4:68 
AMERICAN AG-RIC ULTURIST 
[November, 
The Apple-Leaf Fungus 
(Itmtelia canceUata.) 
Observing upon a neighbor’s apple tree, leaves 
that were turning crimson in spots, we picked some 
lor examination. Our friend, noticing the spots, 
remarked that he supposed “ there would be 
swarms of insects coming out of those blotches be¬ 
fore long.” Such deformities of plants are no 
doubt generally ascribed to insects, and very natur¬ 
ally, as in many cases, the abnormal growths, such 
as the various galls, oak-apples, etc., are, but not 
always, due to them. There seem to be three gen¬ 
eral classes of diseases, or troubles, among plants : 
(1) Those caused by insects, and therefore of ani¬ 
mal origin. (2) Those avhich arise from vegetable 
parasites, the most common ones being members of 
the fungus group, and (3) a class, which so far as 
we know, due to neither of these two. A class of 
true diseases, where the plants are “ out of 
health ”—a real sickness, brought about by one or 
more of a multitude of different and often unknown 
causes. The apple leaves, one of which is shown 
in figure 1, are doubtless infested by a fungus, 
which has been known for a long time, though it is 
not fully understood even now. Those who read 
the account of the Wheat Rust in the August 
number (page 301) will remember that there were 
several stages in the life of the Rust Plant, in one 
of which it was on the Barberry. The fungus on 
the apple leaf belongs to the same group, and is 
the “ cluster-cup ” form of the species, resembling, 
as a comparison of the figures will show, the “ Bar¬ 
berry state ” of the wheat rust. The cup is deeper, 
the neck extends much further above the surface 
of the leaf, and is more finely fringed about the 
edges, but in a general way a description of the one 
will answer for both. Figure 2 shows an enlarged 
view of the “ fringed cluster-cup,” as it is some¬ 
times called, and a cross-section through a cluster 
is given in figure 4, where two of the cups, which 
are more like tubes, are seen. In these pits the 
orange-colored spores are produced in vast numbers, 
closely packed together in the bottom, figure 5. If 
these cluster-cups upon the apple are but a form, 
or a single stage of some fungus, the question 
naturally arises: on what plant (or plants) does 
the other form (or do the other forms) appear ? 
This question has been an interesting and difficult 
one for students of 
these subjects; but 
it is generally con¬ 
sidered that the 
Cedar Apples of 
the Red Cedar— 
those bright, or¬ 
ange masses (fig. 3) 
which appear in 
spring after a 
shower or during 
F.g. 2. SPOT MAGNIFIED. & ^ ^ ^ 
are sometimes taken for the flowers of the 
Cedar, and sometimes eaten by children as the 
fruit—are caused by the same fungus, this being 
the last stages of the species. Not long ago we 
saw an apple tree that was growing with its limbs 
interlocking with those of a Cedar, and on those 
limbs the fungus was unusually abundant; in fact, 
the leaves were so covered that there was scarcely 
room for another cup. while ( the other trees of the 
orchard had only the ordinary amount. The Cedar 
tree was also more infested with the “ apples ” 
than others in the woods near by. A knowledge of 
this connection between these two fungi is im¬ 
portant, and teaches that, by destroying the Cedar 
fungus, that upon the apple may be eradicated. 
Just how much damage is done by the Boestelia is 
not easy to estimate, but at any rate its presence 
in the orchaid can be of no benefit. Two practical 
methods of destroying the pest are suggested. In 
the spring gather and burn all the Cedar Apples—if 
it is thought best to keep the Cedar trees; and in the 
autumn rake together and burn all the apple leaves. 
Unprofitable Fruit Trees. 
A remarkable collection of fruit came to us not 
long ago ; a box contained rusty and cracked pears, 
apples thickly speckled with bitter rot, and half 
grown peaches, which had dried up instead of 
ripening. Very likely the sender had the idea 
that we could tell him what to do with his trees, 
while the trouble lies deeper. An outbreak of 
typhoid fevey no more surely indicates unhealthy 
surroundings, than does fruit like this show the 
condition of the soil. No manuring, pruning, or 
other treatment of the trees will help them. The 
only remedy is to drain the soil, and that thoroughly. 
We- have in mind a striking case of this kind; 
an orchard in which two-thirds is on dry soil, while 
the remainder is a little low and wet. Six years 
ago,, the trees upon the dry portion were all in a 
thrifty condition, of fine shape, aud bearing abun¬ 
dantly. But those upon the wet land were but a 
trifle larger than when set out twelve years before ; 
in fact, most of them were gone. The next year 
the wet portion was thoroughly tile-drained, and 
new trees were set in place of the old ones. Now 
those trees are doing as well as could be desired. 
