66 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



successful, is not the ne plus ultra of the science of growing 

 plants. We would not in the least disparage the most ex- 

 ceedingly valuable results of the work done by experiment 

 station workers and others in this direction. There can be 

 not the slightest doubt that millions of dollars' worth of fruit 

 and vegetables have been and will continue to be saved from 

 destruction by this means. But the fact remains that success 

 in growing plants, as in every other direction of human 

 industry, comes not from the observance of any laid down 

 rules and formulas, but rather is the reward of long experi- 

 ence, close application and intelligent skill. The triumph 

 of the gardener's art is the plant brought to perfection in 

 a natural, normal and healthy manner, and not that which 

 owes its existence to skill in doctoring. 



We will now briefly describe a few leaf-spot diseases which 

 have come to our notice and which have received little or no 

 public mention. The treatment which we have recommended 

 will apply of course to these and any other similar diseases. 



A Leaf Spot on Ficus elaslica (^India Rubber Plant). 

 (Lcptostroinella elastica. Ell. and Ev.). 



The rubber plant, which is used quite extensively for 

 ornamental purposes, on account of its large, dark-green 

 leaves, is not often attacked by disease. In our own houses 

 and also in other places in this State we have, however, 

 recently found plants affected by a serious spotting of the 

 leaves. The first indication of the disease is seen in the 

 leaf's turning in small spots or streaks, which rapidly in- 

 crease in extent, changing from yellow to a brownish color 

 and finally to an ashy gray, when the affected portion is 

 quite dead. At this stage the spots may include a large por- 

 tion of the leaf or only a small part of it. There is often 

 more than one on a leaf, but never a large number. The 

 dead portion is sharply distinct from the living, and banded 

 by a narrow lilack margin. Upon its surface little black 

 dots appear, which are cavities containing the spores. The 

 spots keep increasing in extent, until the leaf finally loses 

 its vitality and falls from the plant. No plant more than 

 ficus shows the effect of such a disease as this, since its 

 handsome, dark-green leaves are its only ornamental feature. 



