Daily Republican., 1889-04-24

Correspondence OF the DAILY RErunLr.
CAN.
Dover, Del, April 3.-The "yellows"
Ia disease of the peach tree known for
about one hundred years. It's first re
corded Appearance locates It In the VI
cinity Of Philadelphia, whence It grAdu-
ally extended to most OF the Eastern
peach-growing distrlcts-irom Georgia to
Connecticut aud from the Atlantic to the
Mississippi river. AS first symptoms, the
fruit ripens too soon, and is spotted both
In skin ard flesh. This fruit is usually
insipld. Next are growths OF tufts on
trunks and brancles, which finally be-
come yellow, and the tree dies In three or
four years.
AS De'Rwate State alone, on good
authority, has been estimated 10 market
from three million to four million dollars'
worth OF reaches In good bearing years,
1t Is au important question to the several
peaeh-growing states and TO the people of
the United States, What causes the peach
yellowsf
1t has been TO both our instruction and
pleasure since coming here two weeks
ago 10 enjoy, as frllow -boarders, some
conversations with Prof. Erwin Y. Smith
of the University OF Michigan aud ageu
OF tho United States Government aerlcul-
tural bureau III charge OF the work for
two years past in Delaware and Marylaud
study, experiment and investigation of
the cause aud remedy of the disease, to
whom We are indebted for tho informa-
ton OF this letter A harder working,
more practical, intensely earnest and
Jealous student one could not desire to
meet The ripper deductions of his past
and present practical experiments are ex-
peeted two years hepce. When the cause
or causes arc once clearly and definitely
discovered aud fixed the remedy Is ex-
pected TO DO found.
NUMEROUS THEORIES OF CAUSE.
Among these are the following, each OF
which has earnest advocates:
l. Freezing IN the winter. 2. Early
fall frost before the maturity OF The wood,
8. Excessive rainy reasons. But on the
contrary the advocates oil excessive
drouthe are quite as positive. 4. Many
think the whole trouble is In the nursery.
That trees are propnga'ed unnaturaliy
by budding rather than directly from tie
steds. b. Others think the whole
trouble comes nom selecting pits Cor
stones) for the nursery that are diseased.
o. Neglect of pruoing and cultivation.
ANNNNpAfS NulhANatlOHs o. any hDEL Oh
injuries to roots by borers, &c, 81,
Injuries to roots from trausplantlng. 10,
Root aphides. IL. Spreading from tee
70 tree by diseased pollen earrl.d by in
seete. II. Germ disease spread by meaus
of pruning knives, saws or by ordinary
budding in nursery and other ways not
clearly defined. Is. Some think 1t en-.
tirely n root disease due TO fungus.
While the cause Is rot yet definitely
settled, the probabilities point to Its being
germ disease. it can be spread from
diseased TO healthy trees by inte ting dis
eased buds. And then the dieease will 90
all through the tree and kill It,
Among i's freaks are the facts that Of u
season, large numbers, sometimes five
hundred trstSin one orchard, will appear
with 1t. Trees once attacked never re-
cover. ,,s,,I o.s.
TO md Its ca,sel n iurge number Of
experiment. re unjer way to determine
whether any application to the soil of
ash constituents OF the peach tree and
chemicals will have any restricting, cura-
tive or other effect,
Every facility Is enjoyed for complete
and thorough tests. 1t occurred to me,
the foregoing, as matter OF general in for
nation, might interest your many thou.
Shuus vi lntciIBtub TtAutTS. NOI KNOW
ing b C of the peach yeliowa, 1t inter
ested me to see practical, scientific
specialist with his learned books, bis
microscope and sowing his specially pre-
pared phosphates, taking down his notes,
drawings, etc. The peach yellows Ia Ger.
tatnly an occult and difficult queation,
and the man who masters II will do his
country and humanity great service
JOHN @. HARKNFss.