No cultivating, growing hoed crops, manuring, or 
pruning, could have made that wet part of the or¬ 
chard a success. It simply and only needed drain¬ 
ing ; and when the owner was wise enough to do 
that, he made fruit growing possible in that por¬ 
tion of the land, which he had devoted to fruit 
trees, but from which he had received no returns, 
There is no greater mistake than to devote to an 
orchard, land that is too wet for the ordinary crops 
of the farm, for trees least of all can flourish on it. 
It would be far better to cut down trees that pro¬ 
duce fruit of the kind referred to ; they ivould then 
be of some use as fire wood, while now they pro¬ 
duce an annual crop of disappointment. But the 
trees in all probability may, if not too old and 
stunted, be restored by draining the soil. This is a 
most favorable season for doing the work—Do it! 
Ivy for tlie House.—When Ivy for home dec¬ 
oration is taken up from the open ground, unless 
the plants have been prepared beforehand, the 
branches, in running along on the ground, will have 
pushed out roots at every joint, and when taken 
up, the plant is deprived of several feeders. If 
such a plant is placed in a warm room, the evapor¬ 
ation from its leaves goes on as before, while its 
supply of moisture is greatly diminished, and, as a 
consequence, the leaves fall off. Plants of this 
kind should be kept in a room without a fire, 
until they can make new roots at the base, and ac¬ 
custom themselves to the loss of those along the 
stems. When Ivy is set out in spring, its stems 
should be kept tied up; if allowed to rest upon 
the soil, they will take root wherever they touch. 
Some New White Grapes. 
Every grape grower and fruit dealer knows that 
a white grape will sell more readily, and bring a 
higher price, than a dark colored or black one. 
Whether it is because white grapes are albinos, and 
like albinism in animals, this peculiarity is often 
accompanied by other defects, white grapes soon 
disappear, very few of them fulfilling their early 
promise. Every one who grows fruit for market 
would gladly welcome a white grape with all the 
good qualities of the Concord, and as few of its de¬ 
fects as possible. After all, the chief excellence of 
Fig. 4. —CROSS-SECTION OF TWO CUPS. 
the Concord is its certainty. Tested by a not very 
high standard of quality, the Concord is not a good 
grape; but whoever has Concord vines is very sure 
to have Concord grapes. Some 15 years ago there 
was a “grape fever,” and there was a more general 
interest in grape culture than there has been since. 
We then advised the culture of the Concoi-d for 
this very quality of certainty, and much abuse did 
we get, as we were encouraging an uneducated 
taste. We admitted a preference for the second 
best with certainty over the “ first best” with un¬ 
certainty of fruit, or rather the certainty of having 
no" fruit. Where now are the varieties advocated 
by those who placed their standard of quality so 
high ? The trail of grape culture is strewed with 
their wrecks. But this is a digression. Grape 
growers still need a grape which will be among 
white varieties what Concord is among the dark 
ones, and we think that it is nearer at hand than ax 
any former time. Leaving out others, we confine 
these notes to those which we for the first time saw 
at the recent meeting of the American Pomological 
Society. That we may not appear to show prefer¬ 
ence for either, we mention them alphabetically: 
Duchess. —This is raised by A. Caywood & Son, 
Marlborough, N. T. If we recollect aright, it re¬ 
sults from the crossing of a White Concord seed¬ 
ling with the Walter. It is a large, handsomely 
shaped and well-shouldered bunch of medium¬ 
sized berries, which cling to the stalk with great 
tenacity. The skin is thin, the flesh very tender, 
and in flavor it will rank with any of the very 
best grapes. Its keeping and carrying qualities 
we assume are, and they appear to be, excellent. 
Niagara. —Originated with Hoag and Clark, 
Lockport, N. Y., who 
state it to be a cross 
between the Concord 
and Cassady. Bunch 
arid berry about the size 
of those of Concord, 
but more compact. The 
light-greenish color is 
sometimes bronzed in 
the sun. Ripens with 
the Hartford Prolific, 
and its quality is very 
satisfactory. The fruit 
remains a long time on 
the vine,and keeps and carries well. Those who have 
tested the Niagara speak in high terms of the vigor 
and productiveness, and especially of its foliage. 
Noah.— Originated with Mr. Wasserzicher, and, 
Fig. 5. —BOTTOM OF CUP. 
