The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-02-10
horticultural Note.

PEAR BLIGHT.
iEead before the Allen Co Horticultural
society by B. r Panooast
The form of fermentation chat we
are most familiar with is Called yeast.
This can be shown to he identical with
what is known as "Pear Blight''
when examined with a microscope of
sufficient power to enable us 70 study
its form and habits, we find it to be
an elongated cell possessing motion
and life, capable ofreproduction when
favorable conditions are present, with
wonderful rapidity. These conditions
are moisture and warmth, as it be-
comes dormant when dry or in a
freezing temperature and is destroyed
by heat. When dry it floats i'm the
atmosphere and is present under all
conditions of the atmosphere, and In
fact performs an essential part in all
the changes and transformation that
matters are subject too.
In preserving fruits or any sub
stance from decay, destroy all spores
Of Bacteria with heat, seal mp tight
Enough to prevent their entrance and
decay "nver ensues.
In pear blight it always commences
in the yolsuS and tender shoots which
have been injured or broken by winds
passing to the older wood and finally
to the roots destroying the entire
tree.
After blight has commenced the
only remedy is to cut Off the affected
parts. But preventatives can be used
that in many cases have proven very
effective.
Hardness of wood, close grained
bark having elasticity and strength
to withstand severe winds, foliage
free from diseases commonly known
as leaf fungus are desirable to attain
to these conditions. The following is
recommended: Spray with Bordeaux
mixture: Sulphate copper, six pounds;
stone lime, four pounds; water, fifty
gallons. To attain vigorous healthy
growth, deep soil well drained, fer
tilted with sulphate Of Iron, potash,
wood ashes and soda, etc. Manures
from the chicken yard are rich In
lime potash and are not injurious.
To sum the matter to few words I
recapitulate as follows:
l. Blight is fermentation.
2. Fermentation cannot ensue if
the Bacteria and its germs are exclud-
ed from the starch and sugar OF which
the bulk of the tree is composed.
3. The bark is the natural protect
ion and if it is kept "air tight' blight
cannot take place.
es the tree is made.
3. Thin and imperfect leaves forms
thin and imperfect bark, fungus
growths attack and iDjure the leaves,
mineral poisOns are all destructive of
fungi, 20 use them they must be in q
soluble state, to get them so acids
must be used, acids are destructive to
the fibrOus nature of foliage and must
be neutralized by an alkali. Copper
has been found to be the most effective
Of any of the minerals hence we have
as the best preparation the Bordeaux
mixture.
Leaves to the tree are analogous to
the lungs in the human system
Tubercles in the human lungs pro-
duce the same effect as the fungus
growth on the leaves produce in the
trees, hence we have the consumption.
Must we not expect a similar result
in the vegetable disease as in the
human?
Who does not know the effect of
overlooking human animal, it will
be the same with the tree, it produces
bulk but not strength. Give the tree
as well as the children healthy tonics
know of none better than Iron and
potash in some easy soluble form.
B. F. PANCOAsT.