361 



mycelium is abniKL-int llironglioiit tlie diseased tissue and seems to travel 

 between the r-ells. dissolving tlie middle lamella. 



In case the disease attacks the upper part of the stem, the first effect 

 noticed is that the petioles all droop, or the leaflets droop from the petiole. 

 The leaves soon fall off. and on examination the stalk will lie found to 

 contain several black sclerotia. In one garden, e.xamined l)y the writer 

 last summer the plants had been attacked by this disease in June after 

 they had attained their growth, and when examined in August the leaves 



Fig. 4. Black Rot of ginseng showing apothecia. (After Rankin. 



had fallen off, leaving only the straight dead stems containing sclerotia. 

 In this type of injury the root may send up a new stalk the next year, 

 but in the year of the attack no growth is added. 



From obser\ations in the diseased gardens it would seem that the 

 trouble is increased by the presence of too much moisture ; that is, if the 

 fungus occurs in the soil with these conditions present it will produce the 

 disease. One man. whose garden was troubled with this disease, stopped 

 it almost immediately liy removing the shade and aerating the enclosure. 



The cup fungus, Sclcrothiia lihcrtiana Fuckel, has been connected 

 with this disease. This is a soil parasite which is widespread and com- 

 mon on other plants such as hemp, rape, cucumber, tobacco, many forced 



