95 



Onion Rtst, oh .Miiukw [ l'cnni(i'<iiiini sriihiijcitiiiiiii, I'no.). 



This disease has been ])arti<-nlarl.v bad in tlie vicinity of Xanaimo. It 

 attaclcs the leaves and very soon destroys all the plants in a bed. As soon as 

 the slightest sign of attack shows the iilants should be sprayed repeatedly with 

 fungieides. such as Bordeaux mixture. This may save the crop, but unless 

 taken early and persisted in. the chances are against success. Above all. 

 certain jirecautious should not be neglected, such as burning all tojis and refuse, 

 and since it is said that the spore.s of some fungous di.seases survive for long 

 periods in the ground, the best means of avoiding future troulile is to abandon 

 old onion land and grow the cro]) only upon fresh soil. Possibl.v liming the 

 onion beds and growing new croi)S on Ihem would have the effect of eventuall.v 

 getting rid of the spores. I should also recommend the spraying of the .soil 

 iif iild bi'ds with strong Bcu'dcaux mixture before it is dug. You can safely 

 use a very strong mixture, as high as twelve pounds of copper sulphate to 

 eight pounds of lime and ."o gallons of water, for spraying old beds. The 

 first appearance of this disease in the spring-time results from the presence 

 of the resting spores, which are produced iu the decaying leaves; hence it 

 natur.-ill.v follows that innnunity from this di.sease depends largely upon the 

 c:ire that has been bestowed the previous year on the collecting together 

 .■ind burning of the decayed foliage. 



Sti!.\wiii;i!hy LE.\r Blight. Fig. ISa. 



