260 Report of the Botanical Department of the 



The trees are chiefly Ben Davis, Hubbardston, and Northern Spy, 

 which had been set 12 years and were uncommonly large for that 

 age. They have had clean cultivation every year. Along a road- 

 side fence on the east is a row of Ben Davis trees in sod that had been 

 set 17 years, but which were not quite as large as those in the orchard 

 set only 12 years. 



On November 1, 1910, a dozen trees of the 12-year-old orchard had 

 been taken out because they were practically dead from crown-rot; 

 and 22 more were more or less severely affected, while the remaining 

 65 trees in the orchard were apparently uninjured. Most of the dead 

 and injured ones were Ben Davis although a few Hubbardstons were 

 also affected. Those dying in 1910 and the normal looking ones 

 having crown-rot seemed to have been injured during the winter of 

 1908-09. The diseased trees and gaps were much more numerous 

 in the two west-end rows, although they were scattered throughout 

 the orchard. The Ben Davis trees were usually injured just above 

 the ground, while two Hubbardstons were found having almost com- 

 plete girdles of dead bark underground, around the bases of the upper- 

 most lateral roots. The injured Hubbardstons did not stand very 

 firm but the affected Ben Davis trees apparently stood as firm as the 

 uninjured ones. Even at this late date (November 1) one could pick 

 out some of the injured trees by the difference in the color of their 

 foliage. 



The rolls of callus around the old wounds were uncommomy thick 

 on the less injured trees, while on those dying in 1910 the growth of 

 the past season had been but little. 



Here is another instance where the rapidity of growth seems to be 

 related to the occurrence of the initial injury. Like some instances 

 discussed in the above cited paper, trees growing slowly or in sod are 

 apparently less subject to this disease. The row of Ben Davis trees 

 in the sod along the fence, and growing so slow that the 12-year-old 

 trees under cultivation were even larger, had not been affected. 

 However, when judged by the production of fruit the cultivated trees 

 were more profitable. 



observations during 1911. 



Since the observations in 1910 resulted in broadening the concept 

 crown-rot, and suggested several environmental conditions which 

 appear to be implicated or to co-operate in the production of the 

 disease, it seemed desirable to obtain more definite information 

 during 1911 concerning the details and range of variation of the 

 initial injuries. 



During 1911 orchards were studied around Geneva, Medina, 

 Weedsport, Clyde, Branchport, Middlesex, Hemlock, Milton, Glens 

 Falls, Le Roy, Interlaken and Sodus. 



