DISEASES 151 



CHAPTER XVII. 



Diseases caused by Fungi 

 By GEORGE MASSEE, F.L.S., V.M.H. 



At the outset, it may be well to point out a few 

 mistakes made by practical men, as to the parti- 

 cular way in which fungi do their work. 



It is usual to hear the planter asserting, after 

 the presence of the disease has become obvious, 

 that up to a certain date the plants were quite 

 healthy. This is generally a mistake. When the 

 seed of any plant is sown, some considerable time 

 is occupied in the formation of root, stem, leaves, 

 etc., and in storing up food, before the fruit is pro- 

 duced. In a similar manner, when the spore of a 

 fungus falls on a leaf, say a Coffee leaf, it germi- 

 nates on the surface of the leaf. The sprout enters 

 into the tissues, and there forms a quantity of 

 spawn or mycelium, obtaining its food from the 



