RASPBERRY DISEASES 411 



Later reports indicate that raspberry cane-blight now has a 

 very general range in the plantations throughout New York 

 State. Its geographical distribution over the United States 

 is not well known, but it is doubtless common throughout the 

 country. It has been seen in Ohio, Wisconsin, Connecticut 

 and a few other states. 



The chief damage is done to the fruiting canes. New canes 

 are attacked, however, and occasionally are killed during the 

 first season of their growth. This is not the most important 

 raspberry disease generally, and rarely is a whole crop lost. 

 On the other hand, few plantations are entirely free from it, 

 in New York at least, and cases are on record where one-fourth 

 to two-thirds of the crop was lost through the effects of cane- 

 blight. It may easily be imagined that the aggregate losses in 

 the country must be considerable. It is said that cane-blight 

 is often partly* responsible for the early decline in the pro- 

 ductivity of both the red and black raspberry plants. Death 

 of the affected canes at the point of attack results in a wilting 

 of both the cane and its foliage. Hence, the disease is some- 

 times called raspberry cane-wilt. In such cases the berries 

 become dry and worthless. In many instances the berries are 

 attacked directly, resulting in a dry rot. 



The disease affects nearly all of the red and black varieties, 

 and perhaps also the dewberry and wild red raspberry (Rubus 

 strigosus). There is nothing to indicate the occurrence of 

 cane-blight on the blackberry, except on wild species. Among 

 the commercial raspberries, the Cuthbert variety probably 

 suffers most. Other varieties, such as the Marlboro, Ohio, 

 Gregg, Kansas, Superlative, Pride of Geneva, Farmer and 

 Cumberland, are affected considerably. The Columbian is 

 notably resistant. 



Symptoms. 



Observations indicate that the disease may be expected to 

 appear in neglected and well-managed plantations alike. The 



