The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-09-07
from the Columbia Herald.

This disease has become 80 destructive Of
late years, particularly In Pear culture, as to
deter many Orchardists from the cultivation Of
this fine fruit.
In the early settlement of any portion of our
extensive country, IL was wholly unknown.
| Why has 1t become so destructive of late years ?
There Is natural cause for It's almost univcr-
sal appearances: Nearly oil Horticulturis Is
have their theories TO account for its causc s,
differing very widely in their conclusions.
For II years, Ihaye studied 1t very attentive
ly in the orchard, as TO cause, preventive and
remedy, and will here state. that have so far
succeeded as not to fear it in planting extern
siye pear orchards.
We do not find Blight every year, but only
occlsi0nly, anu only t,en at one season of the
year, about the month of May.
Those varieties of rapid, upright growth, are
the most seriously Affected, whilo the leaves
and twigs are in a succulent, tender and rapid
spreading and horizontal growth, are only sub
icct to the disease by iniudicious culture and
pruning.
This disease is always preceded by the like
climatic influences, heavy cold rains, and much
clio idy and lowering weather, followed by
bright warm days, while the first spring
growth is in a very tender, watery, and imma-
turc state.
The idea Is not satisfactory that ii is caused
by the sudden freezing Of the sap and tender
growth at the close of the previous season.
For, we find, that growth in the Fig is eflectu-
ally killed, and never puts forth leaves in the
spring.
1t has been largely attributed to the myriads
of insects. This is not at all satisfactory.
They shsuld as well attack the Scckel, q slow
grower, as the Madeleine, of erect, rapid
growth, and then every year alike, and at all
seasons Of the year, and before the disease
makes its appearance. This We find not proved
in the orchard.
In some orchards the Blight of the same va
i%ieiies is much more destructive the sam sea.
Son than in others.
There is a NEUTRAL cause for this. Let us try
and discover it, and then we can act intelligent
ly in preventing, or lcmedving the disease.
1t is n law of growth that the upright shoots
on the top of the tree, as well as those growing
from the ends of the limbs, put forth leaves
and grow much more rapidly than those ex-
tending in a horizontal direction. This is evi.
IDENTIFY caused by the excessive stimulant oil
light,onthe first expanded leaves, enabling them
to evaporate the water then in excess in the
crude sap, eXhale the oxygen, and form the
true sap to descend with its life sustaining pro.
pertics.
We must ~recollect the leaves of the Pear
make tleir appearance Immediately alter the
blooming season, when the ovule has been fer
tilted, and not only the flesh of the fruit, but
the starch formed the previous season in the
true sap, has also been fertilized by the LARGE
amount of pollen absorbed through the calyx,
thereby rendering available and active that
food already laid up to perfect the growing
crop.
When, in early spring, we have a week or
two of warm weather, with bright light, the
leaves and tender succu.ent shoots put forth
very rapidly, those tender leaves are then ena-
bled, in the light, to elaborate true sap hut
when this warm weather is followed by u few
days of heavy cold rains, and clOuuy weather,
no true sap can be formed. The ascending sap
with its excess of oxygen, is forced, with its
acid properties, to descend in the CHI unels ofthe
true sap, making only a watery growth no
starch is formed TO sustain this growth, the
roots in the saturated soil, imbibing little be
sides air and WATER
When, however, a few warm days with bright
light follow, the evaporation through the leaves
and green twigs, this excess of water in the
sap is so great, as to reduce the temperature
in the leaves sufficiently to destroy their tender
texture.
Sometimes only the tender growth is affect.
ed at others, 1t extends n considerable dis.
lance down the limbs. while in other cases, I'M
der excessive stllnulants, the whole tree is de-
stroycd to the cots.
In our day, ice is formed in the hottest wealth
or by evaporation. Water, in porous vessels,
is rapidly cooled, if placed in the sunshine
At the first appearance Of Blight the leaves
are suddenly wllted as if frost bitten.
Theories are worthless without facts TO prove
them. some twelve years ago, during the
winter, a load of manurc was placed in a few
feet of a young Bartlett Pear tree; in the
spring, the whole tree was forced into excess
i've wood growth, much more succulent than on
the Bartlctt's near. We had blighiino season,
and this tree bIightcl and was killed to the
roots, while the effect on those near, was scarce
ly perccptible. From this lesson, | have
learned never to manure, or even pillow my
orchard until the blighting season has passed.
Let tho soil remain closed dormant and cold,
and retard, not only the blooming season q
week or two, but also the rapid growth of
spring. The effect has been, that my blooming
season has been retarded so as to save several
crops, killed for my %neighbors, they blowing,
warming their soil, and Fastening their bloom
ing season, and my avoiding almost wholly the
blight.
On soil naturally, or artiilcially drained, this
excess OF moisture Is not thrown into the
leaves. So, in all new countries, while the soil
is porous, and The water sinks below the roots,
blight is never known; neither are the insects
destructive, which only make their appearance
as scavengers, to feed on the diseased and de-
composing secrctions, as they do on the body
and limbs, when the bark has been punctured
or liberated, and their numbers multiply with
the lucIpl spU emulation. runsipV a hliphtnI