86 



Peach Leaf Curl tEjoa-^riis ili fonnaiis ) . 



This disease attacks various stone fruits, but especially the peach. The 

 peculiar curl or blistered ajipearance which the youug leaves of peacli trees 

 frequently jiresent in spring is caused by a microscope fungus which attacks 

 their tissues. The blisters sometimes extend across a leaf, sometimes along it. 



The entire leaf ma.v be so jiuckered uji as to be unrecognisable, or only a 

 portion may be attacked. The foliage becomes leathery, the blisters assuming 

 various colours, from the normal green to red. purple, or white, or combina- 

 tions of these. The foliage generally falls off, and another crop is thrown out : 

 thus the tree is exhausted, and the yield of fruit greatl.v lessened and deterio- 

 rated, or in severe attacks completely lost, because it usuall.v falls a few weeks 

 after setting. The attacks are worst in damj). draughty situations and in 

 changeable weather. The disease lives through tlie winter on the buds and in 

 the wood; thus scions and buds from a diseased tree will cai'r.v the disorder 

 into localities where it was previousl.v unknown. 



Prerciitioiis iiiitl Trcutiiiciit. 



Xiirser.v stock is frequentl.v ver.v badly affected; therefore, take care that 

 the young trees are obtained' from a reliable firm. Be most particular to avoid 

 scions or buds from any tree that lias had the least trace of the disease within 

 two .years. Keep a sharp look-out, and directly the disease aj)pears in a peach 

 orchard give the tree the greatest attention and care. Xo trouble sliould be 

 spared at this stage — "A stitch in time saves nine." All prunings and fallen 

 leaves from diseased trees 'shoulil be raked up and burned, especially in nur- 

 series. Bordeaux mixture, properly made and apjilied, will check the disease. 

 Soon after the leaves have fallen, prune the tree and treat leaves and prun- 

 ings as suggested above ; then spray the tree with Bordeaux mixture, full 

 strength. Again, just before the buds burst, with a weak solution, and just 

 after the petals have fallen, with the same strength. — -Yoc Zcuhim! Lmjirt. 

 Ko. 2.'i. 



Peach leaf curl occurs during the early part of the season, and appears to 

 be caused liy a minute internal fungus in the p(U-es of the leaf develojieil by 

 cold weather. As soon as the leaves show any sign of curl, pick every affected 

 leaf on the tree and on the ground, and burn them. Sometimes it will not 

 appear again. The only permanent remedy i:^ a thrifty growth, imparted by 

 good cultivation and pruning back. When the disease is severe, it destro.vs 

 most of the foliage and impairs and sometimes kills the tree. — Tlioiiiux' 

 Aiiicriruii Fruit Cidtiiritit. 



Gooseberry Mildew (Siiliccrothrca mors-iinr. B. iiiid C). 



Tlie great drawback to the successful cultivation of the Kuropean goose- 

 berr.v in Canada has been the annual loss occasioned by the prevalence of this 

 disease. The external appearance of the fungus is well-known, showing on 

 the ,young woods, leaves and fruit as a whitish, downy coating, usually appear- 

 ing soon aftin- the le,-ives have fully expanded. (Irow on clay soils. 



,. i , Trcntiiicnt. 



Successful results are reported by Prof. Goflf. of the Agricultural I^xperi- 

 ment Station of Wisconsin, by the use of iiotassium snliihide (liver of sulphur) 



