The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-04-06
0wrleAASaG

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The satjoinod communicatioI comes
from . rOspOasible and reliable source,
and we would earnestly recommend to
those Of our rsaders engaged in fruit rails.
ing to Try the remedies suggested:
COLD SPRINGS. April 5, 1861.
D. W. GELwIcKs, ESQ, DEAR Sir: IL you
consider the following communication Of sufi-
cient importance. you are at liberty to publish
it. In writing il am only actuated BY desire
70 benefit those who are willing to try Tie Fems
edies I have, in eradicalIng malady which
many believe will prove destructive to the rails.
ing Of our best fruit.
This malady has again made its appearance
in our peach orchards this year. There are .
variety Of opinions 10 regard to iis cause and as
the subject is still "open to discuasion," l will
with your permission, make few suggestions
in regard to this disesse-If it may be called 3
diseaSe-bSsed upon my own observations aud
experience.
Many are under the impression that this NAL
Sdy is peculiar u California or this climate only.
That the "Curl leaf" 10 prevalent 10 many it
not all the Atlantic States, 10 an undeniable fact
In "DOwning's Fruits and Fruit Trees Of Amer.
ica," page 6O4. is the following:
"The Curl is the name commonly given 10 .
malady which often attacks the leaves Of the
peach tree. 1t usually appears in the month of
May or June tearlier Of course, 10 this climate. !
The leaves curl up, become Ihickened and
swollen, with hollOws ON the under and reddish
swellings on the upper side, and finally, after
two"r three weeks, fall on. They are then sue
cecded by new and healthy crop Of foliage
This malsdy is caused by the punctures of very
minute aphides or plant lice, (Aphis Persicae, J
which attack the under side Of the leaves"
His remedy is . mixture of whale oil and
soap, or strong soft sap and water, with some
tobacco stems boiled in it; the whole applied
with large syringe or garden engine. This, he
adds. will rid the tree of the insects for one or
more years. II should be done when the leaves
are third grown.
writer in Pen nsylvAnia in his report to the
Ii american pumUfugiirzf Sncfety,' taxes This
view in regard to the cause OF the disease. He
says:
"That the 'curled leaf and the decay ed heart
wood are produced by the severity Of our wip
tiers acting on half acclimatized tree, is evi.
dent On examination Of the wood ut the surface
or below the snow line. The knife displays
white. clean and healthy wood. aud the leaves
and shoots that i: sue from this portion are heal.
thy too, and unaffected BY the curl"
Now, here are two distinct theories presented
As the cause Of this maiady. For my part I
have no hcsitancy in adopting the former as
the true one Acting under tho belief that the
plant louise Was the sole cause Of the curlcd
leaf, have in part pursued The course suggest.
ed by Owning, in the treatment Of nv trees,
with the best success. have peach orchard
of400 treeS-a portion Of them seedlings, over
seven years old. For the past two or three
/ years their main limbs and trunks have been
washed with q strong solution VI unleached
wood ashes and water. or weak I've. Last year
but few cases Of curl leaf appeared but mwe
diA'ely upon its first appearance I washed all
the trees, the unaffected rs well as the affected
ones, with strong soft soap and water, adding
little salt. Early this winter applied about
peck of ashes I" each tree, throwing il upon
the main branches and trunks-which bad been
washed BY subsequent rains, into the rough
bark Of the tree and in the ground. This spring
not over five or six trees are affected in the
whole orchard, aud they not very badly. One
object in thus washing them wus TO kill or de.
! stroy 'be eggs Of the plant iice-aNoIher object
was t" make the bark smooth and healthy and
to iertlize the ground. The rough bark forms
very convenient shelter for the propagation Of
these miSchievous pests; the first warm weather
matches them out, and then woe to the Grs,
leaves that make their appearance on the tree
When these curled leaves are about ready to
fall, any careful observer eau find them snuply
ensconSed IN their shrivcIed house-A little
black insect somewhat resembling the sugar.
ant, with small head and larger body. They
remain on the tree-lay their eggs under the
rough Scaly bark, aud die. Scedlings being
the first to put forth their flowers and leaves
are injured The most IN fact, upon these their
depredAtioUS are chiefly confined. Budded
trees with us are unaffected. The idea that the
severity Of our winters setting on q half scel
maiized tree" being the caase Of the curl leaf
in this section Of che State. 10 simply ab.urd.
On The contrary, our winters 90 mild-"its
snowy sceptre welded by the hand Of Spring, &"
are very favorable for the breeding Of these
insects.
As my object In writing was not to attack
the theory Of those who believe the cause of
this malady exists or is inherent 10 the climate.
will desist, though would consider the a..
sertion, that our climate 10 not adapted to the
successful cultivation Of the peach, libel on
our State.
In conclusion, my sdvice 70 those Who are
dishearteoed and fear our supply Of this deli.
ciouS fruit will nearly cease from the effect Of
the "Curl Leaf" is To cut down or bud their
affected seedlings, and supply their place with
oudded varieties. Pursue . rigid system Of
pruning to prevent ovsrbearing, aud to cause
growth Of young. healthy shoots every yesr.
Wash them we'll with strong solt soap and
water. Ferlilize them with mixture ofleached
ashes and manure mixed, and, nv word for il.
they will have healthy trees,-ires from The
"curl leaf" aud their still worse euemv-ths
"yellOws" SUBSCRIBER.
ELECTION OF RESIDENT AND VISITING
PHYSICIAN. Legislature on Wednes.
day. in Joint Convention, elected Dr.. W.
P. Tilden, Resident Physician Of the In.
sane ASYLUM: and DR.. A. Clark of th;a