328 THE PEAR. 



As a remedy for blight actually existing in a tree, we know 

 of no other but that of freely cutting out the diseased branches, 

 at the earliest moment after it appears. The amputation should 

 be continued as far down as the least sign of discoloration, and 

 consequent poisoning is perceptible, and it should not be neg- 

 lected a single day after it manifests itself. A still better 

 remedy, when we are led to suspect, during the winter, that it 

 is likely to break out in the ensuing summer, is that of care- 

 fully looking over the trees before the buds swell, and cutting 

 out all branches that show the discoloured or soft sappy spots 

 of bark that a;e the first symptoms of the disease. 



Finally, as a preventive, when it is evident, from the nature 

 of the season and soil, that a late autumnal growth will take 

 place, we recommend laying bare the roots of the trees for two 

 or three weeks. Root pruning will always check any tendency 

 to over-luxuriance in particular sorts, or in young bearing trees, 

 and is therefore a valuable assistance when the disease is fear- 

 ed. And the use of lime in strong soils, as a fertilizer, instead 

 of manure, is worthy of extensive trial, because lime has a 

 tendency to throw all fruit trees into the production of short- 

 jointed fruit-spurs, instead of the luxuriant woody shoots in- 

 duced by animal manure. 



In gardens, where, from the natural dampness of the soil or 

 locality, it is nearly impossible to escape blight, we recommend 

 that mode of dwarfing the growth of the trees conical stan- 

 dards, or quenouilles, described in the section on pruning. This 

 mode can scarcely fail to secure a good crop in any soil or cli- 

 mate where the pear tree will flourish. 



After the blight, the other diseases which affect the pear tree 

 are of little moment. They are chiefly the same as those to 

 which the apple is liable, the same insects occasionally affecting 

 both trees, and we therefore refer our readers to the section on 

 the apple tree. 



There is, however, a slug worm, which occasionally does 

 great damage on the leaves of the pear tree, which it sometimes 

 entirely destroys. This slug is the Selandria cerasi of Harris. 

 It appears on the upper side of the leaves of the pear tree, from 

 the middle of June till the middle of July. It is nearly half an 

 inch long when fully grown, olive coloured, tapering from the 

 head to the tail, not much unlike in shape a miniature tadpole. 

 The best destructive for this insect is Mr. Haggerston's mixture 

 of whale oil soap and water,* thoroughly showered or sprinkled 

 over the leaves. In the absence of this, we have found ashes 

 or quicklime, sifted or sprinkled over the leaves, early in the 



fore suffered. The previous midsummer it had been severely pruned and 

 headed back, which threw it into late growth. The next season nearly the whole 

 remaining part of the tree died with the frozen-sap blight. 

 * Seepage 54. 



