18 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 226. 



on tlie increase, especially on Gravenstein and A\'agener. In well cared-for 

 orchards the removal of the more susceptible hosts has helped to reduce 

 the menace of this disease. 



In western Massachusetts, where the disease on the whole was not of 

 great importance, it was present in a few Baldwin and young Wealthj- or- 

 chards. In a few orchards in the Connecticut Valley it was serious, much 

 more so than in the orchards of eastern Massachusetts with which we are 

 familiar. 



Fire blight on pear occurred throughout the state in varying degrees 

 of severity, from serious in some orchards to none at all in others. It was 

 more general on odd or unimportant varieties than on the standard or com- 

 mercial varieties. It was observed that unnecessary pruning of healthy 

 trees is likely to be followed by an increase in fire blight. 



Otheu Diseases of Pear 



Pear scab was severe in some unsprayed orchards, and if the pear in- 

 creases in commercial importance here, more attention will need to be 

 given to protection against this disease. 



Black rot was reported in a few cases on Bosc pears. 



Diseases of Peach 



Leaf-curl of the peach was not as bad as usual this year. The ordinary 

 dormant spray of lime-sulfur gave practically complete control, but in 

 certain orchards where this application was not given, the disease was 

 severe. 



Brown rot of peach (and plum) was generally present although varying 

 in severity in different orchards. In general, severe orchard infection was 

 not apparent, and the ordinary use of sulfur fungicides, either sprays or 

 dusts, gave a good control. But rotting of the fruit in the market due 

 to this disease was often very bad. Brown rot was more severe on early 

 than on late varieties of peaches. In some cases it was very severe on plums. 



Miscellaneous Diseases 



Downy mildew of grape was more than usually common. If grapes 

 increase in commercial importance in this state, this disease will be one 

 of the principal enemies of the crop. Fortunately, control by copper 

 fungicides is not ordinarily difficult. 



Mosaic of raspberry is of general occurrence. Its effects are becoming 

 more conspicuous each year. The most practical action to take against 

 it consists in the purchase of plants known to be free from the disease. 



A root-rot of strawberries was rather common on second-year beds in 

 early summer. Various soil fungi were found associated with it, but it is 

 believed that they were only weakly parasitic and that the primary cause 

 was connected with lack of soil moisture. 



ORCHARD INSECT PESTS OF 1925 



BY A. I. BOURNE 



Perhaps the outstanding feature of the first part of the season was the 

 early transition from winter to spring conditions. This was so marked 

 that at the close of March it was estimated we stood fully two weeks in 

 advance of the normal seasonal development. Although this progress was 



