402 Report oF THE HORTICULTURIST OF THE 
RUSSETING AND BELTING OF FRUIT. 
Description.— Both apples and pears are subject to a trouble 
known as russeting or belting. It is sometimes also called rust, 
but this name is objectionable because it leads to confusion with 
the true apple rust discussed above which is a very different thing. 
Fruits entirely sound and perfect in form may show areas on 
which the skin is rough, brown and corky. These areas may be 
irregular in outline, in which case the fruit is said to be rus- 
seted, or they may form a definite zone around the fruit produc- 
ing the condition known as belting. 
Cause.— This trouble is not caused by any insect or fungus. It 
is due to some irritation of the skin of the fruit, and may be 
brought about in three principal ways: 
(1) By the occurrence of long continued cloudy, wet weather 
immediately after the setting of the fruit; 
(2) By spraying with Bordeaux mixture during cloudy, wet 
weather ; F 
(3) By the freezing of dew on the fruit while it is young and 
tender. In this case the injured area usually takes the form of a 
zone or belt. 
No remedy is known. 
SCAB. 
(Venturia mequalis (Cke.) Aderh.*) 
Description.— The worst disease with which the apple growers 
of this State have to contend is one commonly known as “ apple 
scab” or “cracking of the apple.” It is caused by a fungus 
which attacks the skin of both foliage and fruit. 
On the fruit the spots at first usually circular in outline 
and have a very dark velvety-green surface, but afterwards they 
become nearly or quite black. In some cases the diseased tissue 
finally scales off leaving a scar with a corky, russet surface. The 
1This is the name given to the ascosporic stage of Pusicladium dendriticum 
{Wallr.) Fekl. 
