New Yorx AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 185 
caused by Nectria but by a sterile fungus. It is wide spread and 
destructive. The four-lined leaf-bug causes a currant leaf-spot 
which is confused with that due to fungi. An obscure dewberry 
disease was observed. Gooseberry powdery mildew has been 
troublesome in Ulster and Columbia counties. A gooseberry root 
rot has been found at Marlboro. Grape black rot has done serious 
damage in a few instances. Grape root rot due to Dematophora 
and grape black knot occurred in Orange Co. Winter injury to 
fruit-buds caused heavy losses to peach growers. Peach leaf curl 
has been conspicuous by its absence, but the yellows 1s common. 
Pears have suffered from no disease. In former years black knot 
ruined the plum orchards, but it has probably not spread much in 
1899. Plum fruit-rot has been destructive. Quinces have been 
affected considerably with fruit-spot and leaf-blight. The worst 
disease affecting the raspberry this season is an obscure one which 
may be caused by Phoma. Raspberry anthracnose was rare on 
new canes, but abundant on fruiting canes. Strawberry leaf- 
blight has been severe on some varieties. None of the above dis- 
eases were so destructive as in 1898. 
INTRODUCTION. 
Since its organization, in 1897, the Eastern New York Horti- 
cultural Society has had a standing committee on plant diseases. 
The membership of this committee is a follows: F. C. Stewart, 
Geneva; F. A. Taber, Poughkeepsie; E. W. Barns, Middle 
Hope; P. W. King, Athens; and L. E. Covert, Clintondale. 
The two published reports of the Committee are brief for two 
reasons; namely, lack of data and lack of space for publication. 
During the past season the committee has endeavored to do more 
thorough work. A considerable amount of data has been gath- 
ered, and to present it in as much detail as seems desirable would 
1 Fifty-Seventh Ann. Rept. of the N. Y. Agr. Soc., 1897: 735-738. 
