208 MANUAL OF GARDENING 



days after the blossoms fall. The second spraying seems to be the most 

 important. Always apply before rains, not after. 



Asparagus rust. — The most common and destructive disease of 

 asparagus, producing reddish or black pustules on the stems and 

 branches. Late in the fall, burn all affected plants. Fertilize liberally 

 and cultivate thoroughly. During the cutting season, permit no plants 

 to mature and cut all wild asparagus plants in vicinity once a week. 

 Rust may be partially controlled by spraying with bordeaux, 5-5-50, 

 containing a sticker of resin-sal-soda soap, but it is a difficult and ex- 

 pensive operation and probably not profitable except on large acreage. 

 Begin spraying after cutting as soon as new shoots are 8 to 10 in. 

 high and repeat once Or twice a week until about September 15. Dust- 

 ing with sulfur has proved effective in California. 



Cabbage and cauliflower diseases. — Black-rot is a bacterial disease; 

 the plants drop their leaves and fail to head. Practice crop rotation ; 

 soak seed 15 min. in a solution made by dissolving one corrosive subli- 

 mate tablet in a pint of water. Tablets may be bought at drug 

 stores. 



Club-root or club-foot is a well-known disease. The parasite lives 

 in the soil. Practice crop rotation. Set only healthy plants. Do not 

 use manure containing cabbage refuse. If necessary to use infested 

 land, apply good stone lime, 2 to 5 tons per acre. Apply at least as 

 early as the autumn before planting; two to four years is better. 

 Lime the seed-bed in same way. 



Carnation rust. — This disease may be recognized by the brown, 

 powdery pustules on the stem and leaves. Plant only the varieties least 

 affected by it. Take cuttings only from healthy plants. Spray (in 

 the field, once a week; in the greenhouse, once in two weeks) with 

 copper sulfate, 1 lb. to 20 gal. of water. Keep the greenhouse air as 

 dry and cool as is compatible with good growth. Keep the foliage free 

 from moisture. Train the plants so as to secure a free circulation of 

 air among them. 



Chestnut. — The bark disease of chestnut has become very serious 

 in southeastern New York, causing the bark to sink and die and killing 

 the tree. Cutting out the diseased places and treating aseptically 

 may be useful in light cases, but badly infected trees are incurable, 

 in the present state of our knowledge. Inspection of nursery stock 



