10 



For the present, at least, I can only indorse the Michigan practice, 

 which is to dig out and destroy every affected tree as soon as it is dis- 

 covered. 



In localities where this method has been practiced with some uni- 

 formity they still grow peaches successfully. 



In the vicinity of Benton Harbor, Mich., where all the orchards 

 were ruined between the years 1870 and 1880, there are now many 

 fine young orchards, and the yellows has almost disappeared. In the 

 summer of 1889, in company with Mr. Eufus H. Brunson, a former 

 yellows commissioner, I visited many small orchards in different parts 

 of the townships of Benton and St. Joseph, the former chief seat of the 

 disease, and examined nearly 30,000 trtes, finding only about fifty cases, 

 nearly one-half of which were in one orchard. More than four-fifths of 

 these trees were less than six years old. Many of the older ones, and 

 most of those which I examined, were in fruit, and the earliest varieties 

 were just coming into market, July 24. With a few exceptions, the only 

 extensive orchards were young trees not yet in bearing, the earlier 

 plantings having been numerous, but in a small and tentative way, no 

 single individual caring to risk many thousand trees. Now, however, 

 large orchards are being set. Whether the present immunity will con- 

 tinue is a matter of great interest. If there is any real basis for the 

 belief that the disease may be imported, it certainly will not, for many 

 of the younger trees were procured from infected districts in the East. 

 All fear of the disease seems to have died out, and with it most of the 

 former vigilance. 



At South Haven, Mich., where the "rooting out" process was first 

 practiced extensively, and where it is yet in full vigor, they have grown 

 peaches continuously from the start (1852), and there are many old or- 

 chards, some of which have stood for twenty-five years. In that locality I 

 examined many representative orchards, and found only a very few cases 

 of yellows. Sometimes, as at St. Joseph, it was a day's work to find a 

 single case. Most orchards of any size do, however, lose some trees 

 each year, their places being filled by trees from the nursery. The 

 South Haven growers, many of whom I have met, no longer fear the 

 disease. They are unanimous in the opinion that the only proper thing 

 is to dig out and burn. This plan they have followed very generally 

 for the past ten years, during which time the disease has not prevailed 

 seriously. Previous to that date many orchards were ruined, the dis- 

 ease having appeared first in 1869. 



Until we have a full knowledge of the aetiology of this disease, no 

 better plan can be suggested. Affected trees are always worthless, and 

 the sooner they are converted into stove-wood the sooner new, healthy 

 trees can be grown in their places. Big out, then, and burn, and dp it 

 promptly. 



