SMALL FRUITS 157 



show a great variety of deformities: sometimes only 

 slightly distorted ; sometimes with increased number of 

 stamens and petals and with enlarged, thickened petals 

 and sepals. Even those flowers which appear most 

 nearly perfect have diseased ovaries, and the fruits from 

 these brooms are always worthless. 



Double blossom usually appears during the second 

 harvest and continues to increase until the plants entirely 

 succumb. Numerous late blossoms appear during the 

 first season and increase in number from year to year. 



The disease is due to a fungus, and the infection of new 

 buds occurs during the blooming and fruiting season. 

 For this reason it is impossible to control the disease by 

 spraying, but it may be held in check by removing and 

 burning the deformed buds as soon as they begin to open, 

 and can be easily detected. If this is done early in the 

 season before the leaves are large enough to hide the dis- 

 eased parts, a man working alone can care for plants at the 

 rate of 400 per hour. 



Two other diseases are known to be particularly common 

 on the dewberry; namely, the leaf blight and the cane 

 blight. Both of these are treated under the blackberry 

 and raspberry. 



GOOSEBERRY 



The powdery mildew {Sphcerotheca Mors-uvm (Schwein.) 

 Berk. & Curt.). — Sphserothecose may be recognized 

 by the characteristic mildewed appearance of the leaves, 

 stems, and fruit, all of which appear whitened as 

 though dusted with blotches of flour. Close inspec- 

 tion shows each blotch to consist of cobwebby threads 



