PLANT DISEASES DUE TO FUNGI. 43 



It is by no means so difficult a disease to control as the Brown 

 Rot of fruit trees, but the methods adopted are generally quite 

 inadequate. 



I have seen excellent results where close pruning has been carried 

 out in the autumn, and the prunings and all fallen fruit burnt ; followed 

 by spraying with ilb. of sulphate of copper to 25 gallons of water, and 

 as soon as the leaves are out, spraying twice or more with Bordeaux 

 mixture, viz., 6 Ibs. of sulphate of copper, 3 Ibs. of quicklime, and 100 

 gallons of water. If this treatment were carefully carried out by fruit 

 growers for a season or two, the cracked, scabby and unsightly fruit 

 so common at present, would be a thing of the past, and instead of 

 the crop forming food for the pigs or being sold at two shillings or 

 less per bushel, it would fetch good prices, much to the grower's 

 benefit. 



Both the disease and its remedy are now well known, and it 

 remains entirely with the grower if the former has to be eradicated. 



GOOSEBERRY SCLEROTINIA. 



Sclerotinia fuckeliana (De Bary). 



In Worcestershire this disease has been reported by many 

 growers. 



It usually makes its appearance on the base of the stem, the 

 mycelium of the fungus penetrating the bark, cortex, and soft wood. 

 Later, the bark cracks and falls off, leaving the stock naked. In 

 the meantime the little greyish patches of mould give rise to spores, 

 which spread to all parts of the plant, attacking branches, leaves, 

 and fruit. 



Frequently a bush attacked in the previous year dies on the 

 re-appearance of the disease in the following year. 



PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



All dead or seriously diseased bushes should at once be removed 

 and burnt. 



If the disease is noticed on the leaves or stems after the fruit has 

 set, the bushes should be sprayed with Bordeaux Mixture, made 

 according to the following formula : 



Sulphate of Copper ... ... 4 Ibs. 



Quicklime ... ... ... 4 Ibs. 



Water ... ... ... 50 gallons. 



