THE KANSAS CHERRY. 83 



DISEASES OF THE CHERRY. 



Leaf-spot. — The cherry suffers from a "shot-hole" disease simi- 

 lar to those which riddle the leaves of the peach and plum. Indeed, 

 this identical fungus attacks the plum as well as cherry, though not 

 so badly. Its botanical name is Septoria cerasina. This fungus ap- 

 pears on the leaves in early summer as dark brown or blackish circu- 

 lar spots, which soon fall away, leaving the holes. The fungus attacks 

 only the leaves. In central Carolina it usually entirely defoliates 

 the trees by August 1. The spores of the fungus live through the 

 winter in the diseased leaves of the previous season. 



Remedies : Gather up and burn all diseased leaves as soon as they 

 fall. Spray in spring just before the buds start, with the copper su- 

 crate mixture. Spray again when leaves are one-half grown, with the 

 liver of sulphur solution. Repeat this in two or three weeks. Pre- 

 ventive treatment is necessary with this pest, and, therefore, the first 

 two treatments must be given in time and with carefulness. It must 

 be remembered that this disease attacks both plum and cherry, and 

 may be communicated from one to the other. 



Mildew of Cherry. — The cherry is attacked by two species of 

 mildews, namely, Podosphmra cerasi and P. tridactyla. They attack 

 the leaves only, producing on one or both sides a white, powdery 

 covering, something like the powdery mildew of the grape. The 

 spores of the fungus pass the winter in the diseased leaves of the 

 preceding season. 



liemedles : Gather and burn all leaves as soon as they fall. Spray 

 once before the buds burst, with the copper sucrate mixture. As soon 

 as the leaves are half-grown, spray with the liver of sulphur solution. 

 Repeat in two weeks. This will probably suffice. 



CURCULIO. 



From Bulletin No. 65, Utah Experiment Station. 



This pest is very injurious to plums, cherries, peaches, and apricots.. 

 The mature insect is a dull gray, rough-backed beetle, about three- 

 sixteenths of an inch long. As soon as the tiny fruits are formed the 

 female beetle is on hand to "sting " them. "Stinging " consists of the 

 female puncturing the skin, then depositing an egg in the puncture 

 and cutting a crescent-shaped slit at one side and beneath the egg. 

 It is then in a little flap and will not be crushed by the development 

 of the fruit. In about a week the Qgg hatches and the larva tunnels 

 to the pit, where it feeds for from three to five weeks, and then escapes 



