;i warning- against a trouble tliat may appear. In the following ac- 

 count such data as the records of this office afford are reported, in- 

 cluding for the purpose of completeness other published notes. 



Very little has been attempted as yet in the way of control of 

 the fungus diseases here given. Such experiments as time has per- 

 mitted will be touched upon in the individual discussions which follow. 

 It may be noted, however, that these have been rather uniformly 

 unsuccessful and tliat methods other than those conunonly advised 

 for northern conditions must be tried. 



Notes and observations on the various diseases found or reported 

 follow, arranged topically under the various host plants. 



Asparagus {Asparagns officinalis). 



In so far as noted this crop has not been grown successfully, 

 although there have been reports of fair yields. The few plants 

 seen had produced a fair growth of top but no edible shoots. An 

 undetermined imperfect fungus, causing black lesions on the stems, 

 has been found on old or dying plants. The rust {Puccinia asparagi) 

 does not occur. 



Beans {Phaseolus spp.). 



Two plantings of this crop were made at the Insidar Station, one 

 in February and the other in May on separate pieces of land. It 

 is of interest to note that the diseases occurring on the first planting 

 were lacking or of minor importance on the second; a state of affairs 

 doubtless to be attributed in part to weather conditions and in part 

 to the use of seed from various sources infected with different dis- 

 eases. 



As will be noted below there was a marked varietal resistance to 

 tlie diff'erent diseases and a solution of the problem seems most prob- 

 able through the use of resistant varieties. Native types already 

 exist which thrive very well, and doubtless others will be found in 

 the course of the experimental work wliich will be even more thrifty 

 and disease resistant. 



Anthracose, Si'ottixg of Pods {('oJlctotriclium li)i(le)}ni(Jiioiii(})i 

 [Sacc. & MagnJ Scribner). — This well-known disease has been very 

 prevalent and forms one of the greatest obstacles to successful bean 

 culture in Porto Kieo. It lias been commonly observed on green 

 beans of local varieties offered for sale in the native shops, as well 

 as on the northern tyi)es tried experimentally. 



The pods, leaves, and stems were subject to attack. On the leaves 

 Ihe disease was noted as irrsgular. i<'(l-l)i-owii spots oi- more com- 



94 



