STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 47 



In this connection it is only fair to state that under certain 

 conditions of the weather, not fully understood, bordeaux mix- 

 ture may cause some injury to the foliage of the apple. This 

 happens only occasionally with us and apple scab alone causes 

 far greater injury yearly than does bordeaux mixture, in the 

 infrequent seasons that such injury occurs. To avoid spray 

 injury, Hedrick who has made an exhaustive study of the sub- 

 ject makes the following practical suggestions: 



"Use less copper sulphate; give the 3-3-50 formula for 

 bordeaux mixture a thorough trial. Spray in moderation ; spray 

 to cover the foliage and fruit with a thin film and yet not have 

 the trees drip heavily. So far as possible the bordeaux mix- 

 ture should be used only in dry weather. Use equal amounts 

 of lime and copper sulphate (I might add for myself, use scales 

 and not guess-work in measuring the ingredients). Some 

 varieties of apples may be sprayed without much fear of injury. 

 Others must be sprayed with great care. Distinguish between 

 varieties in spraying operations." 



For a list of varieties classified as to immunity to bordeaux 

 injury see page 142 of Bulletin 387 of the New York Experi- 

 ment Station. A copy of this publication can be obtained 

 gratis by addressing the Experiment Station, Geneva, New 

 York. 



Before taking up some of the fungus diseases which we have 

 found destructive in Maine orchards it may be well to consider 

 briefly what fungi are. Fungi are forms of vegetable life not 

 so highly developed as the more conspicuous plants with which 

 we are familiar. They are without green coloring matter, and 

 are thus unable to manufacture their own food materials. 

 Hence they are dependent upon the higher plants or animals for 

 their food supply. The majority may be divided into two 

 great classes : The parasitic, which secure their nourishment 

 directly from living organisms, like the apple scab fungus, and 

 the sapophytic, those which live on dead organic matter as is 

 the case with the blue mould on the jelly tumbler, or certain 

 fungi which cause decay of dead wood. There is no real hard 

 and fast line between these two divisions for many parasites 

 can adapt themselves to a saprophytic existence. Some typical 

 saprophytes may act as parasites as in the case of some ripe 



