562 



Preventing the Decay of Ripe Fruit, [dec, 



The Board would be glad if growers would assist them in 

 discovering any unreported cases of the infestation. 



There is at present no law dealing with the eradication of the 

 pests of fruit trees in this country, but the Board believe that 

 the American gooseberry mildew has not spread very far as yet, 

 and that it depends very largely on the action of the fruit 

 growers, nurserymen, and market gardeners whether its further 

 development can be prevented. 



In Vol. XII., p. 305 of this Journal an account was given of 

 certain experiments conducted in the Jodrell Laboratory, Kew, 

 with the object of ascertaining the relative 



A Method of value of various substances in preventinp; 



Preventing" the c ■ c v 



Rapid Decay of ^^P^^ ^^^^^ ^^P^ These 



Ripe Fruit. experiments were based on the fact that 

 the primary cause of decay and rotting 

 of ripe fruit is in most cases the presence ^oi the germs of 

 fungi, yeasts, bacteria, &c., on the surface of the fruit, and 

 not — within a definite limit of time — to any inherent tendency 

 on the part of the fruit to decay. Among the various sub- 

 stances experimented with, commercial formalin ( = formalde- 

 hyde, 40 per cent.) proved to be most suitable, on account of 

 its efficiency, cheapness, and ease of application, and because of 

 the entire absence of danger in its use. The method of treat- 

 ment explained in the article quoted above is here reproduced. 



" In the case of fruits where every part is eaten, as straw- 

 berries, &c., the fruit should be immersed for ten minutes in cold 

 water containing 3 per cent, of commercial formalin. On 

 removal immerse the fruit for five minutes in cold water, and 

 afterwards place it on wire-netting or some similarly open 

 material to drain and dry. 



" When the fruit has a rind or ' skin ' that is not eaten, the 

 immersion in water after the treatment in formalin solution can 

 be omitted with advantage." 



During the present season a second series of experiments 

 have been conducted at Kew, for the purpose of checking the 

 results previously obtained, and of experimenting with other 

 kinds of ripe fruit. 



