ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. i33 



tight as possible, and the fruit packed in those packages right 

 from the tree, was the best way, because the less decay the 

 less shrinkage in weight there would be. Those apples were 

 weighed and examined afterwards and, as I recollect it, that 

 conclusion was borne out. 



The President : We have still one other topic for the morn- 

 ing session, and we have pursued this subject quite a little, as 

 it has been very interesting, but I think it may be well to take 

 up something else now, so as to finish our programme. We have 

 with us Prof. Townsend from the Department of Agriculture 

 at Washington, and he will address us on the subject of "The 

 Fungus Diseases of Fruits ; with Special Reference to Fruit 

 Rot, or 'Alonilia.'" 



Some of Our Common Fruit Diseases, with Special Reference 

 to the Brown Rot of Peaches and Plums.* 



By C. O. Townsetid, Washing/on, D. C. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: The treatment of 

 plant diseases has come to be one of the important factors in 

 fruit production. It is to be regretted that more is not known 

 in regard to the cause and treatment of many of our fruit 

 diseases. Nevertheless, remarkable progress has been made 

 along this line within the past few years. Plant pathology is 

 one of our newest sciences, and it is to be remarked that this 

 subject has received widespread attention within the past 

 decade. People are no longer inclined to blame Providence 

 for the failure of fruit and other crops. It is also gratifying, 

 especially to those of us who are studying plant diseases, to 

 know that the scientist and the producer are now working 

 side by side for the solution of the many problems that con- 

 front the fruit grower. Science is simply the classification of 

 knowledge, the gathering of facts and putting them into shape 

 for practical use, and those who are interested in the develop- 

 ment of the fruit industry will realize that new truths are being 



*This address was ilhistrated with lantern slides showing the different 

 stages of the various diseases mentioned and, so far as known, the 

 organisms that produce the diseases. Much of the value of the address 

 is lost in not being able to supply the pictures ; hence parts of the 

 address are published only in abstract. 



