APPENDIX B 



lar as to the host plants it attacks, so it is not sur- 

 prising that the peony, too, sometimes falls a 

 victim to it. Wet weather greatly favors its 

 destructiveness. 



Control. — Prompt removal and destruction of 

 wilting stalks, cutting close to the crown and the 

 removal of the soil all about the crown is impor- 

 tant. The fungous threads spread from stalk to 

 stalk through the soil. Removed soil should be 

 replaced with fresh, clean soil, preferably sand. 

 Keep manure away from the crowns. The sclero- 

 tia carry the fungus through the Winter and 

 therefore the burning of all diseased stalks is 

 desirable. 



The Botrytis Blight. 



This is by far the most common and destruc- 

 tive disease of the peony so far as known at pres- 

 ent. This disease is frequently epidemic, espe- 

 cially during wet Springs. It occurs wherever 

 peonies are gi'own, apparently the world over. 

 It is well known in Europe, especially in Holland 

 and England. Much in the way of scattered 

 notes and records of its occurrence has appeared 

 in florists' papers and experiment station reports 

 for the past twenty years. I published a short 



247 



