The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-09-18

|areS~ PealE#E-E- gsTNl ArF.feAa-4 sFNIFrNses
From present Indications, 1T is ey-
ident that peach growers in certain
sections 6fs west pIrgfnia are becom-
ing somewhat alarmed and probably
rightly o on account Of the preya:
lence Of peach yeIlowS In their own
and in their neighbors' orchards. Tile
disease not only occurs In the orch.
ards III many parts offthe state but
there are diseased trees scattered
about on the farms, In the gardens
and yards in cities and villages and
there Is an occasional affected tree
growing by the roadside Z
Because q peach tree has yellow
foliage it does not necessarily follow
that 1t has the lisease$knoWn Is the
peach yellow. The yeHowlng may
be duet other causes, such as Dor
ers in the trunk, insects feeding on
the rootss insufficient moisture, or to
improper cultivation. ana If these con
ditions are removed the rec may
gradually take on the normal green
color OF q healthy tree.
The principal indications of peach
yellows are ID a premature rfpen-
ing Of the fruit, the fruit being Of
inferior quality and usually marked
with red spots, and ~ a premature
developments of the winter buds into
short branches with small yellow
leaves. When a peach which shows
the red spots on the skin is cut open,
the red color is found to extend in
ward toward the pit in narrow bands
In the last stages OF the disease
there are often broom1tke growths,
composed of short branched twigs
with yellow leaves. on the trunk and
main branches. While the above are
the principal Indications of the dis
ease, they vary somewhat with the
progress the disease has made and
the age of the tree.
Peach yellows is known to be a
contagious disease, and like other con-
tagious diseases, 1t will in time
sprenl from one tree and locality TO
other unless something is done to
1t, so that in a few years at most, an
epidemic Of peach yellows may be
expected in those localities where It
is now present. While mere may mot
yet be suncfent cause for general
alarm, in the writer's opinion, 1udg-
ing from what he has seen in a num-
Der Of large peach orchards, an extra
effort should be made to control this
disease which is much a menace to
the peach industry in other parts OF
the United States.
Those who nave had experience
with peach yellows know that when a
tree has the genuine ye1lows 1t is
doomed sooner or later. A tree may
live for several years after It begins
to show signs of having the yellows,
and may possibly bear a few, small,
insfpid peaches, but FOR all practical
purposes it, is worthless and becomes
a source Of infection for other peach
tree growing near 1t. There is no
known cure for peach FELLOWS.
Peach growers should exercise
great care in purchasing trees for
planting. SO as not to introduce the
disease into their orchards from an
infected nursery. The disease is
readily transferred to stocks budded
with buds taken from diseased trees.
However. the nursery 1t not the only
place where the disease may be con-
tracted. Young trees that are. per.
fectly healthy when planted in an in
fected orchard may take the disease,
SO also may old trees if diseased
trees are planted near them.
DR.. Erwin F. Smith, of the United