Thanks Sandy -- this is about as close as I can come to what the tree has......
Black Rot and Frog Eye Leaf Spot:
Black rot and Frog Eye leaf spot refer to the same disease at different points in the disease cycle. The disease, caused by Botryosphaeria obtuse, first manifests as brown spots on the ends of the fruit. The spots enlarge in concentric circles and eventually turn black, rotting the fruit. Leaves may become covered with small brown spots or holes. Later, the disease spreads to the tree limbs, causing cankers which can eventually kill the tree.
To combat this disease, prune out all infected tree materials and burn or discard immediately. Trees infected with fire blight disease may become weakened making them more susceptible to Black Rot. Spray the trees with Captan or sulfur while the disease is in the early stages.
I think I am in the later stage as the tree limbs have cankers (not oozing so I dont think it is Fire Blight)... I never noticed the brown spots on the apples but now as I look at the apples I see brown spots and some have gone black - I always thought that was just insect damage as I have never sprayed the trees with anything.
I will be sawing tree limbs and getting Sulfur to spray the tree -- wish me luck!!
