^u^stiotx gratuer 



Hollyhock Rust. 



1296. Sir, — Enclosed herewith I send you a 

 leaf from one of my hollyhocks affected with a 

 blight or rust that is doing my collection much 

 damage. It is fastened so closely to the leaf that 

 it cannot be washed off. Can you tell me how I 

 may rid my plants of this ? I hope it is not a re- 

 currence of the pest that caused the growing of this 

 fine flower to be abandoned for a time some years 

 ago. 



Mr. Clement's hollyhocks are affected 

 with the Hollyhock Rust, a disease which 

 originated in Chili, but first appeared as a 

 pest in Australia. It entered Europe soon 

 afterwards through France, and is to be 

 found now wherever the hollyhock is culti- 

 vated. The peculiar feature of this rust is 

 that only one spore form is known — the 

 teleutospore. This appears on the leaves 

 as pale brown warts. These spores will 

 germinate at once, so the disease is con- 

 tinued throughout the season. It is likely 

 also that the teleutospore form may pass 

 the winter in the resting stage. The com- 

 mon Round-Leaf Mallow is also attacked 

 by the same rust ; and, if hollyhocks are to 

 be free from this rust, the wild mallow must 

 be looked after carefully. 



There are two methods of treating this 

 rust, ist, by spraying with Bordeaux mix- 

 ture two or three times during the growing 

 season ; and, 2d, by collecting and burning 

 the fading and falling leaves, and not allow- 

 ing them to decay on the ground under the 

 plants. It is possible for every hollyhock 

 enthusiast who fears the attack of this rust 

 to use both of these methods, as they are 

 simple and effective. 



O. A. C. Guelph. W. Lochhead. 



changed my Flemish Beauty pears into fruit no 

 better than turnips : they would not ripen when 

 brought out. 



Montreal. R. Brodie. 



The Flemish Beauty pear does not ripen 

 well if gathered before it is mature. In this 

 respect it differs materially from the Bartlett 

 which will ripen even if immature when har- 

 vested. The Flemish Beauty, on the other 

 hand, wilts and becomes leathery and in- 

 sipid, if gathered too soon. Probably this 

 explains the difficulty with those referred to 

 by Mr. Brodie, and not the cold storage 

 at all. 



Effect of Cold Storage on Fruit. 



1297. Sir, — Does cold storage spoil the quality 

 of fruit ? Is ice more natural than chemical cold 

 storage ? I found that chemical cold storage 



To Spray or not to Spray. 



1298. Sir, — I enclose you the following clip- 

 ping from a Buffalo paper which seems to be very 

 much opposed to spraying. 



"As last year was an off year with the apple 

 crop, it is believed that the yield this year will be 

 a large one. For several years past hundreds of 

 farmers in Niagara and Orleans counties have per- 

 sistently practised spraying the trees. Now, those 

 who were the most ardent believers in the benefit 

 derived, declare themselves opposed to it, and they 

 say that this year they will take chances and let 

 nature take its course. 



Two years ago it was observed when there was 

 such a large crop that the orchards that were not 

 sprayed bore the best fruit and last year the result 

 was the same." 



I intended purchasing a machine but such re- 

 ports as these are very discouraging. I should 

 like to have your opinion. 



Southend, Ont. George Slade. 



A newspaper report such as this has no 

 weight with us whatever. There is no more 

 sense in it than if one were to give up insur- 

 ing his house because for several years he 

 had noticed that his neighbor's house, which 

 was not insured, had not been burned. 

 There are seasons when scab, aphis and 

 canker worm, do not trouble us, and in such 

 seasons the unsprayed orchard yields as 

 good fruit as the sprayed one, but neverthe- 

 less it pays to be on the safe side. 



