58 FUXGI AND rUXGICIDES 



coDdition, so that during the warm, damp weather of 

 early spring this mycelium is able to produce a new crop 

 of spores. These spores are scattered everywhere, and 

 many of them develop in the blossoms and young leaves. 

 Serious losses are sometimes occasioned by this kind of 

 injury to the blossoms. As soon as the fruit is well 

 formed it also may be attacked. 



Treatment. — The first essential to success in pre- 

 venting this disease is to pick off and burn, as early in 

 winter as possible, all mummied plums hanging upon the 

 trees ; and the sj^raying treatment recommended below 

 should also be supplemented by an occasional insj^ection 

 of the bearing trees, and the removal and burning of 

 such rotting plums as may be seen. The most success- 

 ful results so far obtained in spraying for this disease, 

 have followed the use of the dilute Bordeaux mixture 

 and the ammoniacal solution of carbonate of copper, 

 especially the former. Spray first before the blossoms 

 open ; then as soon as the fruit is well formed spray 

 again, and repeat the application twice later at intervals 

 of two weeks. If the Bordeaux mixture is used, Paris 

 green may be added for the earlier sj^rayings, to destroy 

 the curculio at the same time. 



Literature. — One of the first general accounts of 

 this disease was published in 1885, by Professor J. C. 

 Arthur, in the Fourth Report of the ^ew York Agri- 

 cultural Exj^eriment Station. This was followed, in 

 1888, by an extended article, illustrated by two excellent 

 plates, by Mr. B. T. Galloway, in the Eeport of the 

 United States Dej^artment of Agriculture for that year 

 (p. 349-352) ; and since then Dr. Erwin F. Smith has 

 eontributed to the Journal of Mycology (v. V, p. 123 ; 

 Y. YII, p. 36) some valuable additional information. 

 Professor J. E. Humphrey has also published a popular 

 account of the disease in the Eighth Report of the Massa- 

 chusetts Agricultural Ex^Deriment Station. 



