DISEASES OF FRUIT TREES 675 



DISEASES OF FRUIT TREES, AND THEIR 

 REMEDIES. 



Mildew Trees are subject not only to the attacks of insects 

 and vermin, but also to various diseases. Among these mildew is 

 liable to destroy the gooseberry and the grape. As soon as mildew 

 appears upon the grape vines they should be sprinkled with sulphur, 

 which treatment should be continued, renewing it every two weeks 

 until the necessity for it has passed. When the gooseberry is subject 

 to the disease, its roots should have plenty of rotton salt hay applied 

 to them ad a mulch. Peach trees are also subject to mildew but not so 

 greatly as the gooseberry and grape. 



If lime-water is added to the suds, and the trees dusted with 

 sulphur, and powdered sulphur be used for sprinkling the trees, the 

 treatment will be as good as any which can be recommended. 



Leaf Blight This is a disease of pear trees. The leaves turn 

 black and are dropped and development of the tree is then dwarfed. 

 A rich soil kept under cultivation will assist the horticulturist in pre- 

 venting this blight. In the West apple trees are frequently injured, 

 by the same cause. There is no absolute remedy of which we are 

 aware for this disease. It will make its attack also on apple and 

 quince trees, but not so virulently as upon the pear tree. 



Black Knot This dangerous malady is peculiarly an affec- 

 tion of cherry trees and plum trees. It appears in the form of an ex- 

 crescence or swelling of irregular character upon the trees and limbs, 

 breaking out in the early summer and continuing to increase until 

 about the first of August. If not removed it will increase in strength 

 from year to year until the tree is poisoned to death; and it is 

 contagious also, spreading from one tree to another in the same 

 orchard. 



Mice Mice frequently destroy trees which are in early growth 

 by girdling them. As winter approaches they locate their nesting 

 place in the grass standing about the trees, and unless protection is 

 afforded there is danger that the young orchard will be entirely 

 ruined. One way to guard against this is piling about the trees 

 before the snow flies, a foot or a foot and a half in depth of manure, 

 packing it snugly, and keeping straw out of it, otherwise the mice 

 will make their homes in the straw. Another method is to tramp 

 the snow firmly about the trees, which if attended to thoroughly 

 enough will be quite as effective a protection as the manure packing; 

 but if the manure is used, then the work will be done effetually once 

 for all. 



Cattle and Sheep These will injure trees if they are allowed 

 the run of the orchard. Cattle should be excluded under all cir- 

 cumstances, as no benefit is derived from giving them access: but 

 sheep will be an advantage by the enrichment which they give the 

 soil, and besides they will dispose of the unripened fruit which falls 

 from the trees, and in this way will be of service by destroying the 



