53^ Joiinial of Agriculture , Vicioria. [lo Sept., 1912. 



attacking first the lower leaves ui)on the branches, and working upwards to 

 the terminal ones, the result being that the trees are divested of their foliage. 

 If the attack is confined solely to the leaves, the loss of foliage, being some- 

 what gradual, may be l<Toked upon as of no great detriment to the young 

 trees growing in the nursery at this time of the year. To a very large 

 extent this is true so far as the propagator is concerned, but if such trees 

 were to be left standing in the nursery row, and untreated for a limited, 

 period, the continuous premature shedding of the foliage would have such 

 an injurious effect upon the health of the trees that they would become ver}^ 

 much weakened. By neglecting this disease in the nursery it is dissemin- 

 ated to the planter, as the winter spores shelter behind or around the buds. 

 One of the causes that may induce the buds of stone fruits to drop away 

 from the sheath after unity has taken place with the stock, is found in this 

 disease. Buds selected from trees attacked are weak and prematurely 

 hardened through the loss of healthy leaf actions and exposure. 



The disease is easily recognised. The upper surface of the foliage 

 becomes covered, or partly so, with yellowish-coloured blotches, and if 

 the under-surface of the leaves be examined directly beneath these yellow 

 patches, numerous small dark-brown spots, known as pustules will be 

 found. Treatment. — Spray with Bordeaux mixture or Lime sulphur wash 

 just before the buds burst and again when the foliage is fully expanded, 

 directing the fungicide well beneath the leaves. The time and number of 

 sprayings will be controlled by the climatic conditions prevailing at the 

 time. Upon the first signs of attack, spraying should be proceeded with at 

 once. Growers, when planting stone fruits such as almonds, apricots, 

 nectarines, peaches, plums, should spray the young trees before or after 

 planting with one of the already-mentioned fungicides, either as a deterrent 

 or to destroy or prevent germination of any fungus spores that may be 

 concealed upon any parts of the young trees. 



Leaf Scald or Fruit Spot {Entomosforium maculatum Lev.). — This 

 fungus disease, which has been shown to exist in Australia by Mr. D. 

 McAlpine no further back than the year 191 1, is in respect of appearance 

 and method of attack identical with an old leaf trouble which attacked 

 seedling pears and at times worked varieties in the nursery row, and was 

 well known to many old propagators who termed it pear leaf rust. The" 

 virulence of this leaf trouble is controlled by the weather conditions pre- 

 vailing during midsummer and early autumn. If the seasons happen to be 

 wet, this leaf rust soon defoliates the stocks or trees attacked, but in normal 

 weather little harm is done. After the discovery and actual proof was- 

 made known, the writer submitted pear leaves to Mr. McAlpine, secured 

 from seedling stocks, where this old leaf rust trouble was known to exist 

 for many years, and it was diagnosed as Entomosforium maculatum. Like 

 the prune rust, its attack is usually too late in the nur.sery row to cau,se 

 serious trouble, but if untreated there is the danger of transmitting it to the 

 grower, consequently serious harm may be done to the pear crop. The 

 disease is readily recognised, and the following description by Mv. 

 McAlpine will enable its presence to be detected in the nursery row : — ■ 

 " The foliage becomes pale in colour, spotted all over, chiefly upon 

 the upper surface, and falling away early. The spots are very 

 definite and distinct, generally circular in outline at first, of a ruddy colour, 

 then they run into one another, and become brownish, and ultimately the 

 black, slightly-projecting fructification of the fungus appears upon them."' 

 Treatment. — Spray with Bordeaux mixture or Lime sulphur wash as a 

 deterrent when the buds are bursting or as soon as the presence of thi<> 



