248 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



many speculations have been advanced as to its 

 cause, but not one entirely satisfactory. Some say 

 it is because the ground is cultivated — but they 

 also blight in grass land. Some think it is because 

 we use too much animal manure; but trees that have 

 never had any manure blight also. Others think 

 it is owing to our severe winters ; but if this is so 

 it seems strange that one tree should blight while 

 another of the same kind standing beside it should 

 entirely escape." 



" The late A. J. Downing thought it was caused 

 by a severe winter following a damp, warm autumn. 

 The wood in this case is immature, and while the 

 winter might not kill the wood at once it might so 

 affect the sap and sap vessels that the tree would 

 blight the next year. This is very plausible." 



" I have been thinking lately that it might have 

 been caused by a fungus taken up by the roots. 

 The Rev. Mr. Berkley mentions several cases in 

 which plants have been diseased in this way. If 

 this should prove to be the case, we shall soon 

 discover a remedy. For myself, I mean to try a 

 heavy dressing of lime this fall, — say 150 to 200 

 bushels per acre. A light dressing would not do 

 much good. It is a well known fact that since 

 artificial manures have to a great extent taken the 

 place of lime in England, diseases of all kinds have 

 been more common." 



^' " If it is caused by a fungus, the diseased 

 branches should be immediately cut off and burnt. 

 If left on the ground the spores may be washed 

 into the soil and extend the disease next year." 



"Smut in wheat is known to be caused by a fungus 

 that attaches itself to the seed and is taken up into 

 the circulation of the plant. Pickling the seed 

 with salt water and drying it with lime kills the 

 spores of the fungus, and thus prevents the disease. 

 Clover sickness, whioh is so troublesome in Eng- 

 land, is now supposed by some to be caused by a 

 fungus. So is 'fingers and toes' in turnips and 

 cabbages, and so also is the potato disease. Why 

 not the blight in the pear ? and if so, may we not 

 discover a remedy ? " 



" It is pleasant to watch the cabbages, cauli- 

 flowers and celery grow this warm, rainy weather. 

 Here is one row of oelery much better than the 

 others, and for no other reason except that more 

 care was taken in preparing the trench. The 

 bottom spit was thrown out and the surface soil 

 put at the bottom. It is two feet high, and needs 

 earthing up." 



" Perhaps celery will grow larger if not earthed 

 up till it has nearly reached its growth, but it will 



not be so sweet and tender. Better earth up re- 

 peatedly as it grows, cutting off the suckers and 

 being careful to keep the soil from the center of 



the plants." 



" Melons are growing nicely. Some fruit is 

 already set, and it is time to pinch in the runners." 



" Tomatoes never looked better. They are too 

 good. I gave them a good feed of superphosphate 

 when they were set out and a little peppering oi 

 sulphate of ammonia since. The latter makes the 

 vines grow. The former I thought would favoi 

 early maturity. I think so still, but I fear I hav( 

 got on a little too much ammonia, especially if w< 

 have much rain. The vines are four feet higl 

 already, and there are tomatoes larger than a hen'i 

 egg. I have mulched them with the clippings o 

 the lawn to keep the fruit clean. It will probabb 

 be necessary to pinch in the tops." 



" One thing is certain. Superphosphate is goo< 

 for beets. Here are some over four inches throng] 

 and sweet as a nut, and tender as — Champion c 

 England peas." 



Preserving Dahlia Tubers. — A correspond en 

 of the " Journal of Horticulture and Cottage Gai 

 dener," writes as follows : " May I be permitted t 

 offer a simple suggestion relative to the preserve 

 tion of Dahlia roots during winter ? Though can 

 fully dried before storing away in the autumn, 

 used continually to lose them by the rotting of th 

 crown, till at length the idea one day occurred i 

 me that the mischief was occasioned through tl 

 decay of the long stalk left attached to the tubers 

 this becoming partially charged with fluid kept tl 

 crown constantly wet. My remedy has been n< 

 to leave more than four inches of stalk ; from th 

 to scrape the whole of the outer covering or bar] 

 and at the base to make a small opening whic 

 permits any watery deposit to escape. The resu 

 has been that I have preserved the whole of m 

 tubers, while experienced gardeners around n 

 have complained of loss, notwithstanding th; 

 every precaution from damp or frost had bet 

 taken." 



Horticulture at the Wssr. — The TLllnc 

 Farmer says the war is swallowing up all intere 

 in agriculture at the "West, but not so in fru 

 growing. The last spring has been a busy one 1 

 the tree planter, and, for about the first tim 

 brains, trees and muscles have been used, regai 

 has been paid to variety, form of tree, qualit; 

 preparation of soil, and, what is of immense in 

 portanee, shelter. 



