The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1901-08-30
PEAR BLIGHT.
Carthagenian

PEAR BLIGHT.
Carthagenian.
Hon John S. Williams, who is ever
vigilant in looking after the interest
Of the people has sent US phamplet
relating to the blight, of pear, apple
and other kindred varieties of fruits,
the apple has almost disappeared
from the Gulf States in consequence
OF it's tendency to blight and die and
the pears with the exception of the
Keifer and Duchess, which appear to
resist the blight are in fair way to
follow the apple. There is excellent
reason for believing that the cultiva-
tion of pears, ounces and crab ap-
pies would De a profitable industry in
the South if blight, the dread enemy
of these fruits can be averted.
The pamphlet in question points
out the way to prevent or cxtermi-
nate the disease and we regret that
our space will not permit its pub)lca-
tion in full. 1t says that blight is
caused by minute microbes which at.
tack the blossoms and young twigs
and work their way down to the
branches and body of the trees
through the inner bark. The bacte-
ria are carried by insects from the
blossoms or the sweetish gum Of one
tree to another. thus spreading the
disease. As the microbes gain access
to the tree through the blossoms or
tender young shoots, the trees which
are too highly manured or cultivated
and which in consequence haye the
largest growth of young shoots are
most likely to suffer from the attacks.
Here is the treatment recommends
cd:
The treatment for pear blight may
be classed under two general heads:
| a. Methods which aim to put the
tree in a condition to resist blight or
render it less liable to the disease:
and (2.) methods for exterminating
the microbe itself, which is of first
importance, for il carried out fully
there can be no blight. The methods
under the first head must unfortun.
ately be directed more or less to check.
ing the growth Of the tree, and are
therefore undesirable except in cases
where it is thought that the blight
will eventually get beyond control in
the orchard. Under the head Of cul'
tural methods which hinder or favor
pear blight, as the case may be, the
following are the most important:
PRUNINe.-Prunirg in winter time
or when the tree is dormant tends tt
make it grow and form great deal OF
new wood, and on that account j,
favors pear blight. With holding th'
pruning knife, therefore may no
, otherwise be best for the tree, but j
will reduce to some extent its ten
dency to blight.
FERTILlz1NG.-The better tree !
, fed the worse 1T will fare when al
tackled by blight. Trees highl
manured with barnyard manures an
other nitrogenous fertilizers are e.
pecially liable to the disease Ovt
stimulation with fertilizers is to
avoided, especially II the soil I
: already we'll supplied.
: CULTIvATIoN.- The same remarl
II apply here as in the case OF fertilizin
A we'll cultivated tree Is more i
is clined to blight than one growing {
N sod or untitled land although the la
10 ter often blight badly. General
,t good tillage every year is necessary
s. the developement Of the pear al
ID ounce trees, and 1t is more or less
[e for the apples in many parts OF Il
s. country; but the thrift that makes
I'd tree bear good fruit also makes
ie susceptible to blight. Check the tr
by withholding tilage so that
Or makes short growth and bears sms
It. fruit and IL will be In better conc
Of tion TO withstand blight than
r. would we're it cultivated, In cas-
80 where thrifty orchards are attack
by blight and threatened with q
10 structi0n, it may often be desirable
y plow them once 10 the spring a.
~ \ harrow soon after the plowlng,
in plow them only, Or to withhold cul
n. walton for . year, moving the wee