49S 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Fk;. 2480. Bitter Rot. 



BITTER ROT OP THE APPLE. 



THIS disease is very destructive to the 

 apple, south of the 40th parallel, but 

 we had hoped that in latitude 43 to 45 would 

 escape it entirely. We once thought the 

 same of the San Jose Scale, but were quite 

 mistaken, for it bears the cold only too well, 

 and now we find many Ontario orchards 

 quite seriously affected with Bitter Rot of 

 the apple. It is identified, says Professor 

 Burril, in growing apples by minute brown 

 brown specks which enlarge so as to make 

 each a conspicuous dark colored circular 

 spot, which, while preserving its circular 

 form and maintaining a sharply defined 

 border, gradually extends to become soft; 

 but is soon depressed, or somewhat sunken, 

 while the skin assumes a leathery appear- 

 ance. The outer portion of the spot remains 

 smooth and polished, while the central area 

 loses its lustre and becomes roughened by 

 the formation of a multitude of minute pus- 

 ties arranged in irregular, concentric circles. 

 When the atmosphere is not too dry, each 

 of these little pustles open and there exudes 

 in microscopic masses, or columns, a waxy 

 substance, which is at first pale pink in color, 

 then pale dull red, or, at length, grayish 

 when long exposed to the sun. The spot 

 ultimately, becomes shriveled in appearance, 

 tough in texture, and very dark, approaching 

 black in color. When there are, to begin 

 with, several spots, they run together but 



commonly preserve some indication of the 

 original centers of each in the general area 

 of infection. 



The diseased apple finally becomes dark 

 brown throughout, and shriveled into a dry 

 hard, and much wrinkled mass, called a 

 ' * mummy. " This may remain firmly attach- 

 ed to its twig on the tree for a year or more, 

 but commonly falls to the ground before the 

 drying process is entirely completed. 



In our orchard at Maplehurst we have 

 noticed this disease especially troublesome 

 in one block of trees on the lake shore, and 

 it is apparently inclined to spread. In 

 Illinois the disease has become most alarm- 

 ing, and, in 1900, the loss in four counties 

 was estimated to be $1500,000. The best 

 remedy is faithful spraying with Bordeaux 

 mixture, at frequent intervals. 



FRUIT TRANSPORTATION IN NOVA SCOTIA. 



OUR friends in Nova Scotia have had 

 much to complain of in the transpor- 

 tation of their fruit, but Mr. Ralph S. Eaton 

 writes that now, by contract with the Fur- 

 ness Witthy Company their Deputy Minister 

 of Trade and Commerce has secured nearly 

 everything asked for. The following is a 

 copy of the letter reviewed from that official 

 by Mr. Eaton : 



" I think all of the clauses which were asked to 

 be inserted on behalf of the fruit growers last win- 

 ter are contained in the contract and are in effect 

 as follows : 



" It provides that the steamer shall be fitted with 

 suitable accommodation for carrying perishable car- 

 go such as apples or other fruit, dairy produce and 

 other products, without deterioration, with holds 

 and 'tween decks provided with a thorough system 

 of ventilation by means of forced circulation of 

 fresh air by electric or steam fans in such manner 

 as to secure a uniform cool temperature ; the in- 

 takes for fresh air to be protected by contrivances 

 for that purpo:e similar to the Gibbs Steamship 

 Ventilators so as to operate in all weathers without 

 permitting water, spray, or other dampness being 

 taken into any place where cargo is carried, and 

 that such ventilating appliances shall be operated 

 at all times when cargo is on board; that at least 

 one of the steamers employed shall be equipped 

 with refrigerating plant for the forced circulation 

 of cool air through places wnere tender or early 

 varieties of apples are carried ; the space to be so 

 cooled to be from 25,000 to 40,000 feet; tempera- 



