28 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



How to Secure Clear-Skinned Fruit. 



The apple, which was so fair to look upon and so tempting 

 to Mother Eve, has now become the prey of many enemies, and 

 to regain some of its lost beauty needs .to be rubbed up and 

 powdered now and then with a mixture of blue vitriol and 

 lime. 



Apple scab and sooty fungus are the most frequent blemishes 

 to be found on our apples. 



Scab, the worst fungous disease, commonly known as apple 

 scab, or cracking of the apple, attacks both fruit and leaves. 



Where the spots are large, the fruit may become one-sided 

 or ill-shaped and frequently crack open. 



This fungus is likely to get in its work early in the season, 

 for it may develop enough to be discovered by the naked eye 

 on unopened blossom buds. 



Cold and damp seasons are especially favorable to its early 

 development, and it has been observed to cause great injury 

 by destroying the blossoms and much of the young fruit, and 

 breeding black spots on the remainder. To control the disease, 

 it is important to begin treatment early. 



It must be understood, that treatment for preventing the 

 germinating of the spores is more effective than treatment for 

 kiHing the fungus after it becomes lodged on the foliage or 

 the fruit. 



Scab, when prevalent, may be held in check with Bordeaux. 

 Where three sprayings are given, the first should be after the 

 buds break and before the blossoms open, the second 'after the 

 blossoms fall, and the third about two weeks later. 



The Sooty Blotch Fungus on the Apple. 



This is a disease in which the skin of the fruit is covered 

 with spots and blotches of a fine black mold, giving the fruit 

 a dirty, unsightly appearance. 



As the mold grows only on the surface of the fruit, it does 

 no injury to the apple except to impair its selling qualities; 

 the brightness is gone, the market value of the affected fruit 

 lessened. This disease is widespread, evidently, as it is men- 

 tioned as prevalent in New England, the Hudson \''alley and 

 throughout New York state and westward into Ohio, where 

 it has frequently in the past been referred to. 



