398 



NEW JERSEY AGRICULTUEAL COLLEGE 



NOTES UPON CLUB-ROOT. 



Since the annoiuicement of the proposition that the cancer in the 

 human subject, particularly of the stomach, is due to an organism 

 closely related to and perhaps indentical with the Plasmodiopliora 



Brassicce Wor., there has been 

 a new importance placed upon 

 tlie club-root fungus. 



In case of the cabbage, the 

 root is not eaten, and the edi- 

 ble portion of the "head" is 

 rarely if ever infested by the 

 organism causing the offen- 

 sive cancerous groAvths in the 

 root systems. With turnips, 

 which are eqiially infested 

 with the disease, the germs 

 might find ready access to 

 the alimentary canal. In the 

 process of cooking it is prob- 

 able that the fungus would 

 be killed, but children are 

 fond of raw roots, and, thus 

 eaten, they might cause the 

 lodgment of the live germs, 

 where they, perhaps, would 

 prove mischievous. Any bad- 

 ly-diseased turnip would nat- 

 urally be rejected by all, but 

 it is ip those very slightly 

 diseased that resides the most danger. In cutting away of an excres- 

 cence from an otherwise normal turnip there might be quite a portion 

 of the infested tissue left behind, which, when eaten raw or after 

 partial cooking, might prove injurious. 



Eadishes are usually eaten raw, and thus the germs might be in- 

 troduced, especially when the fungus does not produce any striking 

 distortion and the root seems unaffected. This latter is usually the 



Fig. 2. 



Club-root of Radish. 



