W. KusiiTON 369 



The question arises, "Can the oranges be saieguarded from fungal 

 attacks by immersion in some fungicide, or if the spores have already- 

 settled in some sUght wound can their action be stopped?" Further 

 trials are necessary to solve the problem but the first trials on an exten- 

 sive scale seem to indicate that Penicillin m italicum can be checked, 

 but in its stead rottenness due to some other cause sets in; for the 

 first box of oranges sent to me treated with formalin before packing 

 and then packed in dry sawdust, of the three hundred it contained 

 not more than six were sound the rest all being bad, with not the 

 slightest trace of Penicilliuyn on them : the cause of rotting appears 

 so far as can be made out on preliminary inspection to cause the fruit 

 to become perfectly brown and somewhat wrinkled, losing their orange 

 shape, the cuticle remains tough and does not come off easily, while 

 the parts of the skin below it are perfectly brown, and suggest a new 

 line of inquiry which I hope to conduct in the near future as further 

 boxes are sent over treated in various ways. 



In conclusion I should like to acknowledge my indebtedness to 

 W. Austin, Esq., of London for the trouble he has taken to get the 

 oranges over and to see that instructions were as far as possible carried 

 out to ensure correct information being obtained. 



