40 
I.—Apvisory Work. 
Some 800 enquiries were received through the post, which 
represents an increase of nearly 300 over 1916. 99 different 
kinds of disease were represented, including 14 diseases of pota- 
toes, 12 of apples, and 10 of cereals. Since the middle of 
August numerous questions relating to diseases received by the 
ings similar to blight and has been often confused with it. The 
fungus causes very little damage, and it was recommended to 
plant the affected tubers even though they had in some cases 
been previously condemned. 
he 
Black Leg of Potato, Potato Scab on newly-broken ground, 
Plum Rust, Die Back of Apples, Onion Diseases (Sclerotinia 
and Botrytis) and Sooty Blotch of Apples. 
Special mention should, however be made of. the following : — 
Black Currant Rust. (Cronartiwm ribicola).—Attention was 
called to this disease early in the year owing to legislative action 
by the United States of America. At the time the Black Cur- 
tant Rust was supposed to be rare and local, and a memo- 
randum was sent to the Board of Agriculture to this effect. The 
rust, however, was discovered in several districts about the middle 
far north as Norfolk. In some cases it was extraordinarily abun- 
dant and caused severe defoliation. No outbreaks occurred at 
how a disease may suddenly become epidemic after having 
existed in a country for many years in scattered localities. The 
appearance over so wide an area in 1917 suggests, however, that 
owing to the lack of an adequate phytopathological service the 
fungus had spread unnoticed during previous seasons. 
Onion Disease.—In addition 
Mildew, reports were received from several quarters that the 
onion crop was being badly at ini 
This disease, though long known, has never been properly 
