1898.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 65 



spores, but their period of harmfulness is not yet ended. 

 After lying over winter in a dormant state, the fungus in 

 them is again aroused to life by the warm rains of spring, 

 and begins the production of spores which are ready to in- 

 fect the crop about to be produced. 



It has been thought practicable by some to exterminate or 

 at least greatly reduce this disease by the destruction of all 

 affected fruit and thus prevent the fungus from surviving 

 through the winter. The variety of fruits upon which it 

 can exist, however, and the practical hopelessness of accom- 

 plishing the destruction of any considerable proportion of 

 it, together with the uncertainty of the fungus being alto- 

 gether dependent upon the dormant stage found in the 

 dried-up fruit for its existence over winter, make the suc- 

 cess of this plan very doubtful. We would not, however, 

 discourage the practice of removing and destroying the 

 affected fruit, especially any remaining upon the trees over 

 winter ; for this may result in future decrease of the rotting, 

 especially in isolated orchards or trees. 



The usual methods of orchard spraying have been found 

 to keep this disease in check to a considerable extent, though 

 in favorable weather it will often sweep through an orchard, 

 despite all precautions. The spraying should be begun 

 early, and kept up through the season with considerable 

 frequency, especially near the time when the fruit is matur- 

 ing. For such spraying, Professor Maynard recommends 

 the use of the ammoniacal copper carbonate or a weak 

 solution of copper sulphate. Details in regard to the treat- 

 ment of this disease may be found in Bulletin 44 of this 

 station. 



The Chrysanthemum Rust. 



(Pticcinia Tanaceti, S.) 



In the last annual report a rust upon chrysanthemum 

 leaves was described, this being, as far as known, the first 

 published mention of such a disease. The specimens were 

 sent by Mr. G. H. Hastings of Fitchburg, who had experi- 

 enced heavy loss as the result of the rust. This was the 

 only occurrence of the disease encountered during 1896. 



