I notice, in the October number of the Horticulturist, a note from Mr. Downher, in regard to a disease which has lately attacked his Apple and Pear trees. I send you a twig from one of my Pear trees, affected, as I presume, with the same malady. I have termed it the** Fungus Blight, from the fact that it seems to owe its existence to the deposition and growth of a peculiar species of fungus upon the under side of the smaller limbs or branches, from which it extends along the under side of the leaf-stalk and leaf turning it of a dark brown and then a black color, as far as it progresses, till all the foliage of the branch above the point of attack is entirely destroyed. Nor does it stop here; for if a fruit comes in its way, it will proceed along the stem until it reaches the fruit, and then spreads over its base and shaded side, entirely stopping its growth. The fungus generally begins in or near the bifurcations of the larger limbs, and progresses very slowly along its under side, seeming to avoid the light and heat of the sun as much as possible.

Its course is marked by numerous little brown semi-globular specks about the size of a pin head, and between these and in advance of them extends a fine silky tissue, which may be easily separated from the branch, lea$ or fruit, after being saturated with moisture, as is frequently the case after a rain.

This disease shows itself usually early in the summer, and progresses with various degrees of rapidity according as the season is a dry or a wet one. In a dry summer, like the past has been, it will not probably advance more than from six to twelve inches; in wet seasons I have seen it extend to half as many feet.

The only injury perceptible, is the destruction of the foliage and fruit I have no doubt, however, that it also injures the bark and alburnum of the branches along which it extends.

Remedy - frequent washings with soft soap. H. A. Swasey. - Yawoo, Miss.

The shoot accompanying this note would appear, at first eight, to be covered with Scaly Aphis; but on close inspection it proves to be a sort of corky fungus formation, unlike anything we have ever seen on the bark of trees before.