PEACH DISEASES 275 
humidity. The conidia from these sources start the disease 
in other parts of the peach. From one or more of the several 
possible sources conidia are carried to the half-grown fruits. 
These spores germinate, and the tubes enter through an in- 
jury; the curculio and the peach-scab fungus are the chief 
agents in making such wounds. The mycelium develops pro- 
fusely within the tissues of the fruit, the result showing 
externally as a brown-rot. Conidial tufts soon appear and 
conidia are liberated to continue the destructive action of the 
fungus. Where two or more peaches touch eachother, the 
mycelium grows from the infected peach through the point 
of contact to the other. In this way the fruits are made to 
cling to each other, several in a group. 
The fungus is highly favored by a series of cloudy days 
accompanied by frequent showers, especially at picking time; 
consequently a great amount of fruit may be destroyed under 
such weather conditions. Prolonged drizzly weather is far 
more dangerous than a heavy rain followed by clearing. Hot 
weather favors the rapid growth of the fungus and increases 
the danger of its destroying the crop. On the other hand, in 
a dry, cool season the crop may be expected to remain relatively 
free from brown-rot. 
Control. 
In applying control measures it should be borne in mind 
that: (1) all parts of the peach above ground are liable to 
attack; (2) the disease is most serious in warmer regions and 
in warm, wet seasons; (3) total destruction of the crop may 
come suddenly and unexpectedly; (4) the fruits and blossoms 
are affected seriously, which fact is of vital importance when 
measured in dollars; (5) the fungus overwinters in the mum- 
mies and in the cankers, and the mummies are found both 
on the ground and hanging to the tree; (6) the fungus 
enters fruits chiefly through wounds, and the curculio is a 
serious offender in making such wounds. Therefore, remove all 
