101 



PKAR BLIGHT. 



J. D., Kansas. What effect has the stock on pear blight ? The original Kieffer tree 

 is said to be free from blight, and for years it was claimed that all Kieffers were 

 blight-proof, yet of late years we have undoubtable evidence that they do blight. 

 Now, why this change? Is it from foreign sap introduced into the tree throngn 

 buddhig and grafting ? First it was budded on the common pear stock, then scions 

 from that were grafted on another, and so the process was continued until the original 

 sap, we might say, has all been worked out, and as a consequence we have blight. 



The Le Conte pear was claimed to be exempt from blight, yet we find in late years 

 it has blighted. Those who profess to know say that there has never been a case of 

 blight on any tree that can be traced back to the original cuttings, but the blight is 

 only on trees which have been grafted. 



Now the question arises, are any pear trees blight-proof; and if so, can they be kept 

 in that condition by propagating only from cuttings? 



Answer. It may be said that those who claimed that the Kieffer pear would be 

 blight-proof simply made a mistake. As its culture extended and plantations were 

 set out in different localities cases of blight were reported. When the Kieffer comes 

 under the influences which cause blight, it seems to be just as sensitive as many other 

 varieties of its species. 



The causes of blight on the pear are not yet understood. The opinion that it is 

 caused by bacteria is quite prevalent, but there are many others who maintain that 

 bacteria is not the cause of the disease, but exists because of the disease ; in other 

 words, that bacteria has nothing to do with the origin of disease in plants or animals, 

 but let the animal tissue die and it is in the condition to decompose, and can only do 

 so by bacterial growth. The same with plants. The germs of bacteria swarm in the 

 air and are always ready to light upon disorganized tissue and perform the great and 

 important task of reducing the vegetable world to its ultimate elements. 



Budding upon other than the Kieffer stock can have nothing to do with blight. The 

 entire foliage being Kieffer will naturally determine and control the cell growth of 

 the whole plant. 



The claims pjade for the Le Conte pear as being blight-proof rest on no better foun- 

 dation. Trees of this variety procured from Thomasville, Georgia, which were propa- 

 gated from cuttings, have blighted badly, so badly as to entirely destroy the tree. 

 They have suffered more than the Kieffer under similar conditions ; that is, they were 

 growing within 40 feet of each other. 



If any variety of pear is blight-proof it has not yet been made known, and it is 

 beyond controversy that pear trees raised from cuttings are just as liable to be at- 

 tacked by blight as are varieties propagated by any other method. 



COFFEE. 



W. H. M., Sanford, Florida. , I shall be pleased to receive, at your earliest conven- 

 ience, as many coffee plants as you can spare me ; also as much coffee seed as you 

 can send. 



I have had several years' experience in coffee growing in southern India, and want 

 to try it here, as I think the climate and soil well adapted to successful cultivation 

 of coffee. 



Answer. The Department of Agriculture has for nearly a quarter of a century 

 made yearly distributions of coffee plants, sending them to the warmest localities in 

 the United States, but the returns have not been of a nature to warrant further con- 

 tinuance of the distribution of these plants so far as relates to the object in view of 

 establishing a profitable industry. 



It is true that several years ago a small quantity of ripened berries were produced 

 on coffee plants growing near the Manatee River, but it was understood that these 

 plants were in a very well sheltered position, and received additional protection 



