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New Yore Acricurturan Experiment Sration. 325 
Bitter Rot. 
Accounts of this disease have been published in Comptes 
- Rendus, September 12, 1887 ; Agricultural Science, volume 1, page iy 
210; Colman’s Rural World, October 13, 1887, proceedings New ae 
Jersey Horticultural Society, for 1887, page 114. f 
That which especially characterizes this disease in distinction. 
from the black rot is that it begins its ravages at the time when 
the berries commence to ripen, and continues until their perfect 
maturity. Excessive humidity is even more essential to its © i 
development than to that of the Physalospora. The importance ; 
of this malady is evident, for, under favoring conditions, it may ; 
destroy the fruit that has escaped the ravages of black rot. The 
fungus attacks the shoots, the common peduncle of the bunches 
and its ramifications, but it is upon the berries that its action is 
most conspicuous. A rosy discoloration, brighter on varieties 
_ with white fruits than on dark-colored sorts, is the first manifes- 
tation of the disease. This discoloration extends rapidly by con- 
centric zones until the whole berry is involved, the berries, how- 
ever, retaining their original contour, or only appearing to be 
slightly wilted, and becoming even more juicy than is normal. 
Soon numerous, small, slightly elevated points appear over the 
surface,.and in two or three days these little elevations, which are 
the points where the fungus is maturing its fruit, have completed 
their development. The berry then becomes shriveled, as in the 
ease of black-rot, but in a different fashion. The berry remains 
__ ¢elear brown or deep purple in color, never becoming so black as 
in black rot, and the pustules which stud the surface are less 
numerous and less convex. In advanced stages the berries lose 
_ their hold upon the pedicels and fall to the ground at the slightest 
jar. ‘Those destroyed by black rot usually remain strongly adherent 
: and generally fall with their pedicles attached. 
. Bitter rot is most to be feared when frequent rains occur during 
Res 
iy 
ile 
by ‘ 
% 
an 
i 
m the ripening period ; but, like other fungus diseases of this class, 
it is sure to be most severe in poorly drained soils and on vines 
_ previously weakened by mildew. (Department Agriculture Report, 
‘page 324.) 
DEscRIPTIVE NoTES ON BLAcK GRAPES. 
August Giant.— Has made a very poor growth. Bore a few 
small bunches of fruit the present season. Color black; berry 
