DISEASES OF THE APPLE 247 



DISEASES OF THE APPLE. 



The apple is subject to attack by several insects as well as 

 several diseases, and these troubles cause great loss yearly. 

 However, most of them can easily be controlled if the proper 

 treatment is given. 



The most common disease which is found in almost every 

 apple-growing district is the so-called rot. There are three 

 kinds of rot, namely, the black rot, the brown rot and the 

 bitter rot. 



Black Rot. The black rot not only affects the fruit, but 

 it also produces cankers on the branches and the limbs of 

 the tree. The cankers serve as a continual source of infec- 

 tion to the fruit. They also weaken the tree and finally 

 cause its death. This fungous disease is first detected by a 

 small brownish spot on the fruit, which spreads rapidly, 

 when favorable conditions exist, until the whole fruit is 

 involved. This rot attacks the fruit on the trees as well as 

 in storage. 



Brown Rot. The brown rot is sometimes known as fruit 

 mould or ripe rot, and it is found not only on the apple, but 

 it is abundant on the peach and the plum. This disease 

 spreads very rapidly in damp, muggy weather and it is very 

 disastrous. The disease first appears as a small, dark brown 

 spot. This spot increases in extent until the whole fruit is 

 affected. This fungus not only causes considerable damage 

 to the fruit on the tree, but it also affects the fruit in ship- 

 ment and on the market. The spores or fruiting bodies 

 sometimes lodge on the fruit, where they germinate and grow 

 during transit and the crop reaches the market in a poor 

 condition. 



Bitter Rot. The bitter rot is so named because the affected 

 tissue has a bitter taste. The bitterness varies from an 

 exceedingly bitter quality to that which can scarcely be 

 identified. It is also called dry rot. This disease is easily 

 recognized by characteristic black, circular and sharply 

 margined spots, varying in size from J inch or more in 

 diameter. The spots become somewhat depressed by the 



