522 Report of the Mycologist of the 



resulting from the practice in Bermuda of cutting flowers from bulbs 

 wliieb are after wai'ds sent North to be used for winter forcing. 

 There is no experimental evidence either for or against this theory, 

 but it seems highly improbable that the cutting of the flowers has 

 any important bearing on the disease. Nor is it likely that the dis- 

 ease is due to faulty cultural methods either here or in Bermuda. 

 The history of the disease is opposed to such a view. When the 

 cause is accurately determined it will probably be found to be some 

 living organism in the soil which prevents the roots from perform- 

 ing their proper functions. Upon this hypothesis are based the fol- 

 lowing suggestions for treatment: 



First. For potting use soil which has never been used for growing 

 lilies or other bulbous plants. 



Second. Previous to potting soak the bulbs one and one-half hours 

 in a weak solution of corrosive sublimate, prepared by dissolving 

 one and one-half ounces of corrosive sublimate in ten gallons of 

 water. This is the treatment recommended by Prof. Bolley for 

 potato scab. It does not appear to injure the plants. 



A second destructive lily disease is the one widely known as the 

 ^' Bermuda lily disease." This disease attacks several varieties of 

 lilies growa in the open air, particularly Lilium oandiduin. In all 

 parts of the world where L. candidum is grown, the " Bermuda lily 

 disease" is the most serions drawback to its cultivation. 



It manifests itself as circular or elliptical orange-brown spots on 

 the leaves, stem, pedicels and buds. In severe attacks the leaves 

 are killed, many of the buds rot and the flowers which open are 

 oadly disfigured. 



Our knowledge of this disease rests principally upon the investi- 

 gations of Prof. H. Marshall "Ward ^ in England on Lilium candi- 

 dum and those of Mr. A. L. Kean "* in Bermuda on Lilium Llar^risii. 



These investigators proved beyond all doubt that the disease is 

 caused by a parasitic fungus, Botrytis sj). To this same genius 

 belong the gray moulds so common on a great many plants, particu- 

 jarly green-house plants. 



The fungus consists of vegetative threads (mycelium) which run 

 in all directions through the tissues of the plant, and of branched 

 spore-stalks (conidiophores) which rise above the surface of the leaf 

 and produce at their tips clusters of oval spores. When mature 

 • — '■ « ~~~" 



3 A lily disease, Annals of Botany, Vol. II, No. VII, Nov. 1888, p. 319. 

 The lily disease in Bermuda, Botanical Gazette, Vol. XV, No. I, January, 1890, p. 8. 



