402 Report of the IIorticultukist of the 



eussetino and belting of fkuit. 



Description. — Both apples and pears are subject to a trouble 

 known as russeting or belting. It is sometimes also called rust, 

 but this name is objectionable because it leads to confusion with 

 the true apple rust discussed above which is a very different thing. 



Fruits entirely sound and perfect in form may show areas on 

 which the skin is rough, brown and corky. These areas may be 

 irregular in outline, in which case the fruit is said to be rus- 

 seted, or they may form a definite zone around the fruit produc- 

 ing the condition kno^vn as belting. 



Cause. — This trouble is not caused by any insect or fungus. It 

 is due to some irritation of the skin of the fruit, and may be 

 brought about in three principal ways : 



(1) By the occurrence of long continued cloudy, wet weather 

 immediately after the setting of the fruit; 



(2) By spraying with Bordeaux mixture during cloudy, wet 

 weather ; 



(3) By the freezing of dew on the fruit while it is young and 

 tender. In this case the injured area usually takes the form of a 

 zone or belt. 



'No remedy is known. 



SCAB. 



(Venturia incequalis (Cke.) Aderh.^) 



Description. — The worst disease with which the apple growers 

 of this State have to contend is one commonly known as " apple 

 scab " or " cracking of the apple." It is caused by a fungus 

 which attacks the skin of both foliage and fruit. 



On the fruit the spots at first usually circular in outline 

 and have a very dark velvety-green surface, but afterwards they 

 become nearly or quite black. In some cases the diseased tissue 

 finally scales off leaving a scar with a corky, russet surface. The 



1 This is the name given to the ascosporie stage of Fusicladium dendriticum 

 <Wallr.) Fckl. 



