444 NOTES ox UROMYCES AMYGDALl COOKE, 



It is highly probable that the disease has been with us for 

 some time and gradually gaining ground before attracting atten- 

 tion to its cause, for I have even known its effects to be con- 

 founded with the tints of autumn, and this seemed all the more 

 plausible as it is usually associated with the shedding of the 

 leaves. 



Time of Occurrence. 



The time of appearance varies in different seasons, and the 

 later it is the less damage it does. It also varies in its virulence 

 according to the nature of the season. Thus in the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Gardens the attack was very mild in 1888-89, then very 

 bad in 1889-90, not very bad in 1890-91, and speaking for the 

 Colony generally the past season was favourable to its spread. A 

 grower in the Goulburn Valley writes: — "This season (1894-95) 

 owing no doubt to the continued rains of the spring and the very 

 heavy downpour in January, the attacks of this fungus have been 

 very serious, causing a very large proportion of the leaves of the 

 peaches to fall prematurely. Many acres of trees were thus laid 

 bare for about 18 inches from the crown, only the younger wood 

 surviving, and as a consequence nearly all the fruit for the coming 

 season must come from near the top. Plums and prunes suffered 

 severely, many trees being completely denuded of foliage by 

 March." Thus, the disease seems to be intermittent in its 

 character according to the prevailing weather. The following 

 table shows the rainfall for the critical months : — 

 Average for 



