‘PRUNE AND CHERRY BROWN-ROT IN THE NORTHWEST. 3 
APOTHECIA. 
Two imethods of overwintering are known for the brown-rot 
fungus, one by means of twig cankers and the mummied fruit on 
the trees and the other by the rotten and mummied fruit on the 
ground. Careful observation indicated that under conditions in the 
Northwest the fallen fruit and resulting apothecia are largely 
responsible for carrying the disease through the winter. 
Apothecia were abundant under the prune trees in unplowed 
orchards and were found in considerable number on the mummied 
cherries. So far as the writers have been able to learn this is the 
first instance in which cherry apothecia have been reported. 
OFl Life. 5.and, Pl. Lit, fig. 2.) 
The prunes and cherries that were partly buried in the trash or 
soil appeared to be most favorably situated for the development 
of apothecia, but prunes that were buried to a depth of 2 or 3 
inches also fruited rather freely, and in some instances apothecia 
vee traced to prunes that were buried to the extreme depth of 
5 inches. 
TIME RELATION OF APOTHECIA, BLOSSOMS, AND BLOSSOM 
INFECTION. 
The weather conditions favorable for bringing the trees into bloom 
are also favorable in general for the development of apothecia. 
Table 2 gives the results of observations on this point. 
Taste 2.—Apothecial, blooming, and infection dates in prune orchards at 
Salem, Oreg., in 1919, and at Felida, Wash., im the 4-year period, 1915-1918. 
Maxi- 
First mum First : F 
: First | Serious 
Wear. eh beia: ot anot UOTE infection. infection. 
hecia 
df Mis re as aed nee ee A a ee Ae ae re tse Oe Apr. 2] Apr. 8} Mar. 24| Apr. 5| Apr. 8 
GU 2 cond SRR Seacrest gee 27 0) yeaa al toe: M0 amet 9) of 0) olay 4 (a pe) | a 
OU ree ae: Re ee Sse te ee a Apr. 18 | Apr. 30} Apr. 27| May 9 | May 18 
HOES oS soe OS See See ae oe ay eS Oe aaa ie a es ee Apr. 6 Dos 1G) PAR i ee some | seein se 
LT a BR ae OO ie 8 ae ee ee eee eS ANTINs 5 lle CASES 69) | PACD. hd lae eee see | Apr. 16 
It was observed that under favorable conditions a period of eight 
days elapsed between the time the prune apothecia broke through 
the soil and the shedding of the first spores and that they continued 
to shed spores for at least a week. 
In both the prune and the cherry orchards the apothecia were 
usually shedding their spores by the time the blossoms were open, 
and they continued to do so throughout the blooming period. Full 
chance was thus given for the start of the disease on the blossoms, 
the extent of the infection varying with the prevalence of damp and 
showery weather. 
RELATION OF PLOWING, CULTIVATION, AND CHARACTER OF SOIL. 
In observations in various orchards during the five years’ study it 
was found that those not plowed or cultivated until after the blos- 
soming season (as is frequently the case) usually had an abundance 
