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SECTION OF VEGETABLE PATHOLOGY. + © 343 
the same fact has been observed in regard to some of the varieties 
named in both the above lists. 
In response to letters sent out by this section relative to the prev- 
alence of ‘‘scab,” a number of prominent horticulturists in differ- 
ent sections of the country have furnished interesting information 
relative to the extent of the injury occasioned by the disease, varie- 
ties affected, etc. In several States the extent of loss is reported to 
amount to fully one-half of the crop, while reports from other States 
place the annual loss at from one-fourth to one-sixth of the crop. 
A. J. Hammond, secretary of the Illinois Horticultural Society, 
estimates the loss from this cause in each county in his State at 
20,000 bushels, which, at 20 cents per bushel, gives a loss of $4,000 per 
county, or about $400,000 for the entire State. Secretary Goodman, 
of Missouri, estimates the loss in his State to be one-half the crop. 
Secretary Brackett, of Kansas, places the annual loss in that State, 
one year with another, at one-fourth of the crop. Mr. Ragan, sec- 
retary of American Pomological Society, places the annual loss from 
Apple scab in Indiana, at about one-sixth of the crop. 
Under date of November 11, 1886, Mr. Charles 8. Pope, president 
of the Maine Pomological Society, writes as follows: 
Five years ago our individual loss from this disease was at least $1,000, and this 
year we hear of injury to the apple crop from this cause in many parts of the State. 
The apples begin to show the ‘*scab” before they are half-grown, and frequently 
all growth is stopped, and the fruit shrivels and becomes worthless. If not badly 
affected the fruit makes fair growth, but it is so much injured that the apples begin 
to decay under the spots early in the season. 
Perhaps you may think that I exaggerated a little when I stated that we lost 
$1,000 in one season from this disease, but I will show you how I arrived at my 
conclusions. In 1881 we harvested nearly 3,000 bushels of Baldwins, of which 
about 2,000 bushels were so badly affected that we kept them in separate bins, and 
not over half of them were suitable for No. 1 apples; the diseased apples were sold 
for 25 cents less per barre! than the best ones. Now, the affected apples were not 
more than half-grown ; in fact, the apples on many trees were so small that we shook 
them off and threw them in with the cider apples! We sold the 2,000 bushels of 
affected apples for about $1,200; had they been free from ‘‘ scab” and attained full 
size, or 4,000 bushels, they would have been worth from $3,000 to $3,500. With 
this estimate the loss was more than $2,000. Icall to mind one season when we 
lost more than half our crop about midwinter by rotting. The apples began rot- 
ting under the ‘‘scab” spots and eventually the fruit entirely decayed. 
(dq) THE CONDITIONS FAVORING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCAB. 
The fungus of the Apple Scab appears to be retarded in its devel- 
opment by the heat of summer. Its most rapid growth takes place 
during moist, cool weather, such as usually prevails during the early 
months of spring or autumn. It may be observed that spots which 
during the hot summer months remain brown, at the approach of 
cool weather assume the olive-green, velvety appearance indicating 
a renewed activity on the part of the fungus. The parasite doubt- - 
less retains its vitality through the winter, both on the twigs in the 
orchard and on the fruit which it infests. We have seen specimens 
of the latter in midwinter in the markets of Washington ‘covered 
with spots on which the fungus was in a most flourishing condition. 
From the ease with which we know it can be propagated to healthy 
fruit, and from the appearance of apples in the public markets in the 
winter and spring months, we believe that the disease may spread 
after the fruit has been harvested and placed in storage. Itis a well- 
known fact that apples, after being gathered and stored, undergo a 
sweating process, and if healthy and diseased fruit are in contact 
during this period, infection of the former is very likely to follow. 
