" Canker" Fungus. 



*3 



through a crack caused by the overweighting of the branch 

 with leaves or fruit. In this case deep, more or less curved, 

 cracks first appear in the bark, which is finally destroyed, 

 leaving irregular patches of naked wood. After becoming 

 well established the fungus travels up the branch in the bark 

 and bursts through to the surface at different points along 

 its course, and by this means the branch is eventually killed. 



In addition to the symptoms described for the recognition 

 of true canker, the fungus itself may be found if carefully 

 looked for. During the wane of summer patches of minute 

 white specks may be seen nestling in crevices of the rugged 

 bark surrounding the wounds : these are the first form of 

 fruit produced by the fungus. In the spring these white 

 patches produce a second form of fruit, consisting of very 

 minute bright-red balls. A magnifying glass, which can be 

 purchased for a shilling, greatly assists in detecting these 

 minute bodies, the presence of which settles all doubt as 

 to the cause of the disease. 



During the winter months, when the characteristic white 

 fluff has disappeared, the swellings and wounds caused by 

 the American Blight [Schtzoneura lantgera) somewhat resemble 

 the wounds made by the canker fungus, but careful observa- 

 tion will reveal the presence of the Blight insect in the 

 cracks. 



Some kinds of apple-tree are more susceptible to the 

 attack of the canker fung'us than others. Those which yield 

 some of the best eating apples are most liable to it. Cox's 

 orange pippin is a variety subject to this disease, as are 

 also the ribston pippin, the golden pippin, and several of 

 the rennets or reinettes, notably Reinette des Carmes. Trees 

 with the thinnest and smoothest bark are most liable. 



Pear, plum, oak, beech, ash, hazel, alder, maple, and lime 

 trees are also attacked by the canker fungus. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



Young branches that are attacked should be cut off, as 

 they are certain to be girdled and killed at an early date. 



When thick branches are diseased all the wounded parts 

 should be cut away, and the cut surface luted with clay or 



