Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-04
..YELLows"IN PEACH ORCHARDS.
Ravages OF the Disease I'm Maryland
serIous Loss to Growers.

A Chestertovn correspondent OF the
Baltimore Sun writes Now that the large
peach crop is about to be gathered. the
| farmers are confronted with an unfore-
seen and most formidable enemy in the
form Of disease known as "peach-yel-
lows" This dreaded disease has made
It's first appearance in the neighborhood
of Still Pond, the peach centre OF Kent
county. MIR. James Harris, large ship
per. reports his orchards as being badly
damaged bv tho disease. Mr.. James
Hurt, who owns eight thousand trees,
is SO badly affected that he will ac-
cept $500 for the whole. He, to-
gether with Mr.. Harris and others of
Still Pond neighborhood, shipped this
week Crawford Late and Smock peaches.
two varieties which will not on healthy
trees be in condition 10 market for at
least five weeks Mr.. William Arch.
bald, OF the same neighborhood, reports
his orchard as looking like fire had
swept over il. Only two cases are Ne
ported in this locality, those of Mr..
Charles Hurtock, near Fairlee, and Mr..
Samuel Vannort's farm. neal. Hanesyil!e /;
the latter has dug the diseased trees up.
Mr.. Stephen Boyer, of Sassafras, reports
q number OF orchards in the upper part
of the county afflicted, and states that
for one Of his farms he purchased
1900 trees, and when three years
old. discovering three with the
yellows, dug them up, and no
other tree took the disease for sixteen
wears. There is no hope for r. tree when
once attacked, and not much for its
nelehbors if it is allowed to remain in
proximity. The trouble is not believed
to be in the soil, for in sle case OF the
ve-mentioned orchard, from the very
spots whence Mr.. Boyer removed the
! three diseased trees he successfully grew
! others. This disease is sometimes mani
tested the first year by the fruit ripening
prematurely without any other visible
sign of disease. Tire following year
it masiiests itself by numerous
wiry branches in Tufts growing on
the main branches, with leaves about
one third the natural size. Premature
fruit is an infallible sign OF the presence
of tie disease. Tie "yeilows " first APP
peared in the vicinity OF Philadelphia in
1900. and is confined to the United
States. The Government has come to
the aid OF the farmers, but as yet has
failed to help them any. Mr.. n. Bar
nard, Of Still Pond, will bud 200 trees
from diseased trees for the Government,
which will be planted in different parts
Of the United States and carefully
watched for the purpose OF proving
whether or not the disease can be spread
by budding from diseased stock. Mr..
| Il. p. Janvier, of the same neighbor-
hood, who has had much experience in
thisline. gives the following as the result
The first yellows is caused by micro
scopic fungi, or animalcules, which being
waited by the wind indefinite distances
with the pollen from diseased trees. and
this falling on tree susceptible to its
attack, burrows beneath the outer'bafb,
and in some way stimulates the tree at
the place it burrows to throw out an an
normal growth. The disease can only
spread by means of the pollen. If this
growth be out ont or pulled off before it
has tine to throw off the pollen from
fruit buds, the tree is just as well pro
tected, aud all danger of infection to
other trees prevented as though cut
down. The premature fruit, he says, is
caused by injected pollen reaching the
good buds in the spring, and not by any
disease in the tree.
The farmers are very much worried,
and this trouble is the daily topic Of con-
versation in Kent county.