322 Report of the Horticulturist of the 



may not injure the fruit at all, or only slightly deform it. In a bad 

 attack the fruit has a repulsive appearance, is stunted in develop- 

 ment, and may be more or less decayed. 



Two or three weeks after the mildew attacks the f niit it appears 

 on the young, tender twigs, especially on their tips. If the attack 

 is severe the new growth will be destroyed and the older growth 

 will be considerably injured. In case of a very severe attack the 

 fruit will be rendered worthless, and the foliage will be nearly, or 

 entirely, killed during July. As a result no fniit buds are set 

 for the next year's crop, and the bushes are so badly weakened 

 that they may suffer from winter injury. In a few commercial 

 plantations where little or no spraying has been done the writer 

 has seen the crop of fruit destroyed and the bushes practically 

 ruined by this disease. In other plantations where spraying was 

 carefully done the greater part of the crop was saved, the foliage 

 remained in good condition and fiTiit buds were set for a succeed- 

 ing crop. The extent to which mildew can be prevented by 

 spraying depends upon weather conditions and location. In a 

 wet season like that of 1898 it flourishes abundantly and is difficult 

 to control. The disease, as already stated, usually obtains a foot- 

 hold on tho lower parts of the bush.es where the shade is dense. 

 These parts are very difficult to reach thoroughly with spray 

 solutions, and in a year when the other conditions favor the spread 

 of the fungus, are liable to harbor more or less of the disease 

 unless the greatest care and thoroughness are used in spraying. 

 In a dry season like the present one mildew can be almost entirely 

 prevented by thorough use of fungicides. On uneven ground 

 the higher parts of a plantation seem to be less subject to the 

 disease than the lower parts. The best location seems to be one 

 well elevated, with a gradual slope affording good air drainage. 



In view of the destructive character of gooseberry mildew and 

 its economic importance in all parts of America where gooseber- 

 ries are grown, either for home use or for market, it was decided 

 to undertake experiments in treating the disease on a commercial 

 scale. The object of the experiments was to compare the potas- 

 sium sulphide treatment with treatments with other fungicides 



