182 FRUIT- CULTURE. 



them. The scale is small, slightly convex and grey, with 

 a pale margin. The male is a minute, pale yellow, two- 

 winged fly. 



REMEDIES. Owing to the habits of this insect being 

 similar to the mussel-scale of the apple, the same reme- 

 dies may also be applied here. 



PEAR GALL MITE (Phytopus pyri). Pear trees are 

 occasionally considerably Aveakened and rendered unfruit- 

 ful by a small, four-legged mite that pierces the leaves, 

 and feeds upon the soft tissue, forming pale blisters, 

 which become brown towards the end of summer. A 

 small hole on the under surface of the leaf allows of the 

 egress and ingress of the mite, whose action causes the 

 cells to become separated from one another, forming 

 strings, and causing the blistered appearance. The mite 

 is only y^ of an inch long, and hibernates in the buds 

 during winter. 



REMEDIES. The habits of this little creature render it 

 difficult to exterminate. All blistered leaves should be 

 collected as soon as the pale blisters make their appear- 

 ance, and burnt while the mite^ is still in them. Badly 

 infested trees, unless very valuable, should be grubbed up 

 and burnt, to prevent the spread of the mite. A further 

 precaution may be taken, by not planting pears in the 

 same place for some years afterwards. 



FUNGI. 



Injury of a serious nature is frequently caused to pear 

 trees by a form of Cladosporium dentriticum, to which the 

 name C. pyrorum is given. Not only are the leaves and 

 shoots damaged, but also the fruits, over the surface of 

 which the fungus spreads, causing them to crack. For 

 remedies and means of prevention, see Black Spot, under 



