Middletown transcript., 1905-09-09
PEACH YELL0WS
A Time OF Danger Therefore a Time
for Action

TOR AcIl0n
For several years past the peach vel
lows in Delaware orchards has been con-
fined almost entirely TO few old trees.
and growers have hoped that the disease
would never again be as virulent as it was
some years ago. But this year it has APP
peared, here and there, in orchards only
three or four years old. Not many trees
are affected, perhaps only one, or posi-
bly, four or five, in thousand. Yet the
trouble is found in SO many of the or
chards in the infected districts of the
State that the situation willie not neces-
sarily alarming is indeed serious. Great
losses are sure to occur if prompt mea-
sures are not taken to suppress the dis
e Sc. The repetition OF the scourge that
swept over New Castle county thirty or
forty years ago and later spread down the
State affecting all Of Kent and part Of
Sussex, must be prevented. 1t is posi-
BILE to prevent it. The disease can be
controlled. The stamping out process
is an effective preventive. Cutting out
all diseased trees as soon as discovered
will result in saving the orchards. The
experience in Michigan for more than a
quarter OF century proves this assertion.
The experience in other states adds fur
tier proof. 1t is now almost unani-
mously agreed that the prompt destruc-
ton OF all diseased trees, with replantings
to replace those destroyed, results in keep
ing the orchard unbroken. Mr.. Roland
Morrill,, OF Michigan. has rigidly practiced
the plan Of cutting out and replanting;
and at the meeting of the Peninsula Hor-
ticultural Society held in Middletown.
Delaware, in 1901, said: owe do not
cure the yellows. We simply inspect our
orchards every week, and if we find
single premature peach or other signs of
yellows, we dig the tree out and chop it
up, pull out the root, pile it all OH an or
chard wagon, cover it tightly and haul it
away to be burned. root and branch. In
my orchard the following spring we dig
hole where this diseased tree stood, three
by three and one-half feet and haul out
the old earth. We fill up this hole with
new earth to give the new tree vigorous
start. I have never had the yellows in
tree among my replants. In spite Of the
III I'd I,a
cause we replant as the trees 60 out"
The Michigan fruit growers lose less than
one tree in hundred, whereas before
their laws went into effect, whole or
chards were swept out every year.
A peach tree with the yellows is
worthless tree, and as long as it stands
is menace to all the trees about it. The
United States Government spent many
thousand Of dollars trying to discover the
nature of this disease and cure for it,
but did not succeed. While many inves-
tigators have worked on the problem no
one has solved it. They show only that
whatever the nature of the trouble, there
is no cure, and the only method of effec-
tive control is the immediate destruction
OF diseased trees. Delaware orchardists
should, therefore, make frequent exam
nations during the remainder Of this sea-
son and destroy Immediately all trees
which show the characteristic symptoms
Of yellows.
The Delaware law expressly provides
that it shall be the duty Of the State Board
IF Agriculture to warn the orchardists OF
The danger Of peach ,ellows as well,as of
other diseases and pets, and authorizes
he Board to provide for the inspection Of
orchards and the destruction of diseased.