PEARS < 181 



izontal, is rendered in this way the most fruitful. 

 Where it is not desired to change the kind of fruit, 

 nothing more of course is necessary than to take on 

 entirely the spurs and supernumerary large branches, 

 leaving all blossom buds which occur, near the ex- 

 tremities of the remaining branches. 



DISEASE OF PEAR TREES; 



Fire Blight. Pear trees have of late years been 

 subject to a malady commonly called Jlre blight or bru- 

 lere. During the months of June and July, the ex- 

 treme branches turn black as if burned and suddenly 

 perish. From the extreme branches, the disease ex- 

 tends downwards to the larger limbs, and continues 

 to increase until in some instances the tree is entirely 

 destroyed ; and what is very singular, trees while in 

 a healthy and highly luxuriant condition, and loaded 

 with fruit, are so suddenly seized, that they put on 

 this deadly appearance in one night; or in 24 hours, 

 without any apparent cause. Various are the causes 

 assigned by different writers. A writer in the New- 

 England Farmer, vol. 2, p. 42, says, on the first ap- 

 pearance of the disease on his trees, being convinced 

 that it was the effect of some internal enemy, he in- 

 stantly sawed off all the limbs affected. He found 

 the enemy not at the point where death ensued, but 

 some inches below it. The insect was very small, 

 but had eaten a complete circle of the alburnum or 

 sap wood, not exceeding the size of a knitting needle, 

 so as completely to intercept the passage of the sap. 

 Having produced the affected limbs and the insects, 

 to the inspection of the late Professor Peck, he was 

 led to investigate the subject, and ascertained that the 

 insect is the scotylus piri, and in the Massachusetts Ag- 

 ricultural Journal, he has given a particular descrip- 

 tion of the insect with a plate. It deposits its eggs 

 *16 



