222 ANNUAL FlEPoRT OF THE Off. Doc. 



the fnii^iis coiiccnuMl. CclcrN hiiulil consists in an vavlv wither- 

 inj; of tin' IcnNcs of the cclcrv jjlant and their cousequont growth 

 of small, ])Oor and pithv k'af stalks, useless for food. The insignifi- 

 cant little fnngns which tlins blights the leaves may be reduced in 

 destructiveness by the process of spraying with Bordeaux mixture 

 and other fungicides, l^ut if this remedy is tried at all it should 

 be as early in the growth of the plants as possible or the stalks 

 will be unfit for food. Since the blight is apt to continue into the 

 early fall it is evidence that spraying is of doubtful value. The 

 choice of resistant varieties, clean culture and crop rotation are 

 the most feasible means of relief from this particular pest. 



Still more obscure and uusatisfactor}' with which to deal are 

 certain mould-like fungi which live in the organic debris of the soil, 

 and when conditions are fa^orable may attack living plants which 

 have been weakened by frost or other means. These soil fungi are 

 not uncommon, but it is comparatively seldom that the conditions 

 are so favorable as to make them effective parasites upon useful 

 plants. Generally, should they attack them at all, they cause but 

 a temporary check and are soon outgrown. It is probable that the 

 use of lime is the most satisfactory remedy for such disorders. At 

 times and places where young grain has been visibly checked in 

 growth and examination has shown these soil fungi as the probable 

 cause it has been noticed that well-limed fields are exempt. 



One of the most interesting of recent specific inquiries was that 

 concerning a curious disease of ornamental white birches, which 

 is accompanied by an exudation of red or brown slime, offensive to 

 the sight and smell. These slime fluxes have long been known in 

 Europe upon a variety of common trees, but are yet very imperfectly 

 understood. They appear to be the result of some mechanical in- 

 jury, or following frost cracks and checks. Eut they often occur 

 wiien it seems improbable that there could have been any such 

 causes. AMiatever the initial cause may be, the sap of such trees 

 seems to undergo fermentation and to become filled with various 

 kinds of yeast and moulds which cause it to become slimy and 

 frothy to an extraordinary degree. 



The writer has never seen this disease, nor is he aware that it 

 has been made the subject of study in this country. Without the 

 lack of more definite information, he does not feel warranted in 

 making any recommendations for treatment. 



