302 THE FARMER'S AND 



highly recommended. A small red cedar, planted in th* 

 same hole with a peach tree has protected it by its offen- 

 sive odor. Charcoal in small pieces, heaped up, is sup- 

 posed to smother the worm by choke damp, and sulphur 

 to poison it with its fumes. Doubtless all are useful, but 

 the appendages should be removed when the warm sea- 

 son is over. 



Sometimes a worse evil than the worm, however, over- 

 takes the peach tree. This malady was named by the 

 late Judge Peters of Pa. " the yellows;" but the leaves 

 are not always yellow as the name would imply. A 

 more certain indication is the premature ripening of the 

 fruit, with purple discolo rations of the pulp, and deficient 

 flavor. As the disease advances bundles of slender twigs 

 protrude from the larger branches, and increase till the 

 vital energy is exhausted. 



This case is perhaps the only instance of a contagious 

 disease among vegetables, communicated by contact of 

 tne roots, or the application of pollen. That such 

 are the facts, indeed, has not been directly proved, but 

 the circumstantial evidence is strong and pointed. Young, 

 nealthy trees, speedily decline when planted among 

 diseased roots. Frequently, the first appearance of the 

 premature ripening is confined to a solitary branch, when 

 no trace of the disease can be found in any other part of 

 the tree. When this happens, it is prudent to amputate 

 immediately, although it is doubtful if the tree itself can 

 be safely left to stand till it blooms again. In particular 

 cases we have pruned closely, destroying the blossom 

 buds and giving it a chance for recovery, without endan- 

 gering other trees ; but we would not recommend it as a 

 general rule, but extirpate the tree in due time. 



It is certainly known, however, that the disease can be 

 communicated like the small-pox. We have set buds of 

 sickly trees into healthy stocks, and all have perished in 



