APRICOTS BLISTER AND FUNGUS. 87 



may proceed from a confined and damp site, over-wetness of soil, or their opposite 

 extremes of exposure, poverty, and dryness. Thorough syringings wash off the fungus 

 spores, and dusting every affected part well by flowers of sulphur checks the parasite ; 

 two dressings at intervals of a few days, followed by two or three copious syringings, 

 generally suffice for removing the mildew throughout the season. The bisulphide of 

 calcium solution, Vol. I., page 248, is more efficacious than dry sulphur ; as also is 

 sulphide of potassium, j ounce per gallon of water, applying these as advised in the 

 article, " Mildew," referred to on the preceding page. 



Blister. Apricot leaves sometimes curl up and present a similar appearance to 

 peach leaves that are affected with the disease called "blister," but we have not found 

 any fungus on apricot growths, except the mildew already alluded to, and this is the 

 cause of apricot growths being crippled in cold springs where efficient protection 

 is not afforded. Projecting wood or glass copings, affixed to walls, with canvas 

 in front of the trees, not only safeguard the blossoms and tender fruit against the injury 

 from cold, but practically prevent fungus spores from gaining a seat on the growths. 

 Trees against buildings are seldom affected with mildew, because the projecting eaves, 

 and consequently drier and warmer wall surface, keep the foliage dry, also the blossoms 

 and fruit safe from frost. Trees against garden walls, unprotected and without 

 projecting copings, are often fruitless, and the foliage infested with mildew, because they 

 are saturated at night with dew, or coated with frost in the spring, both remaining long 

 into the day and catching fungus spores. Efficient protection without " coddling " is 

 the best preventive of leaf curling and shoot distortion in apricot trees. 



Spot in Fruit. A fungus (Glaeosporium leeticolor) causes the pale salmon-coloured 

 depressed mouldy patches on half-ripe apricots and many other fruits. It will be 

 more fully treated under " Peach Diseases." The fungus attack first appears as a small 

 speck, generally at the apex of the fruit, and, spreading rapidly, destroys it for use before 

 it is ripe. It is recommended to spray the trees whilst quite dormant with a sulphate 

 of copper solution, 1 pound to 25 gallons of water, or sulphate of iron solution, 1 pound 

 to 15 gallons of water, as a preventive. All affected fruit should be collected and 

 destroyed by fire. 



ENEMIES. 



Though the apricot is the first to open its flower-buds and push growth, it is less 

 liable to suffer from attacks of aphides than other fruit trees ; in fact, it is rarely infested 



