



249 
SPOTTING OF QUINCE FRUIT. 
Morthiera Mespili Fckl., var. Cydonia, C. & LE. 
This fungus, Morthiera, which is always present to some extent on 
the leaves of the quince, and which was partially described in last 
year’s report,* wasthis year much more prevalent than usual. It did 
considerable injury to the foliage, in some instances causing it to 
: drop prematurely. It is, 
however, of the injury 
done the fruit that I wish 
to speak especially. On 
the fruit it forms circular, 
blackish spots with a red 
or white margin and a dot 
or two at the center. The 
spots are somewhat sunk- 
fen, and may be as much 
as a quarter of an inch in 
diameter. When numer- 
ous they coalesce into a 
deep brown or blackish 
surface, which may cover 
a considerable part of the 
frnit, over which is scat- 
5 tered a great number of 
Fig. 1.—Quince spotted with the fungus, Mor- minute dots containing 
thiera. Natural size. Original. the spores. The fruit is 
disfigured as shown in the cut, and its marketa- 
ble value is much reduced. Cutting open the 
fruit shows the pulp to be brown beneath each 
spot, not deeper, however, than the surface di- 
ameter. ‘The limit of the influence of the myce- 
lium is distinctly marked, and paring the fruit 
rather deeply would remove all traces of it. The 
edible and keeping qualities of the fruit are not 
in general materially affected—only its appear- 
ance, which detracts from its money value; but if 
the fungus attacks too early and too vigorously, Pis.?- Mycelium and 
spores of quince fun- 
the growth is checked and the fruit rendered Pe EF OS gi 
worthless; the latter is fortunately not often the Rep. 
case. No preventive or remedy is yet known. 


RoTrrina oF ‘TOMATOES. 
_The cause of the rotting of green fruit and the early decay of the 
ripe fruit of tomatoes, seems as difficult a problem to solve after an- 
other year’s observation and experiment as ever. ‘The disease, or 

*Third Annual Report, p. 371. 
