New YorK AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1438 
It was decided to carry on investigations with the fungus be- 
cause the apple crop of the State is a very important one, and 
there were indications that daiage of great economic importance 
would be done by the fungus. Then, too, the rot was of a very 
unusual nature, being caused by a fungus that was regarded as 
a saprophyte, and not known to be able to grow on living 
substances. 
Many inquiries from fruit growers regarding the rot were 
received when the harvest commenced and the commercial 
importance of it began to manifest itself. In order to get infor- 
mation of the trouble at first hand, the writer made a trip into 
some of the great apple-growing sections of the State on Octo- 
ber 13th, 14th and 15th, when the harvest was in full progress. 
Many dealers were visited, and all reported the trouble as very 
common and serious. Much interest was shown by apple grow- 
ers and dealers generally, and for their information the following 
press notice was prepared. A copy was mailed to every news- 
paper in the State on October 21st, and published by most of 
-them a few days later. 
“A NEW AND DESTRUCTIVE APPLE ROT. 
H. J. EUSTACE. 
“An unusual and serious trouble with harvested apples has 
appeared in western New York. It is confined entirely to scabby 
apples. A white or pinkish mildew appears upon the scab spots 
and transforms them into brown, sunken, bitter, rotten spots. 
On very scabby apples these rotten spots soon coalesce and ruin 
the fruit. 
“The damage done is enormous. In Niagara, Orleans, Monroe 
and Wayne counties thousands of barrels of apples have been 
ruined. The varieties most affected are Greening and Fall 
Pippin. 
“ Upon investigation it was found that the white mildew on the 
scab spots is the cause of the rot, and that it is a distinct fungus 
having no connection with the scab fungus. The scab itself will 
not rot a fruit, but it breaks the skin wherever it grows, and 
thereby makes an opening for this other fungus to get into the 
apple and rot it. 
“Traces of the rot are sometimes found upon apples while still 
on the trees, but the greatest damage is done during the sweat- 
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