Apr., 1922] 
STEVENS — ROTS OF EARLY STRAWBERRIES 
205 
intended merely to indicate that the material studied accords morpho- 
logically with the species that have been more or less generally known by 
those names and produces the characteristic effect on strawberries. It is 
probable that more than one variety, or species, of each genus occurs on 
strawberries, and both genera are now being studied by competent investi- 
gators, to whom material from strawberries has been supplied. 
Both species are widely distributed on a variety of hosts, and there can 
be no question but that they have long been present in both the areas dis- 
cussed. The striking difference in their abundance in the two areas must 
then be due to environmental conditions and not to lack of opportunity for 
infection. Additional indication that the extreme prevalence of Botrytis in 
California is due to environmental conditions is found in the fact that 
Fawcett (7, pp. 207, 209), who has carefully studied Citrus diseases in both 
Florida and California, finds a similar condition. He reports Botrytis as 
causing gummosis of trunk and limbs, and a fruit rot of lemons in parts of 
California, but not in Florida or Cuba. 
Host Relations 
Commercial strawberry picking in southern California usually begins in 
March (6, p. 22), although some ripe strawberries may often be obtained 
throughout the winter, and in very favorable seasons commercial shipments 
have been made every month in the year. The bulk of the long-distance 
shipments, however, are made in the month or six weeks following the first 
general ripening, that is, before the crop ripens in the important strawberry- 
growing regions of central California. Commercial picking in central 
Florida usually begins in January, sometimes even before Christmas, and, 
except when interrupted by frost, long-distance shipments are continued 
until strawberries ripen abundantly in northern Florida, which is usually 
in March (5, p. 4). The first four months of the year include, then, the 
time of earliest picking and the period of important commercial long- 
distance shipments in both districts. 
The standard commercial variety of strawberries in central Florida is 
the Missionary, in southern California the Brandywine. There is no evi- 
dence, however, that the difference in the varieties grown in the two localities 
influences the relative abundance of the two fungi. Indeed, it has thus far 
been impossible to demonstrate any varietal resistance to either of these 
fungi. 
With the possible exception of irrigation, which is discussed later, the 
difference in cultural practice (5, 6) seems to bear no relation to fungous 
infection. 
Climatic Relations 
The most striking differences between the areas under discussion are 
climatic. The climatic differences seem, moreover, to bear a close relation 
