270 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Nov 



Apple-Tree Blight (?) 



Mr. Editor : — I have of late observed wliat 

 appears to be a blight of the Apple tree. The 

 phenomena, as I have noticed them, are the fol- 

 lowing, viz : The extremity of a young branch 

 (of this year's growth,) begins to wither, and 

 very soon the branch dies down to the extent of 

 several inches. The leaves on some branches 

 at first exhibit a dark, dull green, color, some- 

 times almost black ; on others the color is not 

 essentially changed. Sometimes some of thim 

 appear as if they had been scalded, and partly 

 dried ; when they feel soft and leathery. Im- 

 mediately alter the branch dies. Sometimes 

 single leaves turn black, or nearly so, and die. 

 Spots, or patches of an iron-rust color, are often 

 found on the branch — and sometimes small ob- 

 long blisters, (especially on those that have just 

 perished,) filled with a kind of pussy, semi-fluid 

 matter. Sometimes the branches exhibit an ap- 

 pearance of having been stung by insects ; but 

 upon cutting and examining them with a ?nagtii- 

 fcr, not'iing peculiar can be discovered. Some 

 unusual appearances, it is true, may be detected ; 

 but tliey are, I conclude, rather the effect than 

 the cause of the disease. 



In regard to the cause I can say nothing. As 

 the phenomena first made their appearance on a 

 tree that was grafted last year, and from which 

 all the "natural branches" were removed and 

 some additional grafts inserted last spring, I at 

 first supposed the disease might be occasioned 

 by an excess of sap in some of the young 

 branches. But various facts and considerations 

 preclude the possibility of such a supposition. — 

 it cannot be considered the effect of frost, for it 

 has attacked only branches of the present sum- 

 mer's growth. It has appeared on one tree in 

 my orchard, on several small ones in my nur- 

 sery, and on one or two in my neighbor's or- 

 chard ; and seems to act very much like the 

 pear and the quince blight, of the latter of which 

 we have several specimens.* 



Another thing I have noticed in regard to the 

 growth of some young trees, both apple and 

 plum, but more especially of the latter. Having 

 grown about a foot, more or less, they frequent- 

 ly shoot up in long, slender spikes with small, 

 contracted, impertect, leaves, of less than half 

 the size of a perfect leaf, and no lateral branches. 

 I have not been able to discover any satisfactory 

 cause for this singular appearance. Perhaps 

 you, sir, or some of your readers, may be able 

 to assign the cause, and, if it be a disease, the 

 remedy. H. 



Fairport, Aug., 21, 1847. 



* It is frequently tlip caso, that the top of a young apple 

 tree, of one or two years' growth, dies from the effi^ct of the 

 aphis. Several instanre? of this kind I have ohserved the 

 present season. These, however, are very difiorent from 

 those mentioned above. 



Salt' on Plum Trees. 



I LATKLY applied a quantity of salt to six of 

 my plum trees, putting perhaps a pint around 

 each, which I spread over about two square feet 

 of surface. Like Judge Cheevkr, (see Gen. 

 Far. p. 204, Vol. 8,) I thought. I had seen it 

 recommended to be used at the rate of a pint to 

 a square foot; (which 1 afterwards found to be a 

 pint to a square rod;) in other words, to be 

 spread about a quarter of an inch thick. The 

 result of the experiment and my reflections upon 

 it have made me ashamed of it, and of my short- 

 sightedness ; and had it not been for the article 

 in the " Farmer," referred to above, the world 

 would perhaps never be the wiser for it. But to 

 the results. 



No. L A Bolmar, first year from the bud, on 

 a common stock, about an inch in diameter. — 

 Effect : The leaves and ends of the tender 

 branches wilted as if scalded, and soon the lower 

 leaves fell oft', and the ends of the branches died. 

 In about two weeks it began to put forth new 

 leaves, and now it has several young thrifty 

 branches. 



No. 2. A Iluling's Superb, third year from 

 the bud ; stock, a plum ; variety unknown ; 

 about an inch and a half in diameter. Effect : 

 Leaves died as in autumn, and fell off; buds 

 and branches appear fresii and sound, but the 

 tree is as naked (Sept. 10th) as in mid-winter. 

 A few buds have since opened, and now (Oct. 

 1st) there are several small tufts of leaves, and 

 two or three small clusters of blossoms ; evident- 

 ly those intended by nature for next year. 



No. 3. A German Prune, age, size, <S:c., as 

 No. 2. Effect: Many of the leaves died and 

 fell off; so that many of the branches became 

 entirely naked. A currant bush standing near 

 No. 2, and another near No. 3, have both lost 

 their foliage. 



No. 4. A common Egg plum, size, &c., as 

 No. 2 ; no visible effect. 



No. 5. A Prince's Gage, set on a peach stock 

 below the surface of the ground. Age, three or 

 four years ; size as No. 2 ; no visible effect. 



No. 6. A common garden plum, three or four 

 inches in diameter. No visible effect. 



The salt was put on in .July, and lay on the 

 ground several days without rain. The effect 

 began to show itself immediately after the first 

 rain. The soil is similar in all (a sandy loam,) 

 except No. 1, where it was a little more clayey. 



I had previously, in the spring, poured a quan- 

 tity of brine which had been used for beef, around 

 a small plum tree, after the branches had grown 

 an inch or two, and although it did not kill the 

 tree outright, it stoppeil its growth and caused it 

 to cast its leaves ; and to save the tree I trans- 

 ferred it, sometime in July, to another place; 

 after which it seemed to revive for a time, but 

 eventually died. H. 



