54 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



mentioned as occurring at the station. This Ijlight is said to be due to Macroaporium 

 cucumermm. The older leaves first showed small brown spots, which developed so 

 as to kill the leaf in a week or ten days. The injury proceeded mostly from the 

 older to the younger leaves, leaving the central part of the hill destitute of foliage. 

 The quality of the fruit produced during the season was very inferior, and this depre- 

 ciation is believed to be due to the presence of the disease. 



A very destructive disease of tomatoes is reported as occurring at the station during 

 the summer of 1900. It made its appearance in the tomatoes when about one-third 

 grown and was first noticeable by the presence of small brown, slightly depressed 

 spots with an irregular tessellated margin. The spots enlarge rapidly, the skin 

 shrinks, becoming more or less cracked and wrinkled, making it possible for the 

 entrance of numerous fungi. As yet no organism has been positively observed in 

 the early stages of the disease. Experiments were conducted for the prevention of 

 this disease, with the idea that it was possibly of bacterial origin and might be 

 spread by insects. Tomatoes were sprayed with Bordeaux mixture and a number of 

 insecticides, with the result that those plants receiving the Bordeaux mixture every 

 2 weeks had 48.6 per cent of their fruit rotted, while the untreated plants had 88 per 

 cent rotten fruits. The plants which were sprayed with insecticides showed no 

 improvement, and in one case a greater amount of disease was noticed on plants 

 which received applications of the insecticide at intervals of from 5 to 7 days during 

 the growing season. 



A disease of apple trees, which is due to an unidentified fungus, is reported. It 

 attacks the foliage, causing the leaves to fall, or causing them to dry up and remain 

 upon the tree, giving an appearance resembling that of the pear blight. The fungus 

 causing the trouble appears to be wholly superficial and is readily controlled by 

 applications of Bordeaux mixture. 



Notes on injurious fungi {A<jr. Bui. Makty Foiinsula [Gard. and Forest BepL, 

 Straits Settlements], 1900, No. 9, pp. 284-286). — Brief descriptions are given of a disease 

 of clove trees, the destructive action of RoselUnia radiciperda, and a disease of 

 nutmegs. 



The disease of clove trees is characterized by the appearance of dark red spots on 

 the under surface of the leaves. These spots attain a diameter of I to \ in. and later 

 become white, resembling mildew. The leaves fall, and if large numbers are affected 

 the tree soon presents a nearly leafless appearance. The shoots are attacked, die 

 back, and the tree eventually becomes leafless and dies. The fungus causing this 

 disease is not definitely known, but a crude treatment with Bordeaux mixture seemed 

 to indicate that it would be efficient in preventing the disease. 



The destructive action of Rosellinia is descriVjed, and it is stated that all plants 

 growing beneath a large tree of Ficus dubia were observed to be seriously affected. 

 Examinati(jn showed that on an area of about 10 yards all plants had been killed, and^ 

 that the base of the stem and the roots of the fig tree hail become black. To extirpate 

 the pest, the ground was cleared of all dead and dying plants, trash, etc., the affected 

 roots of the tree were cut off and all affected material burned, after which the ground 

 was dug over and lime liberally applied. Bordeaux mixture was liberally poured 

 over the base of the tree and over the ground, and the disease seems to have been 

 checked, no further spread being noticed. 



The disease of nutmegs is attributed to the attacks of a fungus forming brown spots 

 on the husk. It is caused by a species of Melanconiese. The fungus causes the pre- 

 mature dehiscence of the fruit, the valves not growing as rapidly as usual. The ten- 

 sion between the seed and husk increases more rapidly in diseased fruits than in 

 sound ones, resulting in the splitting of the husk prematurely. This disease being 

 rather troublesome, planters are warned to pay attention to the spotting of the husk 

 and to destroy all infected fruits as speedily as possible. 



