301 
1794. DENNING, WILLIAM. On the decay of apple trees. 
Trans. Soc. for Prom. of Agric., pt. 2, 1794, p. 219. 
[33 pages. ] | : 
Same, 2nd ed., vol. 1, p. 185. 
This is from a letter writen Dec. 22, 1798. He first saw the malady on 
the Highlands of the Hudson in 1780. It also attacks pears and quinces, | 
He describes it fairly well, but refers it to a borer in the trunk, which he 
found after much labor. 
1817. Cox, WinLt1AM. Cultivation of fruit trees, 1817, p- 
174. [13 pages on blight. | . 
‘That species of blight which is sometimes called the fire blight, fre- 
quently destroys trees in the fullest apparent vigour and health, in a few 
hours, turning the leaves suddenly brown, as if they had passed through a 
hot flame, and causing a morbid matter to exude from the pores of the bark, 
of a black ferruginous appearance; this happens through the whole course of 
the warm season—more frequently in weather both hot and moist. It gen- 
erally, though not always, is perceived most in confined places; certain kinds 
and particularly that most exquisite of winter pears, the St. Germain, seems. 
peculiarly liable to this species of blight. I have in twenty years lost upward 
of fifty trees in the fullness of vigour sometimes in the most open airy situa- 
tions, and in every kind of soil.” Old varieties supposed to be more subject. 
to the disease, the ‘‘Seckle,” a new variety, not often having it. ‘‘From the 
great vigour and rapidity of the vegetation in America, pear trees, if much 
pruned, are apt to grow too fast; this appears to render them more liable to 
the effect of the fire blight than otherwise they would be.” ‘The in- 
fluence of the hot sun and other causes spoken of; light pruning recommended. 
(This is said to be the oldest American book upon fruit culture.) 
1826. Lowe, Jonn. New England Farmer, vol. v, July 
28, 1826. 
Describes the work of Scolytus pyri in killing the limb, as if it had been 
cut off and thrown aside to dry. Notes finding the insect, and transmitting 
it to Prof. Peck, who first described it. 
1843. FESSENDEN, THomMAS G. New American Gardener, 
1843, p. 245. [1 page on blight. | 
Said to be due to Scolytus pyri, to overpowering rays of the sun, to 
plethora or surfeit brought on by too high manuring or too much pruning. 
Only remedy is to saw off the affected limbs ‘‘some inches below where the 
blight appears.” | 
1844. Brecuer, Rev. H. W. (Indiana). The blight in the 
pear tree; its cause and a remedy forit. Mag. Hort., 
vol. x, 1844, p. 441. [15 pages. | 
Describes blight as known in the Western States. Before the leaves 
appear the bark of the last year is found dead and dry in spots, orelse puffed 
and soft with thickened sap —only different degrees of progress in the same 
disease. The former permits the branch to put forth leaves, but dies the 
coming winter; the latter engenders active disease. Disease starts in the 
ends of shoots and progresses downwards; from the time of first appearance 
to the death of the part is from a few hours to three weeks. Wood turns 
