Smyrna times., 1884-04-16
Peach Yellows.

Seveal months since we published
some interesting experiments of Prof.
ID. P. Penhallow, of McGill University,
Montreal, Canada, on the subject of
yellows in peach trees with some trees
for remedy. Below is further con-
tribution on the same subject that may
be OF interest to our peach growers:
In our studies of Peach Yellows dur
ing the past year, attention has been
chiefly directed to the collection of
general data, whether confirmatory of,
or in direct opposition to, the views
expressed i'll our last report. The
opinions therein given were not those
of preconceived ideas, but the logical
sequence of an unprecedented examina-
ton, and thus it is that, during the
year just past, we have welcomed data
both favorable and adverse to our
hypothesis, so long as received from a
reliable source. In the present paper
we therefore propose to place these
facts before fruit-growers, in the hope
that they may further aid in promot-
ing much-needed interest in very
important question. Some of the cor
respondence on the subject is of such a
nature ami from men so well qualified
to express an opinion, that it seems
worth while to introduce it here.
Mr.. William Saunders, of the De-
partment of Agriculture at Washing
ton, writes as follows:
About thirty years ago | came to
the conclusion that this disease was
one which originated from frost acting
upon unripened wood. | have never
known IL tree to have the yellOws
when placed in conditions where it's
wood became thoroughly ripened be-
] fore frost. circumstance, as you are
aware, which never occurs in the
! Northern States. Any application
which will hasten ripening of the
wood, will, therefore, have tendency
to ward of the conditions which make
it possible for the tree to show yellows.
This disease is to be seen ON other
plants which are similarly placed, and
it was that observation which first led
me to look for the cause of peach yell
lows in that direction"
Last years report stated that "iniury
may be inflicted by the action of frost
and Winter-killing of portions of the
tree. In this way reduced vitality
may be produced, but the general tes-
timony seems to show that the active
cause of the trouble is not to be found
here"
Mr.. Saunders views are the only
ones so far received which seem to rem.
der modification of this expression at
all necessary, but it seems very doubt
ful if even his opinion will materially
weaken our position when we careful,
ly examine his statement.
That peach-wood never Thoroughly
ripens in the Northern States before
frost is stating the case a little toe
strongly, but upon this point there i.
likely to be room for a difference o.
opinion. The fact that buds are Win
ter-killed does not prove immaturitN
of the wood. The effect of frost upoI
unripened wood is to kill it with thu
first advent of cold in the autumn
though this may not be rendered eyi
dent until late in the Winter, or early
in the Spring, when the color of decay
! appears. If wood is capable of with
standing the changes of Winter in .
J given latitude, and in the followin,
; Spring produces vigorous growth, i
: is fair to assume that, for that plac
and for the peculiar conditions O
growth there found, the structure i
well matured. Granting that woot
{ does not mature in Massachusetts
what will Mr.. Saunders say of New
J Jersey? That is State where tn
: yellows have developed notoriousl,
for years, but it cannot be said wit
truth that the wood fails to mature
In New York there is little or no diff
Guilty with regard to ripening of tn
growth in the Fall. Exceptional case
have shown Winter-killing FROM thi
cause, but the frosting might have bee
prevented by proper treatment. Ye
the yellows appeared some time since
and the disease is rapidly increasing
Again, are we also to believe that /
Delaware and in Pennsylvania, th
probable home of the disorder, the We
lows originates in frost? The state
ment of Mr.. Saunders that "this dis
ease is to be seen on other plant
similarly placed leads us to behev
his diagnosis of the yellows has misle
d him, and he has mistaken some othe
n disorder for it. sf s Gas
IS Mr.. III. III. Appleton, of Odessa, Del
Writes. sWH u8l7tGJ Euu sssW 948QSG
= This is the center of the oldes
peach district in the State now CROWN
orchards, the peach having b0en a leai
ing agricultural product here for til
n past twenty-five years during whie
2. time this vicinity has been known an
noted for the productiveness of I'll
yield and superior quality of the frui
"As. in other localities where peacl
orchards have been grown continuou
!, ly1 for number of years, they al
;, gradually yielding to the advance
the common enemy. the time depen'
!, ing in a greater or less degree upon Il
:. strength and vigor impaired by Il
by use of potash aud other fertilizir
agencies. The writer has for sever
years past been experimenting vii
muriate of potash applied in variol
quantities, both separate and mike
II. with dissolved bone in properties
It varying from 400 to 600 pounds +
nu muriate to one ton of the composition
and though it cannot be. said that
;. any instance the yellows have ev
= been cured or prevented from sprea
ny ing when once the trees have heoon
y. affected, yet in cases where the abo
*, applications bad been made, the spre
me of the disease has been sIolper, and I
nj s.,o. .s.o.o ~,,o1,,otixa arI l0no