MYCOLOmCAL SECTION. 



117 



pounds in 1882, 6,191,072 in 1883, 20,895,563 in 1884, and 9,043,216 in 



1885. 



Sc{zZ0\^^a4>7i^ J^a^'n^^ soo 7^^.y!er'G€r&. 



CELERY -LEAF BLIGHT. 



Cercospora Apii Fries. 



(Plate V.) 



Celery-leaf Bliglit is a common disease in Europe, and one which 

 seems to be widespread in this country, samples having been receive<.l 

 from Louisiana, Missouri, and from about Washington. _ Some va- 

 rieties of celery are more subject to it than others, and in seasons 

 favorable to the development of the fungus these are greatly damaged 

 by its attacks. 



Prof. S. M. Tracy, of the State University, Columbia, Mo., has 

 made a study of this disease in his locality, and in reply to inquiries 

 on the subject he writes as follows : 



The Celery -leaf Blight {Cercospora Apii), was first noticed in 1884, wlien it dam- 

 aged the crop to a considerable extent. In 1885 it appeared again soon after the 

 plants were put in the open ground, about July 10, or as soon as the hot dry weather 

 commenced. The older leaves were the first to be attacked, but the disease spread 

 rapidly, and by the middle of August many plants were dead, and others appeared 

 as though the leaves had been scorched by intense heat. In nearly every case the 

 Bliglit developed first on the driest soil. By September 1 many lots of the plants 

 had been nearly destroyed, and aU the celery grown in this part of the State was 

 seriously injured. The loss was certainly not less than half the crop. 



As soon as the rains and cool nights of September commenced the Blight disap- 

 peared, and plants which had not been too seriously Aveakened then made a mod- 

 erate growth. 



Different varieties showed a marked difference in resisting power ; the ' ' Boston 

 Market" and "Golden Heart" suffering more than did any others, while the 

 "White Plume" was but slightly injured. In 1886, although the season was un- 

 usually hot and diy, conditions which have heretofore seemed favorable to the de- 

 velopment of the Blight, but very little has been seen, careful and repeated search 

 giving only an occasional leaf which showed any injury. In the latter part of July 

 I noticed this Blight as quite plentiful about Davenport, Iowa ; also at Plattsville, 

 Wis. Various remedies were tried, but no good results foUowed their use. Salt, 

 ashes, Ume, and sulphur were dusted over the leaves without effect. 



Mr. T. F. Baker, a successful and well-known vegetable gardener 

 and seed grower of Bridgeton, l^T. J., relates his experience with this 

 disease as follows : 



I regret to say that I am only too familiar with the appeaxance and effects of 



