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Diseased Pear Trees. 



551. Sir, — What is the cause of the pear leaves turning black and the limbs dying? 

 Is it blight? and is there a cure? My Flemish Beauty pears were badly rusted and cracked 

 last summer. Is there any remedy ? 



S. W. Bigham, Islington. 



There is no doubt that the trees referred to by our correspondent arc- 

 troubled with the ordinary pear blight. Numerous remedies have been proposed, 

 but none which is certainly effective. 



Flemish Beauty pears are notably subject to the scab, and are, in con- 

 sequence, easily cracked, but we believe a remedy for this evil has been found 

 in spraying the trees with copper solutions, so often referred to in these columns. 

 The latest plan recommended is to spray with sulphate of copper, one pound 

 to twenty-five gallons of water, before the foliage appears, and, after that, give 

 several applications with Bordeaux mixture, which is described elsewhere. 

 This treatment may possibly also help to prevent the blight, and it will cer- 

 tainly increase the health of the foliage of the trees, and, consequently, their 

 thrift. It has been shown to be also decidedly useful in causing the fruit to 

 grow larger and cleaner. 



Diseased Grape Vines. 



55*2. Sir, — For the last two years I found on my Niagara grapes one or two berries 

 in many bunches that were bad. Each year they were the same, but I did not mistrust 

 any danger until last season when they were very bad, some rows scarcely showing a clean 

 bunch. Many of them would take four baskets, as they came off the vines, to make one 

 for market, and that with a great deal of work. I sent for F. Lawson Scribner's " Fungus 

 Diseases," and found that he exactly described my trouble. Can you tell me where the 

 ingredients can be bought the cheapest, as a large quantity will be required this season, 

 many people around here being in the same trouble as myself ? 



B. A. Bailey, Niagara. 



It will be necessary for the vineyardists to spray their vines faithfully in 

 order to secure immunity from these evils. Try spraying with copper, one 

 pound to twenty-five gallons of water, before the foliage appears, and then use 

 Bordeaux mixture, two or three times after the foliage appears, and excellent 

 results will be evident. 



A Fertilizer. 



•553. Sir, — I send you a formula for a fertilizer recommended in the New York 

 World. It is as follows : 500 lbs. air-slacked lime, 300 lbs. common salt, 300 lbs. fine 

 ground phosphate of lime, and 100 lbs. nitrate of soda. Please tell me where the phosphates 

 can be got and what they are worth. This mixture is said to be worth less than $15 per 

 ton. Do you think it suitable for the orchard and garden ? 



M. A. Bailey, Niagara. 



Doubtless each of these elements are valuable on land and the fertilizer will 

 be worth all it costs. It is only by experiment that we can tell which elements 



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