The Delaware farmer., 1883-08-24
"YemewsH in the Peach.

In number of our peninSular exchanges we
have seen accounts of disease afiectlgg the
peach trees Of their lOculiues that from its descnp.
tion, we judge is rightly called "the yeowsr
The trees are reported to show the first appear
auce Of the disease by prematurely ripening their
fruit, and the following year they put out fine
and abnormal growth of young wood; dying dur
I ing the third year. Tue disease is also reported
as spreading from one tree to those adjacent
This is so like "the Yellows" that we fear the Nh.
welcome scourge Of the peach orchard has come
to torment our growers.
1t has hitherto been our boast that a genuine
case OF the AelloWS was unknown ON this penin-
sula. Because of the long exemption which
peach trees have here enjoyed from this disease
it was hoped that there had been found conn
try where either SOIL or climate, or other condi
tOns, were barrier to the worst enemy of the
peach.
Whether it is the Yelows or not, that is killing
the trees as reported, 1--WE have not yet seen
genuine cure Of YeIIows in Delaware prompt
measures can be taken that will kill this disease
In our youth, We saw many trees taken in the
early stages Of the Yellows, and wholly cured
with hot water theatment. cavity was made
in the earth surrounding the crown of the roots.
and boiling hot water from the nozzle of tea
kettle was poured against, and around, the trunk
OF the tree, about foot above the earth. untlit
ran down into the cavity about the tree and qaite
covered the roots at the crown. This treatment
will thoroughly cook the millions of threadlke
ibers Of the tnngi which, with glass, way be
found beneath the bark OF the roots. By digging
around peach tree with tue Yelows. there will
be found a very sensible "MushFoomvu smell
which is occasiOned by the fungus growth be.
meath the bark. OF these fungus ibers the
Gardeners Monthly says: "These eat the Young
hbers and leave only the main root, through
which all the nutrimentO the plant has to be gail
cred; and as an old root is unable to do much
more than draw in water, the tree becomes in a
measure starved, and the leaves become yellow
just as they would be If growing in poor soil
which, though the plant might have plenty OF
rOOts furnished nothing for the roofs to eat. To
have plenty OF roots and no food is equivalent to
plenty of food and no roots. Tie effect on the
plant is just the same. Hence, remedies which !
ook to the destruction of this root parasite are
employed. Hot water has done it; so has weak /
solution OF salt; Others have found a solution Of [
'Otash succeed. The exact nature of this fungus I
las not been investigated to entire satisfaction. t
This one may enter Tito the circulation of the 7
liant, and exist in thatcase as an apparently dis. q
inct species, extending through the tissue, and 5
destroying 1t as it goes. This seems likely from
ONE experiments Ofthe Department Of Agricul. Il
1re. AT any rate it is generally believed that a
ud, or even knife used in pruning diseased 0
roe, will communicate the disease TO a healthy {,
ne"
The remedies suggested may be considered he. Ii
Oic ones, and by some 1t may be feared that hot a
'ater will kill the tree But in the spirit of the 81
erman who was not certain if man made a a
og OF himself that lager would not intoxicate
lOugh he had taken hundred glasses a day p
tthOut being drunk, so we say of hot water on H
le peach tree; it may be possible to kill the g
each tree by flooding it, but we have generally 81
,ed half gallon ofbOaing toater to a tree four W
ches in diameter and have yet to see the first a.
ee killed by it: and YET to see the first one so =
eated that was not benefited by the treat.
ent.
1t may be impossible for man having hun
ed acres in peaches, 10 treat his whole orchard
hot water bath; but the yellows seldom at.
cksa whole orchard at once; SO if our growers
ii keep a sharp watch for the first appearance
the disease and stop the trouble there, they
II find the task a less difficult one than they
ly now imagine. When q few trees have :
en- thus found and "dOctored," it is good
igement to put some ashes around the other
,es Of she orchard.