171 
(Melanconium fuliginea, (S. & V.) Cav.) but there are several points 
of difference. The spores of bitter rot are navicular and fuliginous, 
and the stroma is made up of smaller and more uniformly dark- 
colored cells ; moreover it does not seem to be as variable as that of the 
ripe rot, but there is a more regular disappearance of the upper cen¬ 
tral portion of the stroma, leaving a cavity the sides of which are 
always lined with spores and basidia. The formation of secondary 
spores has never been observed for the Melanconium and the mycel¬ 
ium proceeding from the spore is very different from that of the Gloeo- 
sporium and is fuliginous. It does seem, however, as if the two fungi 
ought to be placed in the same genus, but it is not the purpose of this 
paper to make any changes in nomenclature. 
Later stages .—In the Annual Report for 1887 Mr. Galloway described 
a stage which seemed to be an immature pycnidium. In hopes of obtain¬ 
ing more definite results in this direction, a number of apples which 
showed numerous characteristic pustules were placed under bell jars 
in the fall and left until midwinter. When examined, the stages 
figured in the annual report were found; but in some cases the fruiting 
body was composed of one outer layer of dark-colored cells, those inside 
being colorless, and the contents of the central ones broken up into 
small particles. The structure of the entire body closely resembled that 
of the immature pycnidia of black rot of grapes, the colorless cells being 
isodiametric and nearly hexagonal. No spores could be seen, but in one 
or two cases the contents of the conceptacle were not fully distinguish¬ 
able, and seemed to be partly composed of radiating lines passing from 
the circumference to the center. From the top of these bodies arose 
the characteristic stroma mass, or rather, in this case, a compound 
sporophore, bearing spores at the free ends of the hyphse. Still later, 
one conceptacle showed two asci containing partly developed spores. 
Unfortunately, the apples were so overgrown with Penicillium and so 
putrid from the attacks of insect larvae and bacteria that they had to be 
thrown away before any more definite results could be obtained. 
ECONOMIC NOTES. 
The fungus has been known on the apple for a long time, Berkeley’s 
first description of it dating back to 1856. During the past five years 
it has proved very destructive in certain localities especially in the 
South and Southwest. One fruit grower from Arkansas reported that 
from the effects of the rot in the summer of 1887 his orchard of seventy- 
five trees would not yield 25 bushels. Until the present season only 
solitary cases have been known of the fungus attacking the grapes, but 
during the past summer we have received specimens from Connecticut 
and New York. In the latter State it was observed in Wayne, Cayuga, 
and Seneca Counties and was found on grapes sent in from the grape¬ 
growing district iu the southeastern part of the State. It seems to be 
slowly spreading on the grape, and attacks the fruit often after it is 
