FUNGOUS DISEASES OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. 31 



fungi of the genus Pythium, the P. De Baryianum Hesse. ^ being 

 the most common one. This fungus often attacks the phiuts with 

 so much vigor as to sweep them off in a short time, lu structure 

 the Pythiums are quite similar to the mildews of the deeply seated 

 type and are perhaps still more nearly related to the fungus caus- 

 ing a fatal rot of the round potato, the celebrated Phytophthora 

 infestans De By. 



Several other fungi may attack seedlings ; in fact they are 

 subject to the whole list of parasitic enemies that the host is, 

 subject to in its later life. The whole matter of seedlings and 

 their relation to fungi is a theme in itself sufficient for the hour. 

 Often the seed contains the fungus within itself, and as it 

 germinates the parasite starts into activity, and ruins its subject. 

 Again the germs are in the soil and pass from thence to the victim. 

 It is not unusual for a fungus to spread from a central point in all 

 directions through a seed bed, killing all plants as it goes. 



Fungi of the Cutting Bench. Much of what has been said con- 

 cerning the seed bed holds true of the cutting bench. Slips are 

 portions of plants which are placed with one end in the moist 

 sand, and have nearly the same conditions surrounding them as 

 seedlings. They are subject to the attacks of "damping off" 

 fungi coming from the soil, and in addition to this carry with them 

 from the parent plant many hidden seeds of decay which under 

 the new conditions may develop and ruin the slips. In the cutting 

 bench therefore many fungi show themselves which are often only 

 obscurely seen in the stock plants. Thus rose cuttings fail, 

 because the stock has the Black Spot or the Anthracnose, the 

 carnations damp off from the rampant growth of the Dark Stem- 

 blight, and violets fail from the Leaf-spot fungus taking possession 

 of the cuttings. Pelargoniums are stricken down with a blacken- 

 ing bacterial blight, and hosts of other sorts of cuttings fall under 

 the influence of moulds of various sorts. 



Remedies f 07' Fungous Diseases. This paper upon Fungous Dis- 

 eases would be incomplete from the standpoint of the floriculturist, 

 without some words upon the subject of remedies. It is here that 

 information is needed by everyone, and no one appreciates the 

 lack more than those who desire to instruct. Naturallj^ enough 

 the diagnoses of the diseases have gone ahead of the remedial 

 measures. It is the hope that in the near future more time Avill be 

 given to the actual treatment of fungous troubles. Hospitals are 



