490 Report oF tHE HorricuLtTuRIst OF THE 
same description of gross characters and the same lines of treat- 
ment will apply to both. For description and treatment, see 
“Plum black knot,” page 452, 
FRUIT ROT. 
(Monilia fructigena P.) 
Description.— The rotting of the ripening fruit on the tree 
often causes great injury to the crops of cherries, plums, apricots 
and peaches. A fungous parasite attacks the fruit and causes it 
to rot. The same fungus under favorable conditions, especially 
when the weather is warm and moist, and the growing shoots are 
tender and succulent, may attack the ends of the twigs and also 
the blossoms. Frequently the rotted fruit remains on the tree 
over winter in a mummied form and the following season, under 
favorable weather conditions, becomes covered with spores by 
means of which the disease is propagated. These mummied fruits, 
therefore, should be collected and destroyed before growth starts 
in spring, as a preventive of infection. 
The fungus sometimes does considerable damage by destroying 
the blossoms, but usually it causes most loss by attacking the 
fruit. It occurs on unripe fruits, but usually spreads most rapidly 
and does most damage when the fruits are nearly or quite ripe, 
especially if they hang in clusters or touch each other. Under 
weather conditions very favorable to its growth it may practically 
ruin the ripening crop within a short time. 
L'reatment.— The disease may be prevented to some extent by 
treatment with fungicides, but it is extremely doubtful whether it 
ean be entirely controlled by spraying. Bordeaux mixture applied 
soon after the fruit sets persists, to some extent, until the fruit 
ripens and will show on the ripe fruit. The other mixtures which 
have been tried are of doubtful utility, taking all things into con- 
sideration. For both this disease and the leaf-spot it is suggested”® 
45 Beach, S. A. N. Y. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 117: 134. 
