Sept. 2, 1908.] Ayriculkiral Gazette of N.S.W. 751 



The tirst noticeable si,<;iis of the disease may be seen about the latter end of 

 December or early h\ .Tanii;iry, wlien a yellowish appearance may l)e observed 

 in the leaves. Following- this will then soon be found the iiiiiiute organisms 

 which cause the symptoms mentioned above, « Inch, wlien microscopically 

 examined, will be found to consist of countless millions of spores, ready to be 

 blown through tlie atmosphere, for an attack on the next year's crop. 



Soon after the appearance of the spores, the leaves of the trees affected 

 commence to fall prematurely ; even as early as February I have found some 

 of the peach-trees at Penshurst to be almost denuded of their leaves. 



When one is reminded that February or Marcii is but the end of the 

 summer season or early autumn, it cannot but be admitted that this disease, 

 which is tiie cause of the leaves falling off the fruit-trees prematurely, nmst 

 have a very injurious effect on the ccjnstitution of the trees, as by the falling 

 oft' of the leaves they are deprived of the most important organs of tlie plant, 

 and as a consequence, the crops for next year are seriously affected, either by 

 the trees bearing no fruit at all, or only small quantities of an inferior kind. 



It needs but litde argument to prove that the eneaiies of cultivated plants 

 are steadily increasing, and T think it can be easily shown that they will 

 continue to increase .so long as the conditions for which we are largely 

 responsible, remain as they are af. present. 



Because our fungus foes are increasing, it does not follow that they should be 

 regarded as a calamity, but it should be taken as a clear proof that we are pro- 

 gressing, for as Professor Bailey, an eminent scientist, has said : " Oui- enemies 

 increase because cultivation induces changes of habits in wild organisms: 

 because it presents an ever-increasing variety of food, or host plants ; because 

 the natural equilibrium or tension is flestroyed." It follows naturally, that 

 the more we try to improve our fruits, flowers, or vegetables, or to change the 

 habits of these plants to suit our modern rr-quirements, just so nuich more do 

 we disturb the equilibrium in nature, and thus we must expect to burden 

 ourselves with the work of maintaining these changeable conditions by more 

 or less artificial means. 



To enable growers of fruit or other crops, — not only in orchards but also in 

 small gardens — to succes.sfudy cope with these diseases, it is necessary to tirst 

 enlighten the growers, so that they may be able quickly and easily to identify 

 the many diseases affecting their crops of fruit or vegetables. 



At present there is no systematic attempt to put information into the hands 

 of the practical tillers of the soil, and until this is done we cannot hold anyone 

 responsible who may happen to have these diseases in his garden or orchard. 



It is simply useless for one or two individuals to make an attempt to keep 

 their fruit-crops free from these diseases when in the immediate vicinity their 

 neighbours are careless and indifferent about the matter, and the only way to 

 bring the results of the destruction of these minute organisms under their 

 notice is to be fairly liberal in oy\v supply of literature, giving the results of the 

 discoveries of scientists, and probal)le remedies for the destiaiction of the diseases. 



Another simple way to instruct the tillers of the soil would be for properly 

 preservefl specimens, representing the various phases of the diseases of plants. 



