be taken. It has long been known that pruning and other 

 wounds are liable to admit the canker fungus, but quite re- 

 cently it has been shown that the ordinary leaf scars offer a 

 particularly easy mode of entrance and that in certain seasons 

 at any rate the majority of infections arise in this way. The 

 discovery in itself is not consoling, but it points out an un- 

 suspected weak spot and the efforts of scientific workers must 

 now be concentrated on devising a new method of control. In 

 the case of Silver Leaf it is known that the spores, if placed 

 on a snag or large wound, rea,dily bring about infection, but 

 it is not impossible that further research will indicate additional 

 or unperceived doors of entry. 



A. group of fungi which, since they invade the wood of the 

 plant and require dead or injured tissue to gain admittance, 

 may be included in this section, are the root fungi. The most 

 important of these is the Honey Fungus which sometimes 

 attacks apples. Damage in fruit trees by root fungi in England 

 is, however, insignificant, and need not be further considered 

 here. 



The principal measures for combating the attacks of wood- 

 destroying fungi are three : (1) The removal of the sources 

 of infection, viz., dead or infected wood which, by a constant 

 liberation of spores, is a continual menace. This includes 

 diseased or dead wood on the tree or dead wood lying about in 

 the orchard. (2) The prevention of injury and the protection 

 of 'wounds. Damage through neglect should be reduced to a 

 minimum, pruning being carefully carried out and broken 

 branches sawn off with a clean cut. The most important item 

 under this heading is the protection of all injured surfaces with 

 a coat of tar or good paint which, in the case of larger wounds, 

 should be renewed after three months. (3) The prompt use 

 of the knife. Affected shoots or diseased areas should be cut 

 out a,s soon as infection is apparent. By this method large 

 branches or even whole trees may often be saved. The excised 

 area should not be larger than necessary, but must extend to 

 healthy wood. The wound must, of course, be protected at 

 once by tar. 



The foregoing are merely general recommendations. To be 

 successful it is obvious that the particular habits of each fungus 

 should be understood thoroughly. No apology, therefore, need 

 be made for inserting paragraphs on the life-History of the 

 parasite in leaflets intended for the practical grower. 



Methods of Cultivation and the Use of Resistant 

 Varieties. In urging the importance of the knowledge of 

 the life-history of fungi and recommending such measures oi 

 control as spraying and dusting, the supreme importance of 

 good all-round cultivation has not been overlooked. This lies at 

 the very foundation of successful fruit-growing. Scientific 



