PARASITIC PLANTS 275 



which they probably absorb water and mineral con- 

 stituents, which the plant needs for nutrition. From 

 the upper side of these green root "runners" adventi- 

 tious buds arise and burst their way out through the 

 bark, ultimately growing into leafy branches. 



Although young Mistletoe plants develop slowly at 

 first, after a time they grow more vigorously, and 

 seriously rob their host branches of food. The orchard 

 trees suffer in consequence, and yield less fruit than they 

 should do. At the same time canker sometime appears 

 on the swollen branches attacked by the parasite, and 

 may spread to healthy trees in the neighbourhood. 



Where the pest occurs on orchard trees it is perhaps 

 best to cut off the affected branches. Where this is 

 not feasible the parasite may be cut out completely, 

 roots and all, covering up the wound afterwards with 

 Stockholm tar. The female plants especially should 

 be destroyed^ as it is from these only that the parasite 

 is distributed. 



