THE ASCOSPORE AND OTHER FUNGI 



247 



spores are produced. These are scattered by wind and rain 

 and serve to spread the disease to new fruits. The myce- 

 lium gives a bitter taste to the parts of the apple near the 

 decayed spot. 



This fungus is also 

 able to develop upon 

 the bark of apple 

 trees, where it pro- 

 duces dead blotches 

 called cankers. The 

 fungus apparently 

 passes the winter both 

 in these cankers and 

 in the mummied fruits, 

 from which new crops 

 of spores are pro- 

 duced in spring or 

 early summer. 



The destruction of 

 mummied and fallen 

 fruits, cutting out and 



burning all canker apples affected by bitter rot 



spots, and spraying 



with fungicides are the means by which this disease may 

 be controlled. 



Brown Rot of Stone Fruits 



The Brown Rot of peaches, plums, and cherries is one 

 of the most destructive diseases affecting fruits. It is the 

 commonest cause of the rotting of peaches or plums both 

 upon the tree before or during ripening, and also in the 

 baskets after picking. Its life history is similar to that of 

 the other fungi that cause plant diseases. The tiny spores 



