The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-10
PEACH FELLOWS
ORCHARD DISEASE
1t Has Been Working Havoc In
Virginia Peach Orchards
OF Late.
IT CAN BE EASILY CURED
Professor Phillips, Of Blacksburg,
Gives Interesting Facts and
Figures On the Subject.
IT CAN BE EASILY CURED

Pcach-growing has becoms wonderful
industry in some parts of Virginia III
the olden time Nirginians raised peaches
only for home consumption and to give
away to such Of their more unfortunate
neighbors as did not have an orchard.
These conditions changed about gen
GRAFTON ago. and Virginia orchardists are
now raising peaches to sell, many, very
many of them. depending almost entirely
on the peach orchard for an income. In
the meantime they have become familiar
with many drawbacks to the business
and many heretofore unknown diseases
to which the peach tree Is subject, among
them the, disease known as peacl, yell
/ lows, which has become so prevalent IN
some sections of the state in the last
two years. This is one of the most
destructive Of diseases, and at the same
tine one that can be readily controlled.
provided concerted action is taken by
! all the growers in any one community.
Modern Investigation.
On this subject Professor J. L. Phil
| lips, State Entomologist at Blacksburg,
| writes The Times Dispatch:
THE fruit usually ripens prematurely
on trees attacked by yellows. The
/ peaches on ono or more limbs may ripan,
l
still perfectly green: yet. in other cases.
| the difference in time of ripening may
not be SO marked. Such fruit is likely
to have rays of discoloration, or q red
dish spotted appearance, extending from
i the pit outward to the skim which is
i also red spotted. 1t is often insipid or
even bitter to the taste a well-defined
case usually shows bushy growth OF
slender wiry twigs at the base Of the
limbs. but often these slender twigs
occur at the ends of the limbs, and they
NAV form late In the season. after other
growth has ceased. The leaves on these
unhealthy twigs are usually much
smaller and more pointed than healthy
I, leaves. The tree is we'll on the decline
at this stage
{, "Dr Erwin S. Smith, one of the lead
ing authorities on this subject, who. has
4 visited all parts of the country to inves-
tigate it. says On all hands 1t is con-
ceded to be one of the most serious
i with which American fruit-growers have
4 to contends Formerly this disease was
confined to a small district on the At
i lantc Coast. but during the last twent,
years it has invaded distant regions
hitherto free, and has entirely ruined thu
peach industry over very considerable
areas. Within ten years the disease has
| taken fresh and very strong hold upor
, orchards in the Delaware and Chesa
peakc, region, the northern portion Of tn
Il peninsula. and has DESTROYED thousand
/, and thousands Of trees, rendering grea
!. industry Improbable and precarious
The loss continues in the in
fected districts. The disease has ap
peared in new localities and regions nov
\ healthy are also threatened. The yellow
: is certainly as far south as Southern
Virginia. and as far west as Arlsansa
: and Northwestern Texas. Pearh-grower
are earnestly advised to stamp out tn
! disease upon its first appearance, and ar
warned against tho importation OF tree
from the infected districts
Came from the North.
n "According to the same writer, til
49, n ICnntinllnd trl1lrl Tnrn d ------