124 



"Club Root of the Cabbage and its Allies" {Plasmodwphora 

 brassier. War.) is the text of Dr. Halsted's interesting article. The 

 nature and history of the disease which causes the roots of cabbage to 

 become distorted, and which belongs to one of the slime moulds, is 

 clearly described, and the best course of treatment outlined. Some of 

 the conclusions reached are as follows : 



" The malady is due to a microscopic parasite which infests the 

 cells of the roots, causing them to become swollen and distorted." 



"The spores of the fungus, upon the decay of the part affected, 

 become scattered through the soil, and from thence the enemy enters 

 the plant." 



"The disease affects several plants of the cabbage family, including 

 turnips, kale, radish, stock and candytuft." 



Among weeds, shepherd's purse and hedge mustard are also 

 infested. 



" Preventive measures must be relied upon, for the affected parts 

 of the plant are below ground, and not readily reached by any fungicide." 



' If the crop is diseased, all refuse at harvest time of roots, stems, 

 and leaves should be burned." 



"All seedlings from hot-beds with signs of club-root should be 

 destroyed, and if possible use only plants from beds in which there is 

 no disease." 



"Cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, turnips, or radishes 

 should not follow each other on the same land if club-root is prevalent." 



" Lime added to the land, 75 bushels per acre, has proved 

 effective. It is possible that some commercial fertilizers may be found 

 to check the trouble." 



" Keep the land free from shepherd's purse and hedge mustard' 

 and other weeds of the same family, as their roots become "clubbed" 

 and thereby propagate the enemy." 



Among other articles of interest in this readable pamphlet, is one 

 on the possibility of utilizing a native, and hitherto noxious weed, known 

 as "Paddy's Lucerne'' or "Queensland Hemp" (Sida rhombifolia, 

 Linn.,) as a fibre plant. Another describes "A New South Wales 

 Bitter Vine" (Pi/>/<>ui/yx Moorei, O/iv.,) from which a drug of at present 

 unknown properties is prepared. 



