122 THE BLIGHT. 



circumstances, to apply the lime direct to the soil, 

 and use either the potash or soda for cleansing pur- 

 poses. As it requires TOO quarts of water to dissolve 

 one quart of lime, if used as a whitewash, it simply 

 forms a paste, which will fill the pores of the bark 

 and do more injury than good. 



THE BLIGHT. This alarming disease, that has 

 made such havoc among the pear trees in some sec- 

 tions, made its first appearance in our orchard four 

 years ago. During this time we have had twenty- 

 nine 'cases, fourteen of which have proved fatal, the 

 others are now rapidly recovering from the effects. 

 "With us, this disease has been partial to certain 

 varieties. For instance, out of the twenty-nine, six- 

 teen were Glout Merceau, four Flemish Beauty, four 

 Yicar of Winkfield, three Belle Lucrative, and two 

 Louise Bonne de Jersey. Another singular fact in 

 this connection is, that twenty-three of these trees 

 were growing in the same section of the orchard, 

 quite near each other, on low and naturally wet 

 land. I do not believe, however, that the character 

 of the soil or situation engenders this disease. 



Our plan has been, the instant any tree showed 

 signs of being affected, to saw or cut off the branches 

 or main stem, six or eight inches below where the 

 disease appeared. When the branches injured were 

 large, we have put in some scions the following 



