9b STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The fungus which causes brown rot of the peach and plum 

 has been found as a cause of apple decay. 



At least 12 fungi have been found in Maine which are capable 

 of causing more or less rot of apples. The rots caused by part 

 of these fungi have no common names. It may be that in some 

 cases the damage done by them is credited to some of the other 

 better known fungi, as it is sometimes difificult to determine just 

 what fungi are present without making cultures. 



To prevent loss of fruit from these causes it is necessary 

 to raise good apples which are free from insect or fungous 

 injuries through which decay fungi may enter. To do this 

 requires that the orchardist give careful attention to all the 

 details of good orchard management, including thorough spray- 

 ing. Care must be taken in picking and handling the fruit to 

 prevent bruises and cuts through which fungi may enter. Any 

 decayed fruit should be carefully sorted out at the time of stor- 

 ing, as one diseased apple may produce enough fungus spores to 

 infect hundreds of apples if the conditions are favorable. 



In closing this paper, it may be well to point out that while 

 we have in this State a large number of fungi which cause apple 

 diseases it is not necessary in most cases to give special treat- 

 ment for each disease but that the treatment which answers for 

 one will in a large measure control the others. For example, 

 thorough spraying to prevent apple scab will at the same time 

 control the fungus which causes apple leaf-spot and indirectly 

 if there is no scab there is little possibilty of decay by the pink 

 rot fungus. The importance, however, of keeping up a con- 

 stant fight against fungous diseases cannot be over-emphas7zed. 



The Department of Plant Pathology of the Experiment Sta- 

 tion is preparing a bulletin on apple diseases which we hope to 

 issue before another season in which the diseases of the apple 

 as they occur in Maine will be described with practical direc- 

 tions for their control. 



