The Weekly Florists' Review. 



J08J 



A. S. Swanson's Exhibit at the St. Paul Show. 



common, and the limitation of the fungus 

 to a single stage (uredo) of existence. 

 Prof. Arthur, of the Lafayette Experi- 

 ment Station, has pointed out that the 

 latter feature is at least somewhat re- 

 sponsible for its decline. Upon this 

 point Prof. Arthur writes as follows: 



"Another circumstance much in the 

 cultivator's favor is the propagation of 

 the disease without the formation of the 

 customary teleuto spores, or third stage. 

 Not only does this render the disease far 

 less persistent, but without doubt indi- 

 cates that it is less vigorous in its at- 

 tacks. In general, when a rust is con- 

 fined to the uredo forms for a number 

 of generations, its vitality is much re- 

 duced, and also its power of injuring the 

 crop. So long as the teleuto spores do 

 not make an appearance in this country, 

 the careful cultivator may feel assured 

 that a moderate amount of timely effort 

 will enable him to rid his establishment 

 of the rust." 



That cultural methods have also had a 

 great deal to do with the disappearance 

 of the rust is evident from the fact that 

 our most skillful growers of chrysanthe- 

 mums have never had it but one or two 

 years, and some not at all, while less 

 skillful, and less painstaking growers 

 have been more or less subject to it everv 

 year. From the first, we have never ap- 

 prehended any very serious trouble from 

 the rust because we believed that some 

 cultural method could be devised that 

 would render it less troublesome. 



About four years after the rust had 

 made its appearance in our state, we sent 

 out a number of circulars to chrysanthe- 

 mum growers requesting information 

 upon various points. The answers given 

 to this circular showed that the rust was 

 more widely distributed and most de- 

 structive the second year following its ar- 

 rival, and from that time it decreased 

 in vigor and abundance. One-third of the 

 growers stated that they never had the 

 rust on their plants, and were familiar 

 with it only as they had seen it on other 

 stock, while others had only experienced 

 a slight infection one year. One florist 

 who cultivates 40,000 plants, states that 

 he has not had the rust since 1898, and at 

 that time he had it only to a very slight 

 extent. The amount of infection which 

 has been prevalent varied from one per 



cent to fifty per cent, the latter figure 

 being exceptionally high, for very few 

 have had even twenty -five per cent as a 

 maximum amount of infection. 



The financial damage is by no means 

 proportional to the amount of infection, 

 and in most instances it amounts to noth- 

 ing. 



Most gardeners agree that weak stock 

 is the most susceptible to rust; and if 

 weak, infected plants are allowed to re- 

 main in close proximity to strong, healthy 

 ones, the latter will subsequently become 

 infected. The method of preventing rust 

 consists in handpicking the affected 

 leaves, selecting clean, strong stock, dis- 

 carding susceptible varieties, and inside 

 culture. If these suggestions are carried 

 out the rust can be practically eliminated. 



In regard to inside culture during the 

 summer, we find that many excellent 

 growers lay much stress on this practice, 

 and from our observations we consider it 

 very essential in order to obtain plants 

 free from rust. The reason that inside 

 culture results in less infection is due to 

 the avoidance of mists and dews on the 

 foliage, hence furnishing less favorable 

 opportunity for rust spores to germinate 

 and cause infection. Care should also be 

 taken to keep all unnecessary water off 

 the foliage in cultivation in the green- 

 house. 



Most growers agree that the chrysan- 

 themum rust is of little consequence, and 

 others look upon it as a thing of the past. 

 There are a few, however, who have not 

 succeeded in subduing it, and who still 

 think it a serious disease. Some have re- 

 sorted to spraying, with results that 

 amount to little more than partial sup- 

 pression. It appears from our own ob- 

 servations, as well as from those obtained 

 from the most successful growers of this 

 plant, that the proper remedy lies in the 

 judicious selection of healthy, rust-free 

 stock, and inside cultivation. Give the 

 plants plenty of air and keep the soil in 

 good physical condition. If, however, 

 any of the leaves become infected, thev 

 should be removed and burned immedi- 

 ately; and if a plant is badly affected, it 

 should be destroyed. In whatever manner 

 the plants are cultivated, whether in- 

 doors or out, endeavor to keep the dew 

 and moisture off the foliage as much as 

 possible. 



Stem-Rot. 



More or less trouble from stem-rot has 

 been experienced by chrysanthemum 

 growers in the last few years, and it is 

 considered by some as a serious trouble. 

 It is characterized by a slow fading and 

 withering of the leaves, beginning to- 

 ward the bottom and gradually working 

 up the stem. The flower develops poorly 

 or not at all, and the whole plant finallv 

 dies prematurely. The cause of the dis- 

 ease is a fungus which grows in the stem 

 and fills up the large ducts or vessels 

 through which the water must pass in 

 coming up from the roots. The fungus 

 giving rise to this trouble is a species of 

 fusarium, similar forms of which cause 

 like diseases iu other species, and there 

 can be but little doubt that the plant is 

 first attacked from the soil, whence the 

 fungus spreads into the stem and on un 

 through it to a considerable height. As 

 the pores become more and more clogged 

 with the fungous threads, the water sup- 

 ply to the leaves is diminished, and con- 

 sequently they gradually wither away and 

 die. It is noticeable that this disease ap- 

 pears most commonly as a result of con- 

 ditions favoring damping off. Where 

 young plants are crowded in flats or beds, 

 those in the center are generally the ones 

 to show the trouble. This is likewise 

 true with the other diseases of this class, 

 and such conditions should be avoided. 

 The soil is to be looked upon as the 

 chief source of infection in all such trou- 

 bles. There is little danger of contagion 

 in well-rooted plants by spores in the 

 air, as with rusts, mildew and similar dis- 

 eases. Healthy propagating stock, fresh 

 soil, avoidance of over-crowding to pre- 

 vent damping off, and hygienic condi- 

 tions, are the most effectual means of 

 controlling this trouble. 



Other fungous diseases of chrysanthe- 

 mums have been noted, particularly the 

 anthracnose and two-leaf spots, but we 

 have had no experience with them, a hey 

 are foliage diseases and in some instances 

 they have been reported as threatening. 

 Where too close planting occurs, causing 

 a deficiency in light and air, there is not 

 infrequently a loss of foliage, especially 

 of the lower leaves, and fungi occasion- 

 ally found on such leaves appear to be 

 mostly of secondary importance. 



In conclusion, we will state that the 

 combating of diseases characteristic of 

 greenhouse crops should be as a rule, 

 along cultural lines rather than other 

 methods of treatment, and we have faith 

 enough in the skill and knowledge of our 

 American florists to believe that they 

 will, by this means, be able to master in 

 time all difficulties which may occur. 



IMPRESSIONS OF INDIANAPOLIS. 



The chrysanthemum show held during 

 the past week at Tomilson hall, Indianap- 

 olis, took us all by surprise and many 

 were the complimentary remarks of the 

 numerous visitors. I shall not attempt, 

 however, to dwell upon the various fea- 

 tures of the show, nor do I wish to speak 

 about the individual exhibitors and their 

 most meritorious exhibits, leaving that 

 part to your able correspondent. To me 

 the general impression of the show seems 

 worthy of note. And right here I can 

 scarcely refrain from paying my compli- 

 ments to the Bertermanns, both father 

 and son, whose untiring efforts, able 

 management and executive ability were 

 responsible for the marvelous success 

 achieved. 



What has impressed us all is the fact 

 of the process of the management (if I 



