STATE HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 89 



with the Rosstelia. This fact was somewhat surprising owing to its 

 isolated location, far from any Juniperus or cedar. The matter is 

 easily explained, however, if the mycelium of the fungus is peren- 

 nial within the host. 



11th. That Uredo ficus is injurious to the foliage of the fig tree 

 in several localities in Florida. 



12th. That of finding Puccinia pruni-spinosw attacking the 

 leaves of peach trees in Texas and Southern California, causing more 

 or less injury. This fungus has been found also on the Wild-Goose 

 plum and the native plum in Texas, and on apricots. 



F. Lamson" Scribner, 

 Dec. 8, 1887. Chief of Section of Vegetable Pathologij U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Washington^ D. C. 



NO DOWNY MILDEW IN CALIFORNIA. 



Early in the season of 1886, a circular containing questions rel- 

 ative to the mildews which attack the vine, was sent out by this de- 

 partment to the viticulturists of the country. The replies to this 

 circular from California asserted that the Downy Mildew, or Feron- 

 ospora, of the vine, prevailed to an injurious extent in the southern 

 part of that State and also in the region north of San Francisco, and 

 from this evidence, the supposed infected areas were indicated on 

 the map showing the distribution of this fungus disease in the 

 United States, published in the Report of the Mycologist, in the An- 

 nual Report of the Department for 1886. 



By the direction of the Commissioner of Agriculture the My- 

 cologist of the Department visited the supposed infected districts in 

 California during the past season, and although careful observations 

 were made, no evidence of the presence of the Downy Mildew were 

 found. The disease which some of the viticulturists had supposed 

 was the Downy Mildew had no connection whatever with that para- 

 site, and the conclusions drawn were that, it is very doubtful if this 

 fungus occurs at all within the State. In view of this, it is strongly 

 urged upon the viticulturists of California to exercise every precau- 

 tion against the possible introduction of this parasite within their 

 limits, for the injury it would occasion would doubtless be far greater 

 than it is at present in any of the Eastern States, as the varieties 

 cultivated are much more susceptible to its attacks. 



It is of special interest to note also that no signs of the black- 

 rot of grapes, the most serious disease of the vine in the states east 

 of the Mississippi, were seen in the vineyards of California. The 

 present immunity from these diseases must not lead the grape grow- 

 ers of the State to a feeling of indifference in respect to them, but 

 render all especially watchful for their appearance, and, upon the 

 first evidence of the introduction of either, employ every effort to 

 destroy them. F. Lamson Sckibner, 



Mycologist U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



