224 



dolph counties, all in the southern half of the state and most of them 

 in its tip. 



Brown rot, caused by Sclcrotinia cinerea (Bon.) Schroet., has been 

 found in Schuyler, Bond, and Fulton counties. 



Plum 



Although commercial production of this fruit is not practiced ex- 

 tensively in the state, most farms have one or more trees which supply 

 the home table, and not infrequently small orchards which supply local 

 markets. 



Many of the diseases of the plum are the same as those attacking 

 the peach. Others which attack plums attack cherries also. 



Browx Rot 

 Caused by Sclcrotinia cincrca (Bon.) Schroet. 



Brown rot of plum is simjlar to the brown rot of peach, and is 

 caused by the same fungus. It is the most important plum-disease oc- 

 curring in the state, and for several years past has caused an average 

 annual crop-loss estimated at five per cent. 



Its distribution in Illinois is shown on Map TO. It is known to 

 occur in 50 counties, distributed in all parts of the state. 



Brown rot appears to be a disease more serious on plum than on 

 peach. Its severity is illustrated by an examination of 395 trees made in 

 21 counties in 1922, where it was found on 43.9 per cent of the trees, and 

 8.8 per cent of the fruit. A similar examination in 1923 of 83 trees in 

 8 well distributed counties showed that an average of 94.1 per cent of 

 the trees were infected and 50.5 per cent of the fruit diseased. 



The fruit loss, however, is not the whole story for the brown-rot 

 fungus causes a twig and blossom blight which does notable damage 

 each year. In 1922, instances were common where from 10 to 30 per 

 cent of the young twigs were killed. 



Brown rot of plum is controlled like that of peach by the use of 

 sprays, but ov^'ing to the unusual seriousness of the plum disease, ex- 

 treme care must be taken to apply them thoroughly. 



Leaf Blight 

 Caused by Coccomyces pnitiophorac Higg. 



Leaf blight is, next to brown rot. the most common disease of plum 

 in Illinois. Its injury apjiears limited to the leaves, on which it causes 

 round, discolored spots, rather definitely limited in size. The spotted 

 tissue eventually falls out of the leaf, giving it a "shot-hole" appearance. 

 and serious defoliation often results. 



