BARBERRT. 29 



The Barberry is susceptible of great improvement, and 

 might, if a proper amount of care were bestowed upon it, 

 become a fruit of much importance ; whereas, at the pres- 

 ent time, it is seldom admitted to the fruit garden, being 

 mainly planted for ornamental purposes. 



DISEASES AND INSECTS. 



The Barberry is seldom injured to any considerable ex- 

 tent by disease or insects. The leaves are sometimes in- 

 jured by a species of fungus called ^Ecidium Berberidis. 

 It usually makes its appearance on the upper end of the 

 leaves (fig. 6), then becomes scattered over 

 the surface, and extends to the fruit. To 

 the eye it appears like fine reddish dust. 

 When these rust-like spots are examined 

 with a lens, they appear as in figure 7, 

 and when more highly magnified the 

 whole is found to consist of 

 cup-like cells, as in figure 8. 

 These cups are at first covered 

 with a thin, light colored film, 

 Fig. 6. which, when the fungus be- 



comes mature, bursts and leaves the edges of the cup with 

 the uneven margin shown in figure 8. When this covering 

 bursts, the cups discharge their spores or reproductive 

 dust, which is scattered over the leaves and fruit. 



This fungus or mildew has 

 been supposed to cause the blight 

 in wheat, and it is an old belief 

 that the Barberry would cause 

 the grain near which it grew to 

 _r. a blast. This belief has generally 



been treated as a superstition by scientific men, but recent 

 researches show that it may have a foundation in fact. 

 Many of these minute fungi have in different generations 

 Very unlike forms. Thus, the spores of A will produce 



