1 70 FRUIT FARMING 



SILVER LEAF ATTACK ON PLUMS, PEACHES AND 

 OTHER STONE FRUITS. The leaves of affected Trees 

 turn silvery green, and the branches die back. As 

 trees become affected in both dry and damp soils, 

 and in both rich nitrogenous and poor soils, it would 

 not appear to arise from the roots. There is no 

 remedy for this disease, which is caused by a physical 

 separation between the upper and under cuticles of 

 the leaf; affected Trees should be destroyed, and all 

 tools used must be thoroughly cleaned, as it is said 

 to be transferred from one subject to another by 

 pruning. Our Nurseries are very free from it. 



PEARS. 



BLISTER ON LEAVES is caused by a minute but 

 destructive mite, which in early spring attacks the 

 young foliage, raising pustules in which they lay 

 their eggs, when a second brood is soon developed. 

 Medela (No. 18) will be found most efficient for this, 

 and should be sprayed on twice in February and 

 March before the leaves open. 



PEAR FRUIT MIDGE. This has increased consider- 

 ably of late years. After the clusters of fruit have set 

 some abnormally large pearlets will be observed ; on 

 cutting these open a colony of small white larvae are 

 noticed. The parent insect lays eggs in the blossom, 

 and as the fruit develops they are safely enclosed. 

 The only remedy is to pick off the affected fruit at 

 an early stage, before the new larvae escape, and 

 burn them ; if the surface soil beneath the trees is 

 removed and burnt, it destroys the larvae which 

 harbour there, and Kainit has been recommended as 

 a surface dressing at 4 ozs. to square yard on arable 

 land, useless on grass. 



