New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 189 
GRAPE DISEASES. 
DISEASES IN GBPNPRAL.—Vineyards were remarkably free 
from disease. Black rot (Lestadia bidwellii) and downy mildew 
(Plasmopara viticola) were destructive only in a few localities. 
Powdery mildew (Uncinula necator) and anthracnose (Sphaceloma 
_-ampelinum) were rare. <A few severe cases of “shelling” were 
reported, but this trouble was not at all common. Black knot 
(black, warty enlargements of the stem due to frost injury) is less 
common than we supposed. Occasional specimens may be found 
in many vineyards, but it is rarely of sufficient abundance to cause 
material loss. 
RUSSETED FRUIT AND PRotTRUDING SrEeps.—In various localities 
in Western New York the green grapes showed russet bands and 
blotches which were only skin deep. Their appearance was very 
suggestive of the russeting of apples and pears and we think it 
due to the same cause, weather conditions,—probably a light 
freeze after the fruit was set. On many of the russeted fruits 
one or more seeds were exposed and sometimes prominently pro- 
truded. In some cases seeds were exposed on fruits which were 
not russeted. Nevertheless, we believe the russeting and expos- 
ure of seeds both due to the same cause. 
PEACH DISEASES. 
Lear Curt (Lzxoascus deformans (Berk.) Fckl.).—Leaf curl has 
done but little damage. A few correspondents report consider- 
able loss from it, but in general it appeared only on particularly 
susceptible varieties such as Elberta. 
It is now known that this destructive disease may be almost 
wholly prevented by a single thorough spraying with Bordeaux 
mixture in late winter or early spring before the buds break. 
Applications made after the foliage has appeared have little or 
no effect. By the time the leaf buds begin to show green it is 
already too late to spray. At Williamson we saw an Elberta 
orchard which had been well sprayed on April 30, at which time 
-gome of the buds were breaking. Leaf curl was quite as bad on 
