29 



tion until late in the season. Furthermore, Bitter Rot and Fruit 

 Spot usually begin their attacks after the fruit is half grown ; and 

 such ripe rots as Black Rot, Brown Rot, and \'olutella Rot come on 

 in the latter part of the year. More efficient protection is afforded 

 against all of these if a fungicidal application is made in July, at the 

 time when spraying is done for the second codling moth brood. 

 Where Blotch and Bitter Rot prevail, Bordeaux mixture must be 

 used in midsummer and the application made two or three times at 

 intervals of tAvo weeks on varieties susceptible to these destructive 

 diseases. 



A word further about Blotch and Bitter Rot may not be out of 

 place. Both of these diseases are among the most serious affecting 

 apples in the South. They occur in Pennsylvania to a small degree 

 only, but we must be on the alert lest they gain a greater foothold. 



Bitter Rot spots are brown and circular, and the rot extends 

 inward in a cone-shaped area quite rapidly, so that it may reach 

 the core by the time the surface area is the size of a half dollar. 

 The surface is dotted with spore pustules which emit minute flesh- 

 colored, waxy masses of spores rather early in the development of 

 the rot. The fungus lives over winter in mummied apples on the 

 trees, but not in those that rot on the ground ; and in the limb 

 cankers, when these are formed. Of our commercial varieties 

 Jonathan is likely to suffer most. 



Blotch affects the surface of the fruit, without directly caus- 

 ing rot. The skin is discolored, and sometimes thickened so that 

 small raised areas are apparent. These are covered with minute 

 black dots in which the spores are formed. When attacked early 

 the fruit is dwarfed and deformed. The fungus attacks leaves and 

 twigs, surviving the winter in the latter. Ben Davis is the most 

 susceptible of our commercial apples. 



Un SPRAYED York Imperial Tree Almost Defoliated by Leaf- 

 Spot. 



