ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 25 



Report of the Committee on Fung:ous Diseases. 



By Mr. J. H. Putnavi of Litchfield. 



Mr. President: The work of your Committee on Fungous 

 Diseases has not been very rduous during the past year, as there 

 have been few inquiries or reports. In the following report I 

 am much indebted to Mr. Plant and Mr. Butler for notes con- 

 cerning the prevalence of diseases in their localities, and the 

 results of treatment. 



The apple rust and scab have been prevalent during the 

 past season, and Mr. Butler reports the canker serious in some 

 places. Owing to the light apple crop many growers neg- 

 lected to spray as usual, and the very wet spring interfered 

 with the operation and made what was done less effective. 

 This gave worms and scab a glorious opportunity, and they 

 improved it. 



Mr. Plant reports that his crop of apples from an orchard 

 that has been regularly sprayed for a number of years, while 

 small, was very free from scab and bitter rot. 



The apple canker has only recently been thoroughly investi- 

 gated. It is caused by a fungous germ entering the bark where 

 some injury, as a sun-scald or abrasion, has occurred. The 

 same germ produces a twig blight, and black rot of the fruits. 

 The New York Station advises a wash made of lime 30 lbs., 

 tallow 4 lbs., salt 5 lbs., and water enough to spray easily. 

 This should be applied to the branches and trunk to prevent 

 sun-scald, and also spray with the Bordeaux mixture, and cut 

 away the diseased parts. The Delaware Station recommends 

 painting the limbs and trunks with Bordeaux thickened with 

 lime like whitewash. 



Mr. Plant reports that his pears were free from leaf-blight 

 and scab, and that he has, by ten years of systematic spraying, 

 totally eradicated them from his orchard, while they are very 

 prevalent in orchards adjoining. 



This leaf-blight must not be confused with the pear-blight. 

 The leaf-blight, which also affects the fruit, the leaf-spot and 

 the scab, can all be controlled by the use of Bordeaux. The 

 pear-blight, however, can only be eradicated by the use of the 

 saw and culture, avoiding a very rapid, succulent growth. 



