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disease in plants have as one of their final defences the assertion that 

 microbes are not the primary causes in the cases held up as examples 

 among plants of diseases of that nature. " A way has to be pre- 

 pared for these microbes," it is said. Without at all admitting the 

 truth of this assertion, one may ask to what extent can it be proved 

 that the bacteria admitted to be the cause of various diseases of 

 animals do not have to *' have a way prepared for them " ? Who- 

 knows the road by which bacteria enter the animal system sufficiently 

 well to assert that no way is prepared ? Possibly some of the remarkable 

 instances of immunity are simply cases where no way has been prepared. 

 Who can say ? Is the freedom of adults from diseases peculiar to- 

 infancy because a way is no longer open ? It seems to me that the- 

 proof of the ability, or otherwise, of a microbe to force its way 

 unaided into the tissues is too remote a possibility at present to make 

 it the universal main test of causation. 



Gumming of the Sugar Cane. 



This disease, though it continues to exist in the State, no longer- 

 causes uneasiness. During the last two years, not a single case of 

 this disease has been referred to the Department of Agriculture. This 

 appears to indicate that this disease, once so prevalent in certain 

 parts of our cane districts, no longer attracts much attention. 



A Mulberry Disease. 



Occasionally the foliage of the mulberry is attacked by a peculiar- 

 disease. One of the symptoms is the appearance of microbic-nodules 

 on the leaves. The mulberry is such a minor crop in this State that 

 no attempt has been made to investigate the relation of this microbe- 



to the disease. -, /. , , m 



Gummosis of the Tomato. 



The Solanaceous plants suffer from an infestation of microbes, and 

 occasionally samples of this disease are met with in this State; most 

 frequently, I think, in tomatoes. The symptoms of the disease are 

 of such a nature that growers would do well to trust to expert exam- 

 ination before resorting to combative measures. The attacked plants 

 should be destroyed, and no attempt should be made to grow tomatoes, 

 potatoes, or other solanaceous plants in the same ground for some time 

 to come. In small, highly-valued gardens trenching, together with 

 an attempt at disinfection, may be advisable in some instances. 



The following are notes of a peculiar disease in tomatoes in which 

 microbes were suspected to be the cause of the trouble. It was im- 

 possible to follow the matter further, for lack of suitable material. 

 Some accurate coloured drawings of the diseased fruits were secured, 

 and it is hoped that further progress may be made if further instances 

 of the disease appear. On examination, the only micro-organism seen* 

 was in the form of bacteria in some of the stems. It remained unde- 

 terminable whether these had originated during transit, but it seemed 

 probable that they had not so originated. In form, the bacteria closely 

 resembled B. termo. The blossoms and fruit were the parts that seemed 

 more particularly diseased. The blossoms seemed to be off colour, and 

 the stamens appeared as if mouldy, but without yielding any satisfactory 



