Fruit-growing 269 



wire through its body. The work of examining trees for borers 

 is usually performed in May and some growers make an ex- 

 amination in the fall, also. 



Apple-scab. One of the most widely distributed diseases 

 of the apple is the apple-scab. Dark, scabby spots are found 

 on the foliage and fruit of the tree. Often the infested area 

 will stop the growth of the fruit and cause it to assume a dis- 

 torted shape. Fortunately the disease is easily controlled by 

 spraying with boiled lime sulfur solution or bordeaux mixture. 

 Most orchardists prefer the former, however, for spray injury 

 to the fruit sometimes results from the use of bordeaux mixture. 



Bitter-rot. One of the most destructive diseases of the apple 

 is bitter-rot. Early in its growth it shows as small brown 

 spots just beneath the skin of the fruit. Later these spots 

 enlarge and the fruit near the rotton spot is usually bitter. 

 As the rot grows, the surface of the diseased portion becomes 

 wrinkled. As a rule, the diseased fruits fall from the tree, 

 but sometimes they remain, becoming later dried, wrinkled, 

 and shriveled, in which form they are called mummies. The 

 disease also attacks the buds and branches, causing rough, 

 cankered areas to form on the bark. To combat bitter-rot, 

 all diseased fruit and branches should be burned and the trees 

 sprayed about six weeks after the blossoms fall with 4-6-50 

 bordeaux mixture and again in two or three weeks, if the disease 

 is serious. Often it will pay to spray twice more at about 

 three weeks' intervals. Lime sulfur does not seem to be an 

 effective fungicide for this disease. 



Brown-rot. The disease known as brown-rot attacks 

 peaches, plums, and cherries. Rot starts at a spot on the 

 fruit and spreads rapidly. Often the fruit rots when it is small 

 and green ; in other cases, at ripening time. Many of the 

 fruits that decay shrivel and cling to the trees all winter. These 

 are shown in Fig. 116. Since these mummies contain spores 

 they should always be picked from the trees or the ground 

 and be destroyed. Until recently no effective fungicides were 



