Pear-cracking and Leafblight.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XIII, Issue 2376, 7 June 1895, Page 4

Pear-cracking and Leafblight.

- Compiled by J. 0. Blackmobe.

(Entomosporium maculatmn.)

Professor Galloway describes this fungus as follows : " The disease makes its appearance early in the spring, soon after the development of the leaves. It shows itself in the shape of small, dull, carmine-red spots, which appear first on the upper, and finally penetrate to the lower, surface of the leaf; the colour soon changes from red to a dark-brown, with a slight elevated, minute black spot in the centre. The spots also increase in size, aud if they are very numerous, as is most often the case, the tissue between them also turns brown and loses its vitality. If the leaf i 3 young, or belongs to a delicate-leaved variety, it shrivels up by the contraction of the diseased portions ; but if it is mature, and consists of firm tissue, it retains its shape, the only change being iu the colour. As soon as the leaf becomes badly diseased it falls off; and if, as often happens, anotLer growth of leaves is produced, these too become clisC£LS6Ci* But in addition to this, the fruit and stems often become diseased. The fruit also shows the carmine-red spots, which afterwards become dark-coloured. The skin becomes very much roughened, and the growth of the eoidevmis over the diseased portion is checked, causing a crack, which extends deeply into the flesh, so that even if the fruit can obtain sufficient sugar to mature properly its appearance is spoiled, and the cracking makes it liable to decay. Treatment recommended. " From what we know of the life-history of this fungus, it is evident that burning the fallen leaves would serve as an important means of removing a source of infection." It is, therefore, advisable to rake together and burn all leaves that may fall as soon as possible, before any of the spores have an opportunity of escaping. The development of the fungus upon the leaves or other parts of the plant may be prevented by spraying sulphate of copper (Bordeaux formula) before the buds begin to swell, then again just before the blossom appears, thi3 time using the ammoniacal carbonate-of-copper solution. Again, two mora sprayings, at intervals of about twelve days, especially if the disease is of long standing. If desirable to use an insecticido and a fungicide at the same time, as for districts where the codlin-moth is prevalent, add lib of Paris green to 150 or 200 gallons of Bordeaux mixture.