32 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Dr. Sturgis, resuming, said : Next year I want to try- 

 different strengths of Bordeaux Mixture on an extended 

 scale and see just what mixture, if any, we can use with 

 safety here in Connecticut. 



In reply to a question, Dr. Sturgis said that after pick- 

 ing all mummified peaches from the tree, spraying the trees 

 in March, when dormant, might kill some spores that had 

 remained on the branches. Such a practice would do no 

 harm and there were chances that it would do a great deal 

 of good. 



The next disease to which I would call your attention is 

 the so-called Scab. This is caused by a fungus which 

 attacks the fruit, when the latter is about half grown and 

 produces on one side of it numbers of small circular, dark 

 green or almost black spots. Where these spots occur the 

 tissues of the fruit are checked in their growth and become 

 hard; this may go so far as to produce cracks in the fruit, 

 but it is always unsightly, and detracts from the market 

 value of the fruit. The same fungus may attack the twigs 

 and even the leaves, passing the winter upon the former 

 and being carried thence to the fruit the succeeding 

 season. 



The last disease which we need notice in this connection 

 is the Leaf Curl, also caused by a fungus. As indicated by 

 the common name, the fungus attacks the leaves causing 

 them to curl up. They also become greatly thickened, 

 pale in color, brittle in texture and covered with a whitish 

 mealiness or bloom owing to the enormous quantity of fruit- 

 ing bodies, which the fungus produces on the surface of 

 the leaves. Of course the destruction of the leaves or 

 even the diminution of their functional activity caused by 

 the attack of this fungus may be a very serious matter. 

 Usually, however, the practical damage done is very 

 slight, since the conditions favorable to the disease: viz., 

 cold, wet weather in the late spring or early summer, do 

 not ordinarily occur. Judging from our experience with 

 similar diseases on other plants, it seems practically certain 

 that the Leaf Curl and Scab could both be successfully 

 held in check by the use of fungicides, if only we knew of 

 some fungicide which could safely be used. It is hoped 



