32 Letters on the Diseases of Plants. 



change tlieir minds. Grranting that it is a losing game for one season, how 

 does it turn out in the long run ? Will not a possible loss sustained the 

 first season be more than recouped the next season ? These are questions 

 that should not be overlooked. And they are questions very pertinent to 

 the disease now under consideration, and to some others of a similar nature. 



As to other measures to be taken in fighting this disease I can only refer 

 the reader to the items on pages 24 to 28, under the head of Melanose, 

 with the caution, however, that the utility of some of them in the present case 

 is somewhat questionable. "Whenever you can persuade a neighbouring fruit- 

 grower to adopt any of these measures, count it as money in your own pocket. 

 Winds and flying creatures are constantly transferring the germs of disease 

 from one orchard to another, so that the health of your neighbour's orchard is 

 a matter that concerns you only somewhat less than that of your own. 



To the novice in the diseases of oranges the various resemblances among 

 the diseases Melanose, Black-spot, and Maori are a source of confusion. Two 

 or three of these maladies may appear upon the same tree, or upon the same 

 orange. Such cases, and they are very common, are shown in Figs. 26 and 38. 

 This matter would not be a matter worth mention were it not that the 

 treatment varies for each of these diseases. It is much better, therefore, for 

 the orchardist to be able to distinguish one from the other. A careful com- 

 parison of the illustrations with which I am able to accompany this article, 

 and a perusal of the explanatory remarks under each illustration, should 

 enable anyone, it seems to me, to readily identify each of these three diseases. 

 I will only add that Maori is a disease commonly supposed to be caused by 

 a small mite, the result of whose attacks is to cause the skin to turn uniformly 

 bright brown in colour, like a Maori's face, and not brown in spots as in the 

 case of Melanose. 



yi. Diseases op the Peach and Nectarine. 

 1. Peach Freckle. 



This disease occurs also on nectarines, causing the same freckled appearance 

 on this fruit as that which has caused me to give it its popular name — an 

 appearance that is familiar to most people because of its commonness on late 

 peaches, 



2. Peach Curl. 



This wretched disease is apparently as common as ever. Where a tree 

 has shown the disease badly for three years in succession and in spite of 

 treatment, I would advise pulling it out and burning it. I am far from 

 satisfied with any remedies I have ever tried, or seen tried, or even heard 

 of. The various things that may be tried are here given but without much 

 hope that they will effect a cure. 



1. Collect and burn the diseased leaves. 



2. Spray with weak Bordeaux mixture once in two weeks, beginning at 

 blossoming time. Precede this by a winter spraying with Bordeaux of full 

 strength, 



3. In bad cases cut the tree back so as to cause it to throw shoots from 

 the trunk or larger branches, or gi'aft on some healthy wood. 



