87 



There were found on the roots of some of these vines what appeared 

 to be broken puff balls. Only the filaments and spores of these parasites 

 were seen. They are carefully illus- 

 trated in Fig. 100. Their nature is 

 such as to leave little doubt as to their 

 origin, and to the suspicion that we 



i i f P -I 1 ' 1 



have before us fairly good evidence of 

 the attacks of a root rot such as we 



Fig. 100. Fungus elements from a disease 

 have Set OUt tO elucidate. of the roots of a grape-vine. 



Not infrequently Galls, so called 



f 'Crown Galls/' have come under notice from vineyards, not only from 

 the rnoister parts of the State but from the drier districts such as 

 the vine regions of the Riverina district. No definite fructification 

 is as yet known in connection with these "Galls " , and their origin 

 is still obscure, but they are commonly supposed to be of fungus 

 origin. Experience has proved that these particular galls may be 

 successfully fought by methods presently to be described. 



Remedies. 



I. Whenever trees, vines or plants are seen to die or fail without 

 apparent reason such as the appearance of some insect or fungus 

 pest, the soil should be examined for traces of fungus growth and 

 attention should be given to the appearance in the neighbourhood 

 of any puff-balls or toadstools. If soft, fragile, white or light coloured 

 threads are found in the soil they should be examined to see whether 

 they are ordinary rootlets or the soft spongy growths of underground 

 mycelium. If such mycelium is found in the vicinity of dead or 

 dying plants it is presumptive evidence that they are suffering from 

 the attacks of one of the root-rotting or timber-rotting fungi. These 

 threads are likely to be most numerous in the vicinity of the roots of 

 the attacked plants, and often concentrate at some obvious injury on 

 one of the roots. 



Of course anything that can be done to prevent the spread of these 

 threads in the soil will be beneficial, and one of the first precautions 

 that suggests itself is the application of some chemical disinfectant, 

 and for that reason we will deal with this phase of the question 

 first, though such measures are not the most important that can be 

 adopted. 



Without going into the matter minutely it may be said that one of 

 the best substances for this purpose is quicklime, applied at the rate 

 of one, two or more tons to the acre. It should be worked in to a 

 considerable depth, the sooner after application the better. Nearly 

 all injurious soil-inhabiting fungi are checked by this treatment, which 

 has the advantage that it is often advisable for other reasons con- 

 nected with the fertility of the soil. Fresh wood ashes may be used 

 in the same manner. 



Another substance that may be used in somewhat the same way is 

 sulphate of iron. It may be applied in the form of pulverised crystals, 

 or as a solution. If applied in the form of crystals these should be fine 

 and be very evenly and thinly distributed and worked in immediately, 



