1909.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 53 



Some trouble was experienced with tulip bulbs, but there 

 seemed to be uo infectiou, and the trouble was apparently as- 

 sociated with a poor grade of bulbs on the market this season. 

 The peach leaf curl was more or less abundant in the spring, 

 and much complaint was also received in regard to sweet peas. 

 The diseases affecting sweet peas are obscure and need investi- 

 gation. There was considerable mildew on phlox, which was 

 in some cases associated with other difficulties, the cause of 

 which is not as yet clearly established. A few cases of straw- 

 berry winter-killing were observed ; these may have been asso- 

 ciated in some cases with a bacterial trouble. Specimens of 

 blackberries and raspberries were sent in which showed cane 

 blight. Crown gall was re]3orted on the peach and Carolina 

 poplar, and we received specimens of the latter affected with 

 Didy7nosphwria populina, Vuill. Some diseased specimens of 

 Shortia galacifolia were sent in affected with a fungus, probably 

 a Gloeosporium. The Baldwin fruit spot was quite common in 

 the fall ; this seems to be more abundant in dry seasons. A 

 serious Macrosporium disease of the spinach was also found to 

 be doing severe damage to the crop of one of our large market 

 gardeners. 



Our attention was called at different times to the bacterial 

 blight and the downy mildew of cucumbers under glass. These 

 occur when the plants are set in August, but not if set later. 

 Among amateur growers of greenhouse products the misuse of 

 fertilizers is on the increase, and many troubles result from 

 applying fertilizers to soil already well provided with plant 

 foods. Many onion fields suffered severely from sun scald, 

 which in some cases was associated with thrips and in others 

 not. Corn smut, which is generally of minor importance with 

 us, was unusually abundant this year, the dry weather appar- 

 ently favoring it, and the apple rust, which is seldom seen in 

 Massachusetts, was common, although it caused little damage. 



The burning of the white pine was much less severe than 

 during the preceding summer. Most of the burning which did 

 occur took place on the young buds in the spring, and as they 

 developed these brown areas might be noticed on the tips. The 

 usual fungi frequently found on the leaves were present, but no 

 instances of infection were observed, Frequent examination of 



