CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3262, 11 March 1885, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE PEACH DISEASE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMARU HERALD. Sib, — Would you kindly insert m one of your early issues the accompanying extract, from the Gardener's Chronicle, which explains the cause of the peach tree disease, m the hope that immediate measures may he taken to arrest it before New Zealand is entirely denuded of these fruit trees ? I am, &c., T. Smith. [extract.] This injurious deformity of the peach leaves has been ascribed to plant lice and other insects, but is now known to be caused by a minute fungus known to science as Taphrina deformans. This minute parasitic plant makes its appearance m early spring, and causes the foliage to twist and curl out of natural shape. The fungus is not distinctly related to, or causing the black- knot of the plum or cherry trees, and the same remedy is the only one used, as far as I know. Remove all the affected parts as soon as they appear, and burn them. It is best to cut off the young twigs bearing the "curled" leaves, and this can be done quite rapidly. Be sure and burn all parts removed, to prevent the ripening of spores m the infested leaves. The progress or a fungus disorder is extremely insidious. If the spores are allowed to ripen there is a liability of rapid ! and extended dissemination, which at times appears mysterious m its character. Tho only Bafety, therefore, m dealing with fungi is m the removal, but equally as important the absolute destruction, as by burning, of the portions removed. Carelessness m the destruction will make of no avail the benefits following removal. Neglect on this score is responsible for many a failure m attempts at growing plums, the black-knot being cut away as fast as it appears, but the labor being lost and disappointment ensuing through neglecting^ the gathering together of the diseased portions, and destroying them. Although a fungus is a parasitic life it is aa well a vegetable life, and hence we can hardly expect its destruction through poisons without destroying the tissue within which it formß its nidus. Vigorous growth will, however, often protect a tree from destruction by a fungus with which it is infested. But this, however beneficial, cannot be depended upon as an absolute remedy. Weakened trees, and unthrifty trees, are especially subject to fungus injury, and, as well, show the effects of the injury sooner than would a [ more vigorous tree. Hence thrifty growth, m conjunction with the early removal of diseased parts, becomes the remedy from which, if there is no neglect, good results can be anticipated.