PEARS, PEACHES, QUINCES, ETC. 16 1 



by cold, and the next season be more liable to disease 

 than if the growth were slower and yet vigorous. 



The fire blight is a bacterial disease, closely related to 

 small-pox and diphtheria in the human system. In 

 extremely hot and moist weather the spores (germs) of 

 this disease, finding their way into the tissue of the trees 

 through the blossoms or soft new growth, grow in the 

 cells so rapidly that in a few days large branches or even 

 whole trees may be killed. The first appearance is a 

 wilting of the branches and leaves; then they turn 

 brown, and finally black. The remedy is first to cut 

 away all diseased branches as soon as they are attacked, 

 then produce a healthful growth by cultivation, mulch- 

 ing, or the use of fertilizers containing a large percentage 

 of potash. The spraying done for the leaf blight will no 

 doubt have a beneficial effect against this disease, as 

 will probably the lime-sulphur mixture used for the San 

 Jose scale. No outside application, however, will de- 

 stroy this or any other disease of our fruits after the 

 spores or germs have gained entrance into the tissues. 



Much may be done to keep our pear and other fruit 

 trees from being injured by insects and fungous pests 

 by so fertilizing, cultivating, and spraying as to keep 

 the trees in a vigorous, healthy growth. A liberal use 

 of fertilizers containing a large percentage of potash 

 and phosphoric acid, or simply wood ashes, lime, and a 

 little sulphate of potash, will tend to a hard, compact, 

 well-matured wood that will withstand blight and pro- 

 duce a foliage that will be resistant to leaf blight and 

 to insects. 



THE PEACH. 



In many sections of the United States from Georgia 

 to Canada the peach may be profitably grown when the 

 soil and exposure is right. From New York City south 

 along the coast and along the east shore of Lake Michi- 



