The Advocate and news., 1898-03-23
Pear Blight.

Pear Blight.
The worst enemy the pear grower has
to contend with is the blight. 1t is
caused by O minute insect that in count
less numbers attack the young tender
twig growth causing 1t to wither and
die and eventually poisoning and killing
the entire tree.
The more rapid and tender the twig
growth the more likely 1t Is to be as
sailed by this little parasite. Hence
tender and rapidly growing varieties
should be retarded In growth so that
the young twigs will be harder and
drier and thus rendered less suscepti-
BILE to the blighting insect. Trees that
are heavily manured or grown in very
rich soil are especially subject to this
blight for the quickly grown twlgs are
very tender and juicy. Hence they
should be planted in light soil enriched
only by blowing under green crops such
as clover or cOw-peas. Some farmers
have had good success In preventing
the blight by keeping the ground around
the trees in heavy blue grass sod,
which seemed to retard the growth OF
the wood. Some have tried root prun-
ing successfully by cutting around the
trees with q spade In the early summer
and thus checking the rapid growth. Cut
ting back fully one-half Of the seasons
growth before any blight appears will
make the rest Of the young wood harden
I'D earlier and 1t will not be so suscep-
tible to blight. This can be easily and
quickly done with o pair Of hedge shears
while standing on the ground when the
trees are small and from a step ladder
when the trees are larger. This cutting
back will check the upward growth and
make the trees branch lower and cause
the fruit buds to develop so as to pro-
duce a better crop Of fruit the next
season.
The insect which causes the blight
spreads rapidly and is easily communi-
Gated to other trees and may be blown
by the wind a long distance. When
the first blight appears the twigs
showing 1t should be Immediately
burned where they are and for several
inches below the blight, and they should
not be cut off and carried around to
scatter the minute insects wherever the
bllghted twigs are taken. The burning
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be done with large tin kerosene lamp
attached to a pole, such as wide-awake
clubs carry for torch lights. What Is
better but far more expensive, Is gasO-
line blowing lamp such as painters use
for burning old paint from wood work;
this will consume the blighted twigs ef-
fectively and almost instantly. A sim
pier and cheaper instrument Is made by
tying o small bundle of old rags on one
end OF an iron rod two or three feet
long with wire such as Is used for bail
ing hay, and then tying the other end
to a long pole, saturate the rags with
kerosene, set them on fire, and they will
make a blazing torch that will last for
long time and is easily renewed. With
either Of these implements on his shoul-
ders man or boy can pass quickly
along row OF pear trees and burn the
blighted twigs on the trees, destroying
the blight much more easily and effect
lively and without the danger OF scatter
ing the insects which is sure to follow
when the twigs are cut off and carried
away. The burning should be repeated
every few days until not a vestige OF
the blight remains and 1t should be ap-
piled to all trees where any blight ap-
pears. Here ounce trees blight the
worst Of all and are short-lived for that
reason. Crab apples and some apple
trees are subject to blight and should be
treated in the same way. All blight
should be burned on the tree wherever
and as soon as 1t appears.
II kept free from blight more money
can be obtained from an acre of pear
trees than from almost any other kind
Of fruit, and with less labor, for by