FUNGI INJURIOUS TO THE QUINCE, 153 
noticeable fact that the quince trees that were close to 
this tree, some of them almost under it, were the most 
severely attacked. While there was no actual transfer 
of the infection by artificial means to demonstrate the 
fact, the writer is quite willing to hold the opinion that 
the quince fruit received the germs of the decay from 
the apples that were rotting by the half bushel only a 
few feet away. ‘That the decay should begin at the 
blossom end is not unexpected, for there the spores, and 
the water causing them to germinate, would naturally 
lodge. The growing filaments of the spores would there 
find an easier entrance than elsewhere, because of the 
adhering floral parts. Near by, and with branches inter- 
locking, stands a pear tree, and the fruit was quite badly 
infested with the sph@ropsis. Similar trees further 
away from the apple tree were less troubled with the 
decay, which only strengthens the opinion that all three 
kinds of fruit are naturally susceptible to the same 
infection, and the germs pass from one to the other 
through the air, or by means of the various insects that. 
visit the fruits, especially those with broken surfaces, 
due to partial decay. The inoculations that were made 
in the laboratory seem confirmed by observations in the 
orchard. If the assumption holds, and it appears to be 
a sound one, it follows that the apple tree is a source of 
spheropsis infection for the quince and the pear. The 
apple bears comparatively worthless fruit, and the 
quinces are the most valuable of all in this instance. 
There are several courses to pursue, the best of which 
cannot be foretold. If spraying is to be employed, it 
should be upon all three kinds of trees—apple, pear and 
quince. If the axe is to be used, it should be laid at 
the root of the apple tree. But if the apple tree is to 
be saved, the fruit fallen from it should be removed and 
destroyed. This, with faithful spraying, to be treated 
of later, should save both the pears and the quinces. 
