Pear-growers are plagued by two leaf-spots, one of which is also known
as leaf-blight. The leaf-spot here to be discussed (_Mycosphærella
sentina_ (Fr.) Schroet.) is sometimes called the ashy leaf-spot. The
disease is not often seriously troublesome in New York, but is capable
of doing great damage in both the nursery and orchard. The spots which
give name to the disease are conspicuous enough, but even when present
in great numbers are often not seen by the pear-grower until there is a
premature dropping of the leaves in August or earlier. The trees often
put out new growths, with the result that the wood does not ripen and
the tree is left in no condition to stand the cold of winter in this
northern climate.
As with nearly all diseases of plants, some varieties suffer more
than others. Sheldon, Seckel, and Flemish Beauty are more injured
than Kieffer, Lawrence, and Mount Vernon. Nursery stock is more often
injured the second than the first year set. Only the leaves suffer.
The fungus first shows its work in minute purplish spots on the upper
surface of the leaf. The mature spots measure about one-sixth of an
inch in diameter, are angular in shape, with well-defined margins, and
have an outer zone of brownish-purple, with a grayish center. Late
in the season, dots, the spore-cases of the fungus, appear in the
gray central area. The fungus passes the winter in diseased leaves
which fall to the ground in late summer. From these leaves spores
are discharged into the air to be carried to the leaves after growth
begins in the spring. The disease is usually controlled by the sprays
necessary every year to keep pear-scab in submission. In the nursery,
two-year-old trees are sprayed just after the new leaves open and twice
thereafter at two-week intervals. One-year-olds seldom need to be
sprayed.
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