DISEASES A^D INSECTS. 281 



A mixture of tobacco water and strong soap-suds, applied with a 

 syringe, early, or as soon as the leaves are one-third grown, will be 

 found a good remedy. Barry regards the curl of the leaf induced 

 by sudden change of weather, a number of warm days that cause 

 the expansion of the young leaves, followed by a cold, rainy day; 

 the more severe and protracted the cold, the more severe and fatal 

 the curl. Soaping the limbs of the trees early in Spring, or wash- 

 ing them with a solution of sulphur and potash, it is said, will pre- 

 vent the curl. 



The Yellows. What is regarded as the Yellows is little known 

 throughout the West ; neither have we ever observed it, to any ex- 

 tent, in the New England States, except where trees were procured 

 from, or grown on poor, sandy soils, enfeebled and imperfect from 

 their first start. That it may be perpetuated by inoculation, or 

 sowing seeds from trees diseased, we have no doubt ; it therefore 

 behooves every tree grower to be careful from whence he procures 

 his pits for slocks. Prof. Kirtland says : " It is questionable whether 

 any distinct disease occurs, to which this name applicable. Perhaps 

 it is only a collection of symptoms arising from causes acting either 

 individually or collectively. Facts seem to favor this view, though 

 the insight of popular opinion is in favor of its being a specific and 

 contagious disease." Depredations of the JEgefio. exitioscij Aphis 

 persica, exhaustion of elements in the soil, and want of correct prun- 

 ing appear to be the primary causes, and, in reference thereto, Prof. 

 Kirtland further remarks : u In estimating the power and extent of 

 these causes, it should be recollected that an injurious impression, 

 acting constantly upon successive generations of either animal or 

 vegetable species, may ultimately establish a hereditary entailment 

 that may be propagated in the form of a predisposition to disease, 

 or disease itself. The converse is equally true in producing health 

 or physical development. 1 ' 



These several causes have been exerting their influence on the 

 Peach tree for a long term of years, impairing the stamina and 

 health of its fruit germs. These impressions have been propagated 

 and re-propagated, in conjunction with the action of the primary 

 causes of impairment, till at length we have only a sickly progeny. 



The remedy is to cut down and destroy all diseased trees ; the 

 preventive is judicious cultivation. 



Mildew. This is the name applied to a minute fungus which at- 

 tacks the ends of the young branches of some particular varieties, 

 termed serrated or glandless. It checks growth, and renders the 

 tree unsightly. Application, by means of a syringe, of one ounce of 

 nitre to one gallon of water, in proportion, will destroy it, and, at 

 the same time, add to vigor and health of the tree. Dusting of sul- 

 phur is by some advised. 



The Peach-wcrm, or Borer (/Egeria exitiosa), was known as earty 



