1899.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 38. 1.5.5 



could be readily referred to some abnormal features in con- 

 nection with nutrition, and an inquiry showed that the plants 

 had been heavily fertilized with Chili saltpetre. The same 

 treatment was applied by us to a perfectly health}^ John- 

 sonian lily, with the result that the same activity was shown 

 in the division of the leaf cells, which subsequently gave rise 

 to blisters or ragged eruptions identical with those described. 



A number of potted specimens of cyclamens grown by a 

 florist were also brought to our notice last winter, which 

 showed somewhat similiar peculiarities in the leaf. These 

 leaves were blistered, although in quite a different manner 

 from the Johnsonian lily mentioned above. There were no 

 ragged or lacerated eruptions or pustules on the cyclamens, 

 and the manner of blistering was quite different, although 

 it was evidently caused by over-feeding, or at least by inju- 

 dicious feeding, as it was found that the plants had l)een 

 heavily treated with nitrate of soda. 



A singular case of over-fertilizing or perhaps over-water- 

 ing was seen in some specimens of carnations sent in to us 

 by a gi'ower. AVe subsequently visited the greenhouse Avhere 

 they w^ere found, and had an opportunity of seeing these 

 abnormal plants in the benches, l)eside other plants of the 

 same variety that were not aft'ected. About fifty plants in 

 tliis house showed this trouble, and it was confined to the 

 most robust specimens of the variety known as the Edith 

 Foster, and in some instances to the Mrs. Fisher. The 

 characteristics of these diseased plants were whitish stems 

 and foliage, which were enlarged to al)out twice the size of 

 normal ones growing next to them. Repeated examinations 

 of the tissues of the aft'ected plants seem to show that there 

 was nothing the matter with them except what might be 

 expected from impro[)er nutritive conditions, such as might 

 be brought about by too nmch fertilizer or excessive water- 

 ing, which caused the plants to be stimulated abnormally in 

 their growi;h. In the spring the plants w^ere removed from 

 the greenhouse into fresh garden soil, but they failed to 

 recover. The same variety of carnations has already shown 

 similar symptoms this season. 



Injudicious use of fertilizers is nof; an nnconiiiion iii;ilfcr, 



