Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-09-09
PEACH YELLOWS.


The Connecticut Peach Crop-Impor-
tance of Prompt Action-The Board
of agriculture Takes a Hand.
To the Editor OF the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
The Importance of the subject and the
necessity of prompt action induces me to
ask the press of Connecticut to give circu-
lation to the accompanying report of Nor
man S. Platt, Esq, of Cheshire, who has
just returned from visit to the peach
orchards of Michigan, member of the
board of agriculture, and well-known
and successful fruit apltivator and nur-
seryman.
1t is by the advice of many members of
the board that this request is made, for
success requires concerted action. Not
only must diseased trees be destroyed, but
the stones of affected fruit. Yours re-
spectfully, T. S. GOLD,
Sec. Conn. Board of Agriculture.
Hon. T. S. Gould, Secretary Connecticut
Board of Agriculture:
address you at this time in regard to
making an effort to control peach yellows
in this state The situation warrants and
demands immediate action from any
source having authority in the matter.
1t was planned for and greatly desired
that we might have yellows law in oper-
alton the present season, and one was
framed and presented to the legislature
last winter, but no action was taken.
Thus we have no law on the subject, nor
| is there any general sentiment or custom
| leading the owners of peach trees to eradi-
| cate the diseased ones, but they are left to
| live out their short life and scatter disease
meanwhile, which they are sure to do,
among all the surrounding trees. Where
this practice prevails, it is question of
only few years, (about four or fve), be-
| fore the whole orchard is overrun with it
and it is worthless.
Our people should wake up to the i'm
portapce of destroying Immediately all dis,
Every tree that has the yellows, no mat
ter how slight the attack, should come
| down as soon as noticed without waiting
| for the fruit to ripen or the sun to set.
| One of the reasons why Immediate action
| is necessary, is because one of the plainest
signs of the yellows is seen in the fruit
and the crop for this season will soon be
off the tree. 1t frequently happens, that
except in this fruit no other sign of disease
appears for a year or two, but the disease
is there and have no doubt is spreading
| 1uChu WAALC W hO13hOOAAhS oAOOo. L h'
Distinguishing marks of yellows in thu
fruit, are red spotted appearance. The
red extending through the flesh to tn
stone. This fruit ripens prematurely
Another sign of the disease is the growth
on the trunk OF main branches of summe
shoots, feeble and broomlike with marrow
and yellowish leaves. These two sign'
are now universally considered as infalli
BILE evidence of the presence of the disease
and either one should condemn the tree tt
immediate destruction.
I have been impelled to write at thi
length because in recent visit to tn
peach belt of Michigan at and near Soutl
Haven. The orchards themselves and in
terviews with the orchardists and yellow
commissioners have convinced me- tina
the yellows can be controlled, and, tina
the only remedy now known is exter
mination. No hesitation, no procastina
ton, not even the benefit of doubt should
be allowed.
write to you as secretary of the boart
of agriculture as perhaps the best way tt
reach and influence the public and hop
you will be able to gain the ear and at
tention of all growers of peach trees.
Respectfully,
NORMAN s. PIATT