General Note.'i'. 477 



Shot-hole in the Cherry. 



In the work of the Vegetable Patliologist on the Fungus Diseases 

 of Stone-fruit Trees in Australia, issued by the Department of 

 Agriculture, " Shot-hole " was shown to be due to a variety of fungi, 

 and was met with on all stone-fruit trees grown here. The fungus 

 most commonly causing it however, G taster osporium carpophilum, was 

 not found on the cherry, and this was the more remarkable since this 

 particular fungus is especially common on that tree in Europe. But 

 while on a visit to the Kiewa Valley, Mr. G. H. Robinson, assistant 

 vegetable pathologist, noticed this species on several varieties of the 

 cherry. It was especially prevalent, and injurious on one of the White 

 Hearts, the exact name being unknown to the grower, while some 

 black sorts alongside were nearly free from the disease. In addition 

 to the shot-hole effect on the leaves, this fungus may grow upon the 

 fruit or npon the twigs, producing a more or less rounded sunken spot 

 or scab. Fruit severely attacked soon dries up, and at length hardly 

 anything but the stone is left, attached to the stalk. More recently 

 still, cherry leaves were received from Newbury, showing the usual 

 spots and holes, and the fungus was detected in many cases, a profuse 

 growth taking place when the leaves were kept moist for a couple of 

 days. 



The most satisfactory method of treatment will be found in spray- 

 ing with Bordeau.K mixture — G"450, just before the opening of the 

 blossoms, and again when the fruit has set. Little good results from 

 spraying when the trees are in full leaf. It may be noted that the 

 spores of this fungus have been found germinating in the leaf-buds of 

 the apiicot before they were properly expanded and only half-an- 

 inch long, so the first spraying must take place before this. All 

 diseased twigs should of course be removed when pruning. 



Grinding Feed- 

 While there is considerable difference of opinion as to the 

 advisability of grinding grain for some farm animals, it is generally 

 conceded tliat it pays to grind for the dairy herd. A cow giving a 

 large flow of milk needs all her energy to secrete the milk and 

 to digest the large amount of feed which must be used for that 

 purpose. It is for this reason important to make the process of 

 digestion as easy and rapid as possible. A good grinder with 

 suitable power to run it should be part of the equipment of every 

 well conducted dairy farm. — [0. H. Eckles, Missouri Experiment 

 Station.] 



