a mistake and that it is safe to plant new 

 trees where others have died from the dis- 

 ease. 



As to remedy there seems to be none but 

 the axe. This often takes the whole or 

 greater part of thehard. There should be 

 no dallying. It may be that something 

 more may be learned of the cause and cure, 

 but it may result as with the other dread 

 peach disease, the yellows. — Vick's Family 

 Magazine. 



