The Democratic advocate., 1878-11-16
GIle &armer.
What Makes the Apples Rot.


the least interesting question to farmers and
others is the question, ssWhat makes the
apples rot p The numerous weeds, the
calerpiIlars and grasshoppers, which Occa-
sionally annoy the farmer, are relatively
harmless compared with the two forms of
fungus growth which have most to do with
the untimely destruction Of this fruit, nsu-
cor mucedo and pencilliam giaucum. Ap-
pies decay, not because it is their nature
TO, but because they are seized upon by
the above named organisms, which make
4 habitat Of them. Kept to themselves,
apples never rot; they simply lose their
juices by evaporation, shrivel, and become
dry aud hard, or if kept from drying, re-
main unchaged as when securely canned.
When apples become invaded by the or
ganisms we have named above, they be-
come covered with white or green mold I,
take on offensive tastes and odors, develop
rottenness and decay. Formerly this pro-
cess was thought TO be continuation of
the natural process of ripening, simply 60
ing on to their legitimate, though not very
delightful end. But those inclined to this
theory overlooked the very common and
important facts that the fruit may rot
without ripening, and that ripe fruit viii
not rot if properly protected. So far
from being the complement Of growth, the
antithesis Of life, the decay of this fruit is
in reality the taking on of more rapid,
though specifically different growth. In
structure, the numerous fungi consists
mainly Of a network Of eolorless cells
and flaments called plyceliHm. This is the
vegetative part. There is, besides, a pro-
ductiye part IN which is produced the seed
or sspare,.' the structure of which is diff
erent in the different organisms. In the
mucor each reproductive filament is Of
globular form; while in the pendulum they
are oval shaped. Pendulum is SO called
from the pencil like tuft of its spare bear
lug filaments, and glaucm from their blue
ish tint. 1t is comparatively of slow
growth, and the alienation it porduces in
the properties of the fruit it lives in and
upon is not so marked as that caused by
nucor. When fruit is invaded BY either
of these fungi, the vegetatiye filaments
send their branches among and around the
fruit cells, and rapidly enyelop them in
network of mycelium, gradually absorbing
the substance and juice of the fruit, and
producing the chemical transformation
characteristic of decay. All this goes on
insidiously in the interior Of the fruit, as
scarcely to be noticed by the general mass
of observers, the fructification of the fun
gus taking place only on the surface in
contact with the atmosphere; hence the
deception. Fruit covered with smooth,
firm skin, like the apple, may at first
glance appear to be sound, while by fur
ther examination it may turn out a mass of
what we call corruption within, thorough
ly decomposed by fungus growth, while to
the naked eye no visible mold, the fructi-
flying part may appear on the surface
On the other hand, fruits, which are easily
pierced by the reproductive fIaments, are
often covered with an abundant fungi in a
comparatively short time, for the fecundi-
ty of these fungi is marvellous as to the ra-
pidity Of their growth. For example -
Each spore is individually capable Of or
iginating 4 new mycelium. From one
square line, therefore, there may come, in
less than two days, several thousand repro
ductive bodies, and in the same ratio, a
square inch will yield several millions;
therefore the disease spreads rapidly. In
the cases of the apple, decay may be orig
mated in two ways, and two only, by
direct contact or by wind waited spares.
Still another condition is essential, name
ly, break, bruise in the skin of the apple
to allow the parasite to get foothold aud
take possession. In every instance of
decay in the apple, the centre of disturb
aDce will be found at bruise, scratch, or
puncture, be it ever so slight; unless such
a way be opened for the parasite to enter,
the apple may hang until it is completely
dried up, or it may lie for weeks in direct
contact with rottenness, and remain perfect
ly sound. 1t is very curious to observe the
regularity with which We are told in the
autumn that apples would do better if
gathered in the old Of the moon, whereas
the moon has nothing to do with the apples
1t no doubt sometimes happens that iruit,
gathered under favorable circumstances
will keep better, than that which is gath
cred at random. But this can be easily
explained without calling into requisition
the science of moonology. When sound
fruit is gathered which is already inocula-
ted with the spores Of pendulum, decay
begins at once, aSWspreads from the point
of incubation; and speedy decomposition
is the result. Apples gathered even when
wounded, remain the same as when gath
cred for long time. 1t may, however,
be objected, that the presence of fungus
in decay, is no proof that it is the cause of
that condition, on the contrary, the break
ing down of the fruit tissue by violence.
and subsequent chemical action owing to
access of air, may rather make the growth
of the fungus possible by preparing suit
able soil for its development. The evil
dence that the fungus precedes and causes
the changes which we call decay, is of the
same character as that which establishes
the connection between a vaccine pustule
and incubation by vaccine virus These
are facts gathered by experience in cult
waiting the apple, and with it the fungus;
but what is the theory, where do these
spores originate? As has been remarked,
these spores are extremely minute, aud
can be carried far and wide by the winds,
but where is the place of the Modification?
These are difficult questions to answer
without more observation and closer scru-
tiny than have yet been made. Even
analogy does not afford US much assistance,
for there seems TO be something in the
character of this parasite and in its NOR
bi6c effects upon the fruit, not usually
pertaining to the fungi peculiar to fruit.
As we become acquainted with this enemy
Of the apple, we shall ind more cause for
gratitude, that this fruit escapes the rava-
ges of this formidable fungoid disease,
without greater detriment to the crop. 1t
is not a very pleasant thing to contemplate
TO have a stomach full of lively, living
maggots. But we have ascertained by
somewhat extensive experience in examin-
ing fruit, that apples, which are either
wholly or partially decayed, almost inva-
riably contain great numbers of egg of
different two-winged flies, the larves of
which naturally feed upon such substanc-
es. When therefore such decayed fruit is
introduced into the human stomach these
eggs being excessively minute, will no