34 The Connecticut Pomological Society 



cause of which is as yet unknown. The dry weather during 

 the past season was instrumental in holding in check both the 

 scab and the sooty spot. Both of these diseases were less prev- 

 alent than usual and, in orchards which are thoroughly and 

 consistently sprayed, the damage caused by them was almost 

 inappreciable. 



Your committee desires to call to the attention of orchard - 

 ists a bark disease of apples, formerly attributed to the effects 

 of the sun or of cold, but recently found to be caused by the 

 growth of a specific fungus {Sphteropsis Malorum) , and very 

 fitly named "canker." This is the same fungus which attacks 

 the fruit, producing a well-known brown rot. The tree itself, 

 when attacked, usually exhibits on the trunk or larger branches 

 slightly swollen areas, the bark of which is dark colored, rough 

 and cracked, sometimes so much so as to expose the wood. 

 As distinguished from the effects of sun -scald, the bark afifected 

 with canker usually clings tightly to the decaying wood. This 

 trouble has occurred in abundance on the grounds of the 

 Experiment Station, and specimens have been sent in from 

 neighboring towns. It bids fair to become one of the most 

 serious pests in apple orchards which do not receive the very 

 best treatment in the way of feeding, tillage, pruning and 

 spraying. 



Your committee earnestly requests information concerning 

 the presence of canker in the apple orchards of the state. 



Cherries. — The fungus {Monilia cinerea) , which is usually 

 responsible for serious injury to cherries by its attacks upon both 

 the fruit and the twigs, was not as prevalent as usual this year. 



A leaf-curl of the cherry, caused by the fungus Exoascus 

 Cerasi, has been observed, but is as yet rare and confined to 

 one or two localities. 



The black knot {Plowrightia morbosa) is, of course, abund- 

 ant wherever it is allowed to remain unchecked. Under such 

 circumstances, it becomes a constant menace to the profits of 

 careful orchardists who, at present, have no means of protec- 

 tion against their neighbors' carelessness and negligence. 



Peaches. — The mold {Alonilia fructigena) and the scab 

 {Cladosporiutn carpophilum) did somewhat less damage than 

 usual during the past season. This was due, in a measure, to 



