50 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



An anthracnose disease of clover has been observed in Maine 

 for the past two or three years. This appears similar if not 

 identical with one previously reported from Tennessee. This 

 appears as brownish spots and streaks on the stems and leav>es 

 of red clover which eventually result in premature ripening 

 and dying. There is no doubt that this disease has done con- 

 siderable damage in Maine. The only remedy yet obtained is 

 the selection and growing of resistant strains of clover. 



APPLE SCAB ON THE LIMBS A SOURCE OF SPRING INFECTION. 



From a financial standpoint apple scab is probably the most 

 important disease with which the Maine orchardist has to 

 contend. Anything which tends to increase the amount of 

 knowledge which we have regarding the life-history of such a 

 parasite simplifies the problem of its control. During the past 

 year the Station pathologists have made a discovery regard- 

 ing one of the means by which the apple scab fungus passes 

 the winter in condition to start new centers of infection the 

 following spring which is of considerable local significance. 



It has been generally taught, and often asserted with consid- 

 erable assurance by writers on this subject in this country that 

 apple scab lives over winter only in one way. namely upon the 

 fallen leaves of the season before where it produces an entirely 

 different form of spore — the so-called perfect stage of the fun- 

 gus. Last year's report mentioned the fact that specimens of 

 apple branches had been obtained which showed the growth of 

 the current season badly attacked and in some cases killed back 

 by apple scab. 



Cases of limb infection were followed through the winter 

 and it was found that the fungus was alive upon these limbs 

 in the spring, that the summer stage spores thereon were still 

 viable as spring approached and were capable of infecting the 

 leaves as soon as the latter were put forth. A small orchaiu 

 of Mcintosh trees badly afifected in this way in 191 2 developed 

 a severe attack of scab on the leaves early in the season of 

 1913, although they had been sprayed in the usual way with 

 summer dilution lime-sulphur. On the other hand adjoining 

 trees which showed equally bad cases of limb infection, but 

 which were sprayed with a strong, or dormant spray of lime- 



