The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-10-23
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.



The subject of pear blight is one that
interests every owner Of pear tree. This
prevalent disease has wholly falsified the
old saying, "Who plants pears, works
for his heirs" for he who plants this
fruit now finds his trees and his hopes
both blighted very early. But the close
observation and study of pomologists and
microscopists are beginning to bear fruit,
and promise soon to find way to check
or evade this fatal disorder. 1t has been
observed that the disease attacks the
trees at the flowers, from which it spreads
to the fruit spurs and thence to the
branches. The immediate cutting away
of these diseased parts (and we would
suggest the immediate protection of the
wounded wood by covering of varnish
or liquid grating wax stops the in
lection and prevents further growth. 1t
not only destroys the disease germs,
Chat is, If they are carefully burned as
they should be), but it prevents further
injection, because there are no more
Vulnerable spots where other germs
floating about in the air seeking favor
able opportunities for sowing themselves
can find resting places.
This behavior of pear blight has been
made text for one of the bulletins of
the New York experiment station; and.
after stating the facts which have been
observed, Professor Arthur, of the sta
ton. concludes as follows:
"These are the facts. They explain
the phenomena of pear blight in this
way: The disease is due to living germs.
These germs can live and multiply in.
IN II Il,
is decomposing vegetable matter. From
such places they are raised into the air
when dry, or carried up by moisture.
From the air they lodge upon the trees,
and when the conditions are favorable
pass into the tissues and cause the blight.
The conditions referred to are in general
~ very tender tissues, such as arc found
within the flowers and at the ends of
expanding shoots, and (2) moist at
nosphcre. No varieties are entirely
blightproof, but the disease spreads so
slowly in some that they receive little
injury, especially when not making too
rapid growth. The reason why the blight,
when seen in July and later, does not
pass directly from one limb to
another, or from one tree to
another, is because, in the first
place the germs cannot escape, beinr
confined by the bark, or else escape in a
viscid emulation which holds them firm
ly together, and in the second place there
are very few places on the tree at this
time OF the year where the surface It's
sues are sufficiently tender for them to
find an entrance. Does not all this sup-
gest some thoughts regarding proven
tives and remedies2 Do not force the
trees into too rapid growth by heavy
tertilizlng or otherwise. Place no con.
fdencc in sulphur lime, or washes, and
applications of any sort. Promptly re-
move every trace of the disease a foot or
more below the lowest spot where it
shows, and burn the branches
There is no reason why we should re-
fuse to plant pears. There are some
varieties which seems to be blight proof.
In the writer's orchard Clapp's Favorite,
Seckel, Tyson, Manning's Elizabeth,
Lawrence, Beurre d'Aniou, Bonnie de
Jersey, and Gansell's Bcrgamont, all ex-
celent varieties, and giving consider
able range of season, have never shown
any inclination to blight. while Bons.
sock and BARTLETT have been wholly de-
stroyed by it; yet the infection has not
spread to the others varieties grown all
around and among the rows of Bartletts.
-Neto York Times.