STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 87 



spreads into the uninjured bark and in a few weeks may kill 

 a region i to 3 inches in length. In some cases the branch is 

 entirely girdled and the part above the inoculation is killed. 

 These two fungi begin to fruit on the dead bark in 3 or 4 weeks 

 after a branch is inoculated and produce spores in great num- 

 bers which are capable of causing disease of other branches in 

 case they are carried to wounds. 



These two fungi are of special interest to Maine apple growers 

 because this is the first time that they have been proved to be 

 able to cause disease. They may cause disease in other parts of 

 the United States or they may not. It may be possible that con- 

 ditions here favor their development and that they are not 

 capable of causing disease under other conditions. 



One of these is of importance because it causes an apple rot 

 which has never been reported before so far as I can determine. 

 This fungus causes almost as rapid a decay as the black-rot 

 fungus. 



As we have seen, we have in Maine at least 4 fungi which can 

 cause canker. Three of these are causes of decay of fruit. 

 Every dead branch on trees in your orchard or on old neglected 

 trees along the road may produce miUions of spores of these 

 fungi in a season. These spores may be carried to wounds on 

 living branches by wind, water, insects, or by man himself, and 

 there cause disease. The spores which have developed on the 

 dead wood are present also when the fruit matures and in 

 many cases the fUngi which grow on dead apple wood are able 

 to cause decay of the fruit. There are a number of fungi which 

 grow on the dead wood in the summer as saprophytes which 

 would do no damage if it were not for the fact that they are 

 present in the fall and are ready to find entrance to the fruit 

 and may do very great damage. 



When we understand that most of the fungi which cause 

 canker also cause decay of fruit and that several other fungi 

 grow on dead wood which also cause decay, we can understand 

 the importance of removing and burning all dead wood. If 

 there is one point which needs emphasis it is this one. It is a 

 common thing to see old neglected trees along the road or in old 

 fields. If these trees are not of enough value to justify you in 

 giving them the same care which you give the trees in your 

 orchard, you should cut them down and burn them as a pro- 



