DISEASES OF FRUIT TREES 149 



fruits by scabs and epots. Preventive measures are to spray 

 with Bordeaux Mixture when the fruit is set, and again three 

 or four weeks later. Dead and diseased shoots and branches 

 must be carefully cut out at the winter pruning. Trees on which 

 the fruit is affected with Brown Rot should be similarly treated, 

 and, in addition, all the fruits which turn dark brown or black 

 and remain on the tree ought to be gathered and burnt. Those 

 that fall should also be disposed of. 



Fear. The Pear Scab often disfigures large quantities of 

 fruit, and the trees must be dealt with in the manner advised 

 for preventing Apple Scab. 



Plum. The silver leaf disease of the Plum is apparently 

 increasing; it is far more noticeable in gardens now than it 

 was a few years ago. The Victoria Plum seems peculiarly liable 

 to attack. The presence of this disease is easily recognised by 

 the silvery-grey appearance of the leaves on infected branches. 

 There is no known cure at present, though some good is done 

 by cutting off and burning diseased branches and by an appli- 

 cation of sulphate of iron to the soil about the trees in autumn. 



Peach and Nectarine. Chief of the diseases affecting these 

 fruits is Peach Leaf Curl or Blister, the effect of which is to raise 

 reddish blisters on the foliage and seriously to affect the growth 

 of the tree. Spraying with Bordeaux Mixture in spring, after 

 the fruit is set, is recommended, and badly diseased shoots are 

 best cut off and burnt. A preparation called Medeola is said to 

 cure Peach Leaf Curl. Mildew is often troublesome to the 

 grower of Peaches and other fruits. The trees ought to be 

 sprayed occasionally with liver of sulphur solution, J oz. to 

 1 gallon of water, in spring and early summer after the flowers 

 have faded. 



Gooseberry. Gooseberry mildew is one of the most trouble- 

 some diseases of fruit trees. It is important to cut off and 

 burn badly affected shoots, to gather and burn fallen leaves in 

 autumn, and to spray with liver of sulphur solution in early 

 summer ; several sprayings should be given every two or three 

 weeks. 



