APPLE DISEASES 125 
EvuRoPEAN CANKER 
Caused by Nectria galligena Bres. 
This disease, troublesome for many years in Europe, was noted 
on apples in America about 1899. At this time it was found 
doing damage in Nova Scotia and in New York State. From 
time to time reports of the European canker on apple have come 
from various parts of United States and Canada, and now it is 
known to prevail over a wide area on this continent. It has 
gained most prominence, as an apple disease, in eastern Cagada, 
New York, New England and the Pacific Coast. The disease 
is perhaps of European origin. It has been well-known there for 
scores of years, because of its destructiveness not only to the 
apple, but also to many forest trees. Previous to 1880, how- 
ever, no profound investigations were made abroad; about 
this time considerable attention was given to it in German 
writings. Subsequently the disease has received more than 
usual consideration in Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France, 
Australia, New Zealand, Holland and England. 
In Europe, this canker is the most destructive and most 
dangerous of all fruit diseases. Thousands of trees are killed 
in their prime. In many localities certain varieties can no 
longer be grown, and there are even districts in which apple- 
culture has become a real problem as a result of the ravages of 
this disease. Nor are the losses confined to the apple, nor to 
fruit trees. It will be less difficult to give an impression of the 
economic importance of this disease if brief reference to the plants 
affected is made. Among these are, in addition to the apple, 
the pear, quince, cherry, gooseberry, lime, beech, maple, ash, 
alder, hazel-nut, linden, plane-tree, oak, hornbeam, ironwood, 
dogwood and magnolia. In Germany, for example, beech- 
stands are often ruined by it. And while the greatest damage 
done to forest trees is in foreign countries, its importance on 
the apple makes it a serious pest. 
