Notes upon Celery. 211 



liad been anticipated. A large portion of the stored product had 

 been marketed early on account of the prevalence of the disease ; 

 aiid of the celery remaining in the coops at this season, it seems 

 to me a fair estimate to say that not more than one-third of it was 

 salal^le. The celery growers of this place reported that the}- were 

 not familiar with the blight in previous years, and during the 

 past season it first came to their attention during September, 

 when the plants were lifted for storage. At this time the leaves 

 were somewhat spotted by the disease. This was evident on 

 examining the older and formerly green leaves of the stored 

 product ; for the tell-tale spots, produced only when the celery is 

 in a normal growing condition, were abundantly manifest. It was 

 supposed by the growers that the warm weather following the first 

 early cold spell ha 1 much to do with the trouble. As a matter of 

 fact, there was much warm weather after most of the celery had 

 been removed to the cellar. From the state meteorological 

 records it will be seen that the month of September was one degree 

 colder than normal, October two and one- half degree below the 

 normal, and for November the temperature was nearly five 

 degrees (4.7°) warmer than the normal temperature as thus far 

 determined. Tliis rise of temperature was undoubtedly a serious 

 thing, for warmth is an important factor in encouraging the 

 spread of the fungus. The celery plants being arranged close 

 together in the root house, the fungus spreads not only, it may be, 

 from its former circumscribed spot areas to all parts of the leaf, 

 but to neighboring more healthy leaves ; so that on the surface 

 there is a dense stratum of the diseased material, and as the 

 young blanched leaves push upward they in turn come in direct 

 contact with the germs of disease. When once decay begins, 

 bacteria, yeasts, and moulds readily effect rapid rotting of parts 

 not easily affected by the blight itself. This was especially true 

 where moisture was greatest. It is only to be regretted that we 

 did not know earlier of the prevalence of the blight in the storage 

 houses ; for its effects might then have been closely followed, and 

 a knowledge of the exact conditions which accelerate the destruc- 

 tiveness of the disease could now be more accurately applied. 



Nearly all of the root houses of South Lima are of the old 

 style, — essentially a roof of boards upon which is thrown straw, 



