Ins efts and Diseases. 159 



Happily, however, the remedy is not so uncertain. For whether 

 caused by an insect, or by the poisonous influence of the descending 

 juices, its progress must be arrested by an immediate excision of 

 the dead branches. And, as the poison passes downwards some 

 time before its effects are visible externally, the amputation must be 

 made two or three feet below the affected part, if the poison as well 

 as the dead part is to be removed Equally necessary is it, that the 

 infection of the diseased limbs be removed as speedily as possible 

 out of the way, by burning. 



This remedy cannot be effectual, unless promptly and fearlessly 

 applied. Many cultivators, in fear of mutilating their trees, do not 

 cut low enough, and leave the seeds of death remaining in the tree. 

 Others delay the application of the remedy for a number of days, 

 till cure is hopeless. In extensive and malignant cases, the disaster 

 may be difficult to subdue even by the most prompt measures ; but 

 in ordinary instances success will follow. In any event, it will be 

 better to cut away and burn by successive portions a whole tree, 

 than to lose it entire by this disease, a result equally certain, with 

 the added evil of spreading the malady. 



Two contiguous neighbors had each a large pear orchard ; one of 

 them neglected all attention, the other spent ten minutes daily in 

 the examination of all his trees, and in cutting out freshly diseased 

 limbs. The former lost many entire trees ; the latter saved every 

 one, and kept his orchard nearly clear. Young trees in close rows 

 have been attacked successively till all perished ; in other rows 

 where the affected trees were quickly removed, few of the remainder 

 suffered. 



The practice of cutting down trees to within two feet of the ground 

 (when not exceeding ten years of age), as soon as blight appears, 

 has resulted in perfect success, a new head springing up from the 

 healthy stump, in the form of a handsome pyramid. The operation, 

 however, cannot be well performed unless the disease appears after 

 midsummer, or when the trees have nearly ceased growing for the 

 season. 



Among preventives^ a good, firm, and dry soil, and a site favoring 

 the early ripening of the wood, and adverse to a late succulent 

 growth, hold an important rank. Plant the trees on soil of medium 

 fertility, and maintain an annual growth of shoots from one to two 

 feet in length, by constant cultivation. The bark thus becomes 

 more able to resist changes and disease as the growth is moderately 

 vigorous, and healthy and matured. 



The attempt has been made to select those varieties least liable 



