Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-09-26
Peach YelIOES.

has recently begun To develop quite
rapidly in Virginia and reports
from Delaware indicate that it is
again beginning to make unusual
headway in that State also. Prompt
action in destroying affected trees
Is generally advised to control it.
No one has yet discovered the
specific cause or cure for this dis
ease though thousands of dollars
have been spent by the l.. :.
Department of Agriculture i'm
studying It. 1t is well known.
however, that it spreads with GER
tainty and is quite sure to DESTROY
the trees 1t attacks. Every one is
familiar with the history of the
outbreak IN Michigan, New Jersey.
Delaware and eastern Maryland.
where the peach industry was bad
~ injured before the growers
learned to control it. 1t is difficult
for any one who is not familiar
with the disease to realize how
rapidly 1t spreads and how de-
Structive it is to the peach.
The fruit usually ripcnS prcma-
tureIy on trees attacked by yellows.
The peaches ON one or more limbs
may ripen while those on the rest
of the tree are still perfectly green.
yet in other cases the difference
may not be so marked. Such fruit
Is likely 10 have rays of discolora-
tlon extending from the pit out
ward and Is often inSipid or even
bitter to the taste. \ well defined
case usually shows bushN growth
OF slender, wiry twigs at the base
of the limbs, but often these slender
twlgs occur at the ends of the limbs.
and they usually form late i'm the
season after other growth has
ceased. The leaves on these abnor-
mai twigs are usually much smaller
and more pointed than healthy
leaves. The tree Is we'll on the
decline at this stage.
No peach trees with an authentic
case of ycllows have been known
to recover.
The disease will spread to other
trees near and destroy them also.
At present no real remedy is
known where once tree has been
attacked 10y yellows. but the disease
can be controlled readily by de-
stroying the trees as soon as they
show the first symptoms. We NAV
call this a drastic procedure, but it
has been we'll demonstrated that it
Is effective, inaSmuch as the disease
does not spread to any great ex-
tent if this method is followed up
carefully.
The disease can be controlled
and prevented from causing serious
injury, but all the growers must
act in concert, and trees must not
be allowed to stand after they show
the first symptoms of the disease.
If diseased trees are allowed tc
stand until they become badly
affected the disease will continue
to spread rapidly.
Examine every tree in the
orchard during the period Just be,
fore the fruit is expected to ripper
and destroy every tree as soon as
it shows the first symptoms of the
disease premature ripening OF
fruiD. Do it now. This is the
only method known at present by
which the peach industry can b,
made profitable in the section.
where this disease is prevalent.
Dig the trees up by the roots
pile them in heaps and burn them
or, chop them off, leaving the stub,
by which they may be pulled on
at the earliest convenient time. ID,
not stop when all diseased trees il
the orchards have been destroyed
but see that every old Seeding il
your fence corners and along tn,
roads is destroyed,
Do not confuse this disease witt
yellow leaves and the general de
cline of peach orchards. Tree
badly injured by borers or in bat
condition from other causes ma,
ripen their fruit prematureIy (tree
in this condition are worthless) bu
it will usually be in about the sam
condition over the entire tree.
j. l.. PmLIIPS,
State EntOmologist.