DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



BEET. 

 LEAF-SPOT (Cercospora beticola). 



Affects the leaves, appearing as small, circular brown spots, surrounded by a 

 purplish zone. Later the centre of the spot falls out, leaving a hole. These spots 

 may be so numerous as to seriously damage the leaf. It is rarely, however, serious 

 enough to call for treatment. If it is, Bordeaux mixture m&y be used as a preventive. 



BLACKBERRY. 

 CBOWX-GALL. 



This may form typical galls at or below the level of the ground. In such cases 

 there is no treatment except grubbing out and burning the affected plants. Another 

 form of the disease appears on the canes, the Snyder variety being especially suscep- 

 tible. Irregular excrescences break out on them, several times the diameter of the 

 cane in thickness and extending for several inches. A succession of these may occur 

 along the cane, possibly resulting from internal spreading of the disease from centres 

 of infection. Affected canes should be cut out and burned. 



LEAF-SPOT (Septoria r6f). 



Appears as small brownish spots on the leaves, which, however, are rarely numer- 

 ous enough to cause serious injury or to call for treatment. Bordeaux mixture is an 

 effective preventive if it is found necessary to take measures against it. 



AXTHRACXOSE. 



This is identical with anthracuose of the raspberry, tchich see. 



CELERY. 



LATE BLIGHT (Septoria pctrofselini far. 



This disease is quite serious in the Armstrong District, especially on low-lying 

 land subject to floods, and in wet seasons. The disease on the leaves forms irregular 

 spots, usually angular from being limited by the veins. They are yellowish to rusty 

 brown in colour, with a darker border, and often run together to form large patches, 

 so that the entire leaf may be killed. In the spots tiny jet-black points may be 

 found. Each of these is a spore-chamber in which a large number of thread-like 

 spores is produced. In addition to destroying the leaves of the growing plant, the 

 fungus may continue its work in storage, producing extensive rotting of the leaves. 

 It also attacks the " seeds," and is probably carried over from season to season in 

 this way. seedlings from such seeds furnishing a primary infection from which the 

 disease may spread in the seed-bed. 



Control. Collect as far as possible and burn refuse from a diseased crop. Select 

 clean soil for a seed-bed. Spray with Bordeaux mixture as soon as the seedlings are 

 up, and repeat weekly until transplanted. Continue in the field if necessary. It is 

 best not to store attacked plants. If this is unavoidable the attacked leaves should 

 be first stripped off. The cellar must be cool and well ventilated. 



EARLY BLIGHT (Cercospora apii). 



Much like the last in general appearance, but the fungus shows different charac- 

 teristic's under a lens. Xot so common and destructive with us as the last, and not 

 causing the storage rot. The treatment given above will also control this disease. 



HEAKT-BOT. 



The inner parts of the blanched plant become affected with a soft pale-brown 

 rot. Apparently similar to the bacterial soft-rot which attacks so many vegetables. 

 Due partly to excess of moisture. Plants should not be earthed up when wet. If 

 boards are used for blanching, an interval of several days should be allowed to elapse 

 from first putting them up until they are finally closed up. This allows some of the 

 excess of moisture to escape. 



