48 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



Bitter pit, C. P. Lounsbuey (Agr. Jour. Cape Good Hope, 31 (1910), Wo. 2, 

 pp. 150-173, figs. 3, pi. 1). — A general discussion is given of the characteristics, 

 cause, occurrence in Africa and other countries, importance, development in 

 storage, variety of apples affected, and methods of control, of the bitter pit of 

 the apple. 



It is claimed that the disease is not due to insects, fungi, or bacteria, but 

 seems to be a physiological one accentuated by certain climatic conditions that 

 pi-evail in parts of South Africa. It is stated that not only does the fruit on 

 the trees show the spots, but fruit apparently healthy when gathered also 

 develops the bitter pit in storage after 10 to 20 days. 



Certain varieties of apples pit very badly vphile others, especially those grown 

 from Colonial seedlings, are practically immune to the disease, and by careful 

 selection of the more resistant varieties the disease may be partially controlled. 



A disease of young' apricot fruits, W. H. Nixon and H. W. Curry (Pacific 

 Rural Press, SO (1910), Wo. 7, p. 12^).- — Attention is called to a new rot which 

 of late years has caused considerable damage to the apricot crops in the Santa 

 Clara Valley, California. 



The disease begins at the base of the young fruits before the calyx and sta- 

 mens fall, and after a rain not followed by hot or windy weather which would 

 serve to dry u]) the water held between the calyx and the fruit. It first appears 

 as a firm brownish rot, which later forms cottony tufts of mycelium on the 

 surface, followed by white crystals scattered over these tufts. Finally the 

 diseased area turns black and hardens, and the entii'e fruit shrivels and mum- 

 mifies as in brown rot. 



This disease under favorable weather conditions destroys from one-fourth to 

 one-half of the crop. The fungus is believed to be Botrytis cinerea, and in a 

 similar disease from San Jose is associated with another fungus which in cul- 

 tures produces no spores but forms solid, black, oval sclerotia about one-half 

 in. long. 



The development of Gnomonia erythrostoma, F. T. Brooks (Ann. Bot. 

 [London], 2.'i {1910). Wo. 95, pp. 5S5-G05, pis. 2). — An account is given of some of 

 the phases in the life history of this fungus, which is held to be the cause of the 

 cherry leaf scorch disease. 



Coconut palm, disease, H. N. Ridley (Agr. Bui. Straits and Fed. Malay 

 States, 9 (1910), Wo. 5, pp. 178-180). — Attention is called to a serious disease of 

 coconuts in Borneo, the author believing it to be identical with that described 

 by Butler (E. S. R., 20, p. 454). The disease is said to be due to a species of 

 Botryodiplodia which attacks the roots, cutting off the water supply so that 

 the buds die of drought and starvation. In addition to coconuts, betel and 

 caryota palms are subject to attacks of the fungus. 



Cottony mold of lemons, C. O. Smith (Cal. Cult., 35 (1910), Wo. 9, pp. 196, 

 197, figs. 2). — The results of a study of the cottony mold of lemons are given, in 

 which the cause of the disease, life history of the fungus (Sclcrotinia sp.), re- 

 lation between a cover crop and cottony mold, laboratory experiments with the 

 fungus, and control measures are discussed. 



This disease has been on the increase in recent years and often causes heavy 

 losses among lemons during the curing process by producing a soft rot of the 

 fruit while in storage. The primary infection of the fruit occurs from spores 

 produced in the orchard, which in the packing house develop only the sterile 

 mycelium of the fungus in the form of a dense widely spreading white cottony 

 mold-like growth that quickly spreads from their original centers of infection 

 to the surrounding green fruit in the boxes. 



The life history of the fungus consists of three stages, the packing-house 

 vegetation stage of white cotton-like growth, which finally penetrates to the in- 



