580 



Journal of the Department op Agriculture. 



The individual spores are microscopic in size and measure approxi- 

 mately .015 - .02 X .004 of an inch. Thej- germinate readily in 

 water (fig'. 2), and should they land on the leaves of monkey-nnt 

 plants under conditions favourable for growth, would cause the black 

 spots there within a few days. The spore layers form especially on 

 the under surface of the leaves, where they are concentrically 

 arranged in the black spots, but they also form, though less 

 abundantly, on the upper surface and on other parts of the plant 

 attacked. 



Two fungi have been recorded as responsible for leaf spots iu 

 monkey-nut plants, viz., Septorjloeinn arachidis and Cercospora 

 2)ersoiiata. These names, however, appear to be different names 

 given to one and the same fungus, and as the Soutli African one 

 shows affinities Avith Srpfor/loruvi rather than Cercospora . we refer 

 it to the former. 



In South Africa this leaf spot is recorded from the Transvaal, 

 British East Africa, and Natal. In foreign countries it is mentioned 

 from Java, Ceylon. Phillipine Islands, and the West Indies. 



The damage caused at times b^' the fungus is sufficiently serious 

 to warrant the taking of steps to overcome its ravages. With this 

 object in view, it is recommended that the material from diseased 

 fields be burnt or else deeply ploughed in without chance of it coming 

 to the surface before thoroughly rotted. C]*op rotation should be 

 resorted to in old lands. A protective or preventive spray with 

 some fungicide may be applied in regions where the trouble is known 

 to occur, and I would point out the necessity of spraying early before 

 there are signs of the disease. Spraying will not benefit plants 

 already badly diseased, though even in these cases it is a distinct 

 advantage by reason of it killing the spores of the fungus through 

 which the disease is disseminated. 



Employees on Farms. 



According to the last census, tlie following was the average 

 number, sex, and race of emplovees on farms in the Union during the 

 vear 1917-1918: — 



