The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-01

den Of fruit, have never been fortified at
all In the language of Mr.. 7. E. Biackshear,
than whom there is no more experienced
and intelligent fruit grower in this region,
4 sit is the petted and pampered orchards that
are suffering" In the cou So Of our ride,
which extended to Mr.. L. L. Varnedoe's
J farm, found this remark fully substan-
tiated in the condition Of the groves seen
| by the way.
| Those that had been the most neglected
were the healthiest. There is no Disgusting
the fact that in the old orchards the
BLIGHT Is QUITE GENERAL
Owing, however, to the great abundance
of fruit on the younger stocks the prese It
season, despite the losses from the old trees,
which in some orchards will amount to one
half, President H. II. Sanford is of the
opinion that as many pear will be marketed
this year as in 1888, and some growers
| assert that the yield will be even greater
1t is claimed that if the blighted limbs are
removed, the tree will recover its former
Yigor. But in some cases almost all the tops
of the trees are already dead. Under
these circumstances, the remedy, of
course, would be to cut them down below
the affected parts. Mr.. Blackshear believes
that the bli ght was caused by the cod in
January when the fruit buds were just put
ting rth with no folia 20 to protect them.
Another theory held by some, is that the
disease is due to the ravages OF minute in
sect that has perforated the outer cuticle Of
the bark and saps the life of the limb.
Others still. and they are in the majority
firm that neither quidnuncs nor any one
else can offe satisfactory solution Of the
blight problem.
A SCIENTIST TO THE RESCUE.
Just at thi critical, moment, Uncle Sam has
sent an attache of the department Of agri-
.,,1ft fo hrin / ynf
out of darkness and lay bare tie causes of
this dire visitation.
Tue pr ,fessor is a very bright aud Guilt
waited gentleman, but as dumb as an oyster
when Intercepted by a press represe nta-
tive.
Happily, however, when taken off guard
in his Intercourse with the citizens, he has
unwarily let fall some inkling as to the re-
suit Of his Investigations. According to the
information given me by several intelligent
citizens, who believe they report the pro-
lessor correctly, he pronou Ices this blight
precisely the same as that which attacks
the pear trees of the north and west. More
over, he saws it is caused by
VEGETABLE BACTERIA,
and may be communicated to pear orchards
from the crab apple, haw thorn, or any
other tree of a kind ed nature that may
chance to be infected with them. No rem
edy in the premi,es was sugg ested. l give
the statement precisely as it was received,
without any personal lndorse nent | 4 my
explanations, however, I observed that the
Duchess and Bartlett pear trees were sim
ilarly affected, but in much greater de-
gree.
The professor las a superb microscope
of $500 magnifying power, which assists
him n little in his investigate s. He is
doing bis work thoroughly and seems
resolved to throw all possible light upon
the situation.
For the statements and facts which have
been used in this communication / am
mainly indebted 30 Messrs H. H. Sanford,
Thomas E. Blackshear, L. L. Var edoe, ].
0. Varnedoe, A. T. Mcintyre, s. J. Cassels,
d. II. Hopkins and express and railway
officials.