GOOSEBERRIES FUNGUS AfrD MILDEW. 



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leaves and fruits, and is very plentiful in some seasons. The fungus appears as swollen 

 spots or thickened patches on the leaves and fruits, is orange-red, and nbout -} inch 

 across. On the affected parts are numerous cups, having the sides (peridium) formed 

 of a single layer of cells, the hollow containing several erect branches springing from 

 the mycelium, each consisting of chestnut-brown, rounded cells, which separate, liberating 

 the spores by the mouth of the cup, each spore pushing out a germinal tube or mycelial 

 thread, which enters a leaf through a stomata. The fungus renders the fruit unfit for 

 use positively injurious, if not poisonous. 



This internal parasite may be prevented spreading by the removal and prompt burn- 

 ing of the attacked leaves and berries. Preventive measures, however, must be taken 

 against its recurrence. Dusting quicklime over 

 the bushes in autumn while damp with mist, 

 dressing the ground amongst them with hot 

 lime at the same time, and spraying the trees 

 in spring with bi-sulphide of calcium or sul- 

 phide of potassium, as advised for "Gooseberry 

 Mildew," has proved efficacious. Mr. Graham, 

 in the Journal of Horticulture, Vol. IX., third 

 series, page 40, describes his method of pre- 

 vention as follows: "In 1868 and 1869 about 

 one-third of the fruit became blotched very 

 much by this fungus. I gave the ground 

 amongst the bushes a liberal dressing with 

 lime in the autumn, and syringed them over 

 with a compound of alum, 1 drachm; tobacco 



essence, 2 drachms: flowers Of Sulphur, | Ounce; 



common salt, ounce all mixed in 3 gallons 

 of rain-water ; this was done twice before the expanding of the leaf, and again as soon 

 as the fruit appeared fairly set. The first destroyed the germs in the soil [and fallen 

 leaves], and the syringing cleared the bark of its sporules ; and my gooseberry bushes 

 are now free from all traces of fungus." The compound used in this case possesses con- 

 siderable value as an insecticide, and is efficacious against most parasites. 



Gooseberry Mildew (MicrosphaBra grossularia). The thin white coating appearing 

 on gooseberry leaves in spring consists of the mycelium and conidia of this fungus, and 



F F 2 



g 67 G^^ FuNOT80N LEAVES AND BEBHY, 



WITH CLUSTEB-CUP ON SIDE, OPIW AND DISCHABGING 



SPORES, GBEATLY KAGNOTED. 



