86 PROTECTION OF PLANTS, 1916-17 



The White Pine Blister Rust 



This serious disease of white pines and currants was discovered in 

 Ontario in 1914, and in the two succeeding years considerable attention 

 has been given to it, both in an effort to determine the extent of its occurrence 

 in the province and to collect evidence regarding some of the more important 

 features in its life history. The work so far done has added materially to 

 our knowledge on the following points : 



1. The mode of infection on the pine. 



2. The distance the spores are carried by the wind. 



3. The longevity of the spores. 



4. The general course followed by the disease in pine limbs. 



5. The wintering of the fungus on the currant. 



In addition to these specially mentioned subjects investigations are 

 being conducted on a heart rot of peach and plum trees, the anthracnose of 

 beans, a root rot in strawberries, black heart in fruit trees, a limb blight of 

 maple shade trees, and various other diseases of somewhat lesser general 

 importance. 



The use of sulphur dust as a fungicide has also been taken up to some 

 extent, and very favorable preliminary results have been secured, especially 

 in the experiments on currant and rose mildews. 



A very important phase of the work of the station relates to the identi- 

 fication of diseases. In many cases specimens are sent in by mail and 

 express, but the greatest number of diseases are reported by telephone, and 

 these reports are usually followed by a visit to the spot. These visits are 

 very desirable since the actual conditions can be seen, besides which an 

 opportunity is presented of discussing the case with the owner. Experience 

 has shown that in the course of these visits a number of other troubles 

 invariably come up for consideration as well. The help that can thus be 

 rendered is of especial value to the very considerable number of men who have 

 recently entered the fruit industry from other walks of life, and who are 

 still unfamiliar with even the ordinary diseases and their treatment. 



Among the numerous other activities that devolve upon this station 

 there may be mentioned the educational side of the work. Each year a 

 large number of addresses are given on the subject of diseases to the various 

 fruit and vegetable growers' conventions, and to schools, public school 

 teachers, young people's societies and clubs. Boy Scouts, etc., In 1915 and 

 1916 a series of illustrated addresses on the nature of plant diseases was 



