New York AGRICULTURAL EXPHRIMENT STATION. 151 
Growing as a saprophyte it is common. During the past sea- 
son we found it on the black knots on cherry and plum trees, and 
on cordwood (Plate XVII, Fig. 3), where it was very abundant 
and vigorous. During October we found it on the fruit pedicels 
of grapes, but whether it grew there as a saprophyte or as a para- 
site we are unable to say. 
Jelliffe,” in his studies of the fungi found in the air, reports 
it as common. 
With the fungus growing so abundantly in so many places it 
is proper to ask why has not this same trouble occurred in the 
past? That this fungus has been rotting apples to a very small 
extent in other years is altogether likely, as many apple dealers 
and buyers have told the writer that they have observed the 
Same white growth and decayed spots on scabby apples in other 
years, but that the damage done was very slight; not enough to 
take any notice of. However, several dealers who have been in 
the business for many years state that there was a serious epi- 
demic cf the same disease in 1882. 
Epidemics of fungus diseases like this one and the currant 
anthracnose" in the Hudson Valley in 1901 are not well under- 
stood. In the case of this apple rot it is universally attributed 
to the unusually wet season. This fact, coupled with the very 
large amount of scab, is really all the explanation that can be 
offered. 
SEVERITY. 
The damage done to the apple crop of New York in 1902 by 
scab was greater than in any recent season, certainly since 1894; 
-and it probably caused a larger Joss than did the memorable epi- 
demic of that season. Formerly the presence of a little scab on 
an apple did not cause any alarm, for it is well known that the 
seab itself does not rot a fruit. But it does spoil its appearance 
and subsequent keeping quality. If apples of the required size 
have but a few spots of scab on them the price is reduced a little 
or they are sold as No. 2. If there is too much scab to pass for 
this grade they can be disposed of for evaporating purposes or 
l0Jelliffe, S. E. Some Cryptograms found in the Air. Bul. Torr. Bat. Club, 24: 481. 
03 0. 1897. 
11See Bul. No. 199 of this Station. 
