THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK 



can be discarded for use in special display beds. In this degree, 

 at least, the discouraging efifects produced by the appearance of 

 blind tulips can be avoided. 



3. Tulip Rots 



It appears that the fungus mentioned in the Journal last August 

 is the same one which has been reported as destructive to tulip 

 bulbs in various European countries. In the more recent horti- 

 cultural literature it has been described as Botrytis parasitica, but 

 what is evidently the same fungus was previously described as 

 Sderotium Tulipac. In the spring of 191 7, this fungus caused the 

 death of numerous bulbs of tulips in varieties Margaret, White 

 Jewel, and La Triumphante, all of which had been secured 

 from imported stock. It seems that this fungus is able to live in 

 soil, especially if there is much humus present. Its presence on 

 bulbs is often indicated by small hard dark-colored bead-like 

 bodies (which are often so numerous that they form compacted 

 layers) scattered over and between the outer scales. Such in- 

 fected tulips should be destroyed. All dead tulips and all sclerotia 

 found in beds should likewise be removed from the ground and 

 destroyed. If beds become badly infested, it would be advisable 

 to cease planting tulips in them. 



During the summer of 1917 large numbers of bulbs of the 

 variety Margaret died during storage. In respect to general ap- 

 pearance, the rots involved can be designated as dry rot and soft 

 rot. 



The soft rot is clearly caused by a parasite, and from the pre- 

 liminary studies made by Professor W. C. Twiss it appears to be 

 due to a bacterial disease. The infection as thus far observed 

 begins in the outermost scale which becomes soft, shrunken and 

 somewhat discolored, as shown in Nos. 35, 36 and 37. A longi- 

 tudinal section through such a bulb (No. 36) indicates that in 

 the earliest stages of infection parts of the outer scale may be 

 sound, as are the other scales and the enclosed flower. As the 

 infection spreads other scales die, and finally the entire bulb is 

 dead and shrivelled, as shown in No. 38. The dead bulbs are 

 dry and hard, and the scales are tough and horn)^ 



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