PEACH AND THE PEAR. -JJ 



advanced, where inattention has been the rule in prun- 

 ing, and to digging out and burning diseased trees at 

 the first start of the disease. As to lime and manure, 

 they contain the elements of plant-food for the Peach- 

 tree, and really are sure fertilizers for the trees, but 

 somehow in land enriched by them the Yellows appears 

 to thrive, and we know this only empirically as yet, and 

 not scientifically. Experience is showing that potash is 

 a remedy for Yellows, and we know that lime causes an 

 exhaustion of potash in the soil, because it decomposes 

 rocks, stones, sand, etc., containing it, and improperly 

 composted manure may breed the disease-germs during 

 its decomposition. These are facts, probably, and seem 

 to be a finger-board on the road to the solution of the 

 question. As to developing the Yellows, over-fed trees 

 may have the bacteria increased in them beyond the 

 health-ratio, just as well as under-fed trees, and here is a 

 reason we should study so carefully the fertilization of 

 each separate tree. I believe that if the rules I have 

 laid down in this regard be followed, much good may be 

 accomplished by avoiding the production of the disease. 



These disease-germs in the sap of the tree, or even 

 in the ground, are really benefited by irregular seasons 

 as to temperature, whilst the vegetable organism of the 

 tree is injured, and hence, what, as peach growers, we 

 fear most, is not so much the cold season within reason- 

 able bounds, as the irregular season of heat and cold. 



