850 On the Microscopic and General Characters of (November, 
while in the diseased fruit, especiaily that which has prematurely 
ripened, near the pit considerable red coloring matter may be 
noticed, often in a conglomerate mass, and scattered through the 
remainder of the fleshy portions many oblong or rounded masses 
of the same color. Under the microscope these appear to be 
simply cells filled with a coloring matter that may be removed by 
treating with strong potassic hydrate, acetic acid, or alcohol. The 
skin of the peach also shows a highly abnormal color, generally 
simply spotted with red, but in some specimens that I have had 
the opportunity of examining, this red color assumed an oblong 
shape, the spots being arranged in bands. This symptom seems 
to be of the highest importance, as there is no other disease, so 
far as I am able to ascertain, that will produce the above results. 
3. Production of Abnormal Branches—Perhaps one of the most 
marked symptoms of the yellows is the abnormal production of 
branches, or rather branchlets. But the pomologist must guard 
against one important fact in diagnosing the yellows from 
this symptom, viz., the production of numerous twigs. Non-culti- 
vation of any domesticated tree will often cause a great abundance 
of small twigs or shoots to grow from the secondary branches ; 
they may continue as high as the sixth division into branches. 
Again a great proficiency of twigs may be produced by the use 
of much rich manure year after year. However, to return to the 
discussion of branchlets as an indication of the yellows, let it be 
remembered that it is the branchlets and not the twigs that are of 
importance. These are produced on the main or larger branches 
from lateral buds, and in some cases even from the trunk of the 
tree. They are slender wire-like shoots, often no larger than a 
needle, from two to eight inches long, and not seldom showing 4 
tendency to throw out lateral or secondary shoots. They may 
attain to a much greater length, but, as far as I can ascertain, the 
above measurements form a good average. This peculiar feature 
of the disease is easily explained. A spore of the fungus falling 
upon some part of the branch, finds the conditions favorable for 
development and sends out its mycelium which ramifies throvey — 
the tissues of the limb and soon fills up the passages, crowding 
the vessels and cells so that the flow of sap to the parts beyond 
this point is nearly stopped; thus the ends of the growing : 
branches being choked, the sap is caused to flow to the later - 
buds, and these having so plentiful a supply of nutriment, grom, 
