758 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD, 



Experiments witli pear blight were continued from the previous year (E. S. R., 

 12, p. 354). It is l)elieved that there is little to indicate the best time of pruning 

 for the prevention of this disease. The effect of fertilizers has been investigated for 

 a number of years, and during the past year the trees which withstood the disease 

 to the greatest extent were those which had received no manure or fertilizer. Great 

 individuality was noticed among the different trees and no conclusions can be draw^n 

 concerning the effect of fertilizers upon fruitfulness. 



In continuation of the report of the previous year (E. S. R. , 12, p. 354), experiments 

 were conducted with asparagus to test the value of different substances in preventing 

 the spread of the rust of this plant. This experiment was undertaken on account of 

 the general opinion that the less susceptible varieties of asparagus are those possessing 

 a thick epidermis, and it was thought that artificial coatings might be of value without 

 having any particular fungicidal action. For this purpose gelatin, creolin, glue, lime, 

 milk, and soap were sprayed upon the plants, 6 applications being given them. The 

 smallest amount of rust was noticed upon the plants which received the soap spray, fol- 

 lowed by gelatin, milk, creolin, glue, and lime in the order enumerated. The trials, 

 however, were on such a small scale that conclusions are not safely warranted from the 

 results obtained. Inquiries were sent out to all the experiment stations in the coun- 

 try to ascertain the range of the asparagus rust. From the replies received it seems 

 that the rust is widely scattered in the central portion of the United States and that 

 it is quite injurious. In some instances the parasitic fungus Durlucdjilum is reported 

 as aiding materially in keeping the disease in check. 



Investigations of the chrysanthemum rust have been continued, and the inspection 

 of various establishments of chrysanthemum growers showed the disease to be very 

 prevalent. A circular was issued (E. S. R., 11, p. 946) describing the disease and 

 suggesting remedies. Studies are being pursued from which it is hoped that more 

 rational methods of treatuient may be found. A brief discussion on fungi as related 

 to weather completes the report. 



The year has been comparatively free from complaints of those fungi that ravage 

 truck crops. The temperature was cool in the spring and very hot in summer with 

 considerably less precipitation than usual, and to these factors is attril)uted the 

 freedom from fungus attacks. 



An epidemic of currant anthracnose, F. C. Stewart and H. J. Eustace {N'nv 

 York Stale Sta. Bid. 199, pp. 63-80, pi. 1) . — ^During the past season a serious outbreak of 

 the leaf blight or anthracnose of currants, caused by the fungus GUvoKjwrium ribh, 

 was reported in parts of New York. The lower leaves were yellow and thickly cov- 

 ered with small brown spots, and nearly all currant plantations in the Hudson River 

 Valley were more or less affected. The disease affects the lower leaves first, work- 

 ing upward, causing the foliage to drop. In addition to attacking the leaves, the 

 fungus occurs on the leafstalks, causing conspicuous sunken spots; also upon the 

 fruit, stems, berries, and new canes. This is believed to be the first report of the 

 occurrence of the fungus on the wood of the cane. Contrasting characters are drawn 

 between this and other diseases of the plant, and the fungus is described in con- 

 siderable detail. As far as the authors' investigations are concerned, the disease was 

 more destructive in old plantations than among young plants. Plants in the nursery 

 row were last to be attacked, and consequently suffered least. The different host 

 plants of the fungus are enumerated. While it may attack several species of Ribes, 

 it seems to have a decided j)reference for R. rubram, to which belong the red and 

 white varieties of cultivated currants. It is also reported as occurring on black 

 currant and cultivated gooseberry, but the authors have failed to find any serious 

 injury to the black cun-ant or the occurrence of the fungus upon the gooseberry. A 

 considerable variation in the susceptibility of varieties was noted, but the investiga- 

 tions have not been sufficiently advanced to warrant publishing lists of resistant 

 varieties. For the prevention of this disease, although the authors have not cou- 



