8o JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 



ripen and fall off and are carried by the wind long distances to 

 propagate the disease. 



But it is not only in the summer time that the knot is active, 

 but also in the winter. During the month of February winter spores 

 are formed in the little sacs called asci (fig. 3). On cutting through 

 a knot in the month of February, these little sacs are plainly dis- 

 cernible with a small hand-glass (fig. 3). Each contains about eight 

 winter spores, known to mycologists as ascospores, which one by 

 one are carried forth to some favorable host. For a long time the 

 cause of the plum knot was an unsolved problem, but, thanks ta 

 science, this problem has been solved, and we now know that cut- 

 ting and burning the affected limbs will effectually stamp out the 

 disease. We also know that a paste made of kerosene and paint, 

 or turpentine, is destructive to it. But, although we have informa- 

 tion enabhng us to overcome it in our own orchards, the problem 

 still remains, how we can compel the lazy and indolent in town and 

 country to destroy those plum and cherry trees in their gardens 

 which are affected. The present law seems very inoperative. True, 

 it provides for the appointment of an inspector in every munici- 

 pality, but the council is not obliged to appoint such inspector ex- 

 cept on a petition of at least fifty ratepayers, and this is too cumber- 

 some a mode of procedure. Further, the inspector is not required 

 to act unless he receives written notice of the disease. All this is a 

 mistake. He ought to be obliged to make a round of the orchards 

 several times during the season, and have all affected trees destroyed 

 without receiving notice from anybody. 



Another problem in horticulture, which, as yet, is unsolved, is 

 the cause of the Yellows in the peach. This mysterious disease 

 originated in the peach orchards of some of the Middle States a 

 good many years ago. It has gradually spread from state to state 

 throughout the larger part of the Union, and across the borders into 

 the peach orchards of our own country. Periodically its visitations 

 seem to be more severe in character, destroying orchards by whole- 

 sale. Then, after the peach growers have given up peach growing 

 for some time, they find themselves able to begin again with some 

 fair hopes of success. The Department of Vegetable Pathology of 

 the United States have taken this matter up and spent an immense 

 amount of money in investigating into this disease, and to this work 

 have appointed Professor Erwin Smith, who has made elaborate re- 



