Middletown transcript., 1899-08-19
PEAR BLIGHT
Method of Treatment for Disease Pre-.
scribed by state .i'atiIo.ogi-f

"The dying of tWi2a Oh fru tree:
says the Baltimore Sun, is caused by
sudden changes of weather, from very
bot and dry to wet weather, lasting
several days. The twigs v i'll nj innate
ly rot # J, but if the farmer has roth
| ing to do-which never happens-he
cd@ amuse himself by cutting them of
and burning. 1t is no disease. Some
varieties blight worse than others.
Such should be planted on slndy slopes.
Splitting the bark vel ically wi, b q
pockelknife seems to do much good.
The State pathologi,t should fiud out
whether the trouble is due to plethora
or embolism.n
In acc rdance with this sng ,estion
the matter was referred to Prof. U. G.
Townsend, the State patholngist, who
writes as follows:
sit is surprising That anyone, in the
light of the progress that has been
made in the study of pear blight dur
ing the past few years. should openly
proclaim that it is not disease. The
disease has been known for more
than q hundred years. For many
years it was known as the frozen sap
blight and was supposed to be due to
sudden changes in the weather, as
stated by DR.. Joyce. Iu receat years
the cause Of this disease has been pretty
thoroughly investigated by "a number
Of scientists, especially by Mr.. NJ. B.
Waite, of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture Washington, ID. c.
vt, organism (micrococus amlovor-
ous) that produces pear bligh: has been
separated from the tissues If diseased
trees, pure cultures have been produced
and from these cultures healthy trees
been inoculated, with the result that
the trees inoculated soon show signs of
the blight and contained the same
disease producing germs. This ex-
pertinent has beer repeated so often
and with such positive results that
there can be no longer any doubt in
regard to the cause of this disease. 1t
is unfortunate that no m re rapid
method has yet been found for combat
ing this disease, that is 80 widespread
and so destructive. While it some.
times looks like hopeless task for
farmers TO keep the blighted twigs and
branches cut out of his orchard, yet
this mt thod has been practiced very
successfully during the present season
by some Of the busiest farmers in the
State. 1t is true that the dead branch
es will fall off in some instances if left
to themselves, but that does not re-
move the disease-producing germs,
since The germs are not in the dead
but In the living part of the tree. For
this reason the branches should be cut
off from IL to 20 inches below the low
est dead point or spot.
1t is also true that this disease is
more prevalent after the changes in
weather indicated by DR.. joyce, but
this is because these weather conditions
are more favorable for the develop.
ment and multiplication Of the disease,
producing bacteria. 1t is to be hoped
more satisfactory method of treat
ing this disease will be found in the
near future. In the meantime, how
ever, is is advisable for all fluit grow.
ers who are interested in protecting
their trees against this disease to see
to it that all diseased branches and
taigs are removed from their trees as
soon as they appear. 1t would also he
for them to look occasionally
at their neighbors orchards, since these
are often carried from tree to tree and
orchald to orchard by the aid of bees"