236 THE DISEASES OF FRUITS. 



The Ripe Rot (Gfaosporimm fructigenum Berk.), previously 

 mentioned under apple, is a common trouble with the matur- 

 ing-grapes. It need not be further considered here, except to 

 note that in this instance widely different plants are affected 

 with the same fungus. It should, however, be kept in mind 

 that this is a disease of a substance namely, the flesh of a 

 maturing fruit that is more of the nature of a lifeless tissue 

 and has lost its specific vital qualities. In the same way the 

 common bread mould will thrive upon mature sweet potatoes 

 and turnips, while the living leaves and stems of the same 

 plants are not attacked by it. 



THE BUSH FRUITS. 



THE BLACKBERRY. Rust (Puccinia Peckiana Howe) is the 

 leading fungus of the blackberry and is quickly recognized by 

 the more upright dwarfed canes with multitudes of blisters 

 upon the leaves which upon rupturing expose orange colored 

 spores that give an appearance of iron rust to the affected 

 parts. The disease threads extend all through the plants, and 

 when the rusted cane is cut down to the ground it is soon fol- 

 lowed by a new growth that shortly shows the rust throughout. 

 The same disease is frequently found upon the wild brambles, 

 and it is also observed that some of the cultivated varieties 

 are more susceptible than others. 



Remedies. From the deeply seated nature of the disease it 

 is evident that spraying will not effect a cure. Like the black 

 knot the knife and burn heap need to be resorted to when plants 

 are badly diseased, and should be removed root and all. It 

 would be folly to attempt successful blackberry culture in 

 places where the wild brambles are badly rusted until these 

 have been destroyed. The grower needs to be assured that 

 the waste land is not a place for the propagation of a fungus 

 that may destroy the garden plants. 



The Anthracnose ( Glceosporium venetum Speg. ) is similar to the 

 one upon the grape and like it is found upon leaves and canes, 

 forming oval patches with gray centres and purple borders. 



Remedies. The winter treatment of the canes with a solu- 

 tion of copper sulphate as mentioned under grape is recom- 

 mended. The experiments made in spraying the plants dur- 



