Report of Missouri Farmers' Week. 



569 



BROWN ROT OF THE PEACH. 



This is the most destructive fungous disease directly affecting 

 the fruit of the peach and other stone fruits. Under Missouri 

 conditions, to a great extent at least, it follows curculio or other 

 insect injury to the fruit. Farther south it appears to be more 

 sporadic and not so much dependent upon these insects for its 

 means of gaining entrance into the fruit. Damp, cloudy and wet 

 weather affords the conditions most favorable to its development. 

 The fungus goes over the winter on the decayed mummied fruits, 

 and in the spring under suitable conditions of moisture and warmth 



Manner of cutting out newer 

 cankers. 



Brown rot of the peach. (From Scott). 



it produces great numbers of spores, which are carried by the wind, 

 by insects or by other agencies to the fruit on the trees. To some 

 extent it occurs on the new twigs as well as on the fruit, and 

 occasionally kills a considerable amount of the new growth. 



If curculio is controlled, there is likely not to be serious loss 

 from brown rot under our conditions. Two or three sprayings will 

 generally be all that are necessary to control both brown rot and 



