i>Ri:sinKXTiAi. ADDKi-ss — si:c(i( ix (. 107 



that the country is iiniciuc in |)()ssi.'ssin<^ an abnormal shafe oi 

 diseases. When we come to com])are South Africa in this 

 respect witli other countries, we Ihul that such is not the case. In 

 fact. South Africa at present compares most favourably with 

 any other country in tlie \\<irl(l whose aj^ricuhural resources 

 are of any importance. 



As far as I am a\\are, there is not a single fun_<,nis disease of 

 any importance that attacks our crojxs that is not e(|ualh- prc\a- 

 lent on similar crops in other parts of the world. 



( )n the other hand, there are present in Iuir(^i>e and America 

 many serious funi^us pests that have not }'et been detected in this 

 country. 1 will only mention a few of these: — 



-Xmongst the cereal crops, there is the funjj^us Sclcruspora 

 (/rainlnicola. a serious pest in millets, etc.. and .Stewiirt's bacterial 

 disease of sweet corn is also absent. There are several important 

 sugar-cane diseases, such as root rot, caused by Marasiuius 

 plicatits. stem-end rot. due to Cnonioiiia iliaii, and l)iight, due to 

 Pcronospora, which we do not know of in South Africa. 



Crown gall of lucerne, due to Vrophlyciis alfalfcc, and wart 

 •"lisease of potato, caused Syuchytrium eiidobioliciiiii. both de- 

 '^tructive parasites in Europe, are not yet known here. 



The Texas root rot of cotton, caused by Ozuniitm omiii- 

 voriim, which is prevalent in the United States, has not troubled 

 us in South Africa. 



No cases of PUnvrightia iiiortosa or Scleral iiiia ciiiera { Bon.) 

 Schroet. have been recorded in our stone fruit trees. 



Pear blight, due to Facllliis aiuylcn'onts. wliich also attacks 

 apple, quince, plum and apricot, is not known in South Africa. 



No single species of Peridcnnium or {iyi)inosporangium, both 

 serious pests of the forest and orchard. ha\e ever been detected 

 in South Africa. 



Side by side with these fact it should be remembered that 

 the development of the agricultural resources of this country is 

 as yet in its infancy, and year by year a greater variety of crops 

 and a more expanding area are being put under cultivation. This, 

 coupled v^ith the advance of civilisation, in.volving increased faci- 

 lities for communication with the ditterent parts of the world, 

 will render our crops more liable to risk of infection. 



Furthermore, as soon as intensive cultivation is ])ractised in 

 South Africa, it is only reasonable to expect that some of otir 

 endemic fungi will assert themselves. 



In all these cases it is clearly in the mterests of the nation 

 that it should have at its disposal an Institution where ofificers are 

 thoroughly acquainted with the fungus flora of the country, who 

 have a competent knowledge of the diseases jirevalent in othei" 

 parts of the world, and who are able to tackle the prcblems that 

 arise on the spot. 



In comparing South Africa iii relation to ])lant diseases with 

 other countries, I have purposely omitted, so far. any mention ^^rCfTini^ 

 the bacterial diseases of plants present here, sitnply becait^j^-^ '' ^C y^ 



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