PESTS AND DISEASES. 163 



Lily Disease. The stems, leaves, and flower buds of 

 the Madonna Lily (Lilium candidum) are frequently 

 attacked by a fungus which develops in the form of orange- 

 brown or buff specks, and in a short time either kills or 

 renders the foliage so unhealthy that they neither grow 

 nor flower properly. It is a disease which spreads quickly, 

 and appears to be difficult to eradicate. 



REMEDIES. It is utterly useless to try to cure plants that 

 are infected; the only thing to do in the interest of other 

 healthy plants in the garden is to up-root and burn both 

 bulbs and foliage. As a preventive remedy, spray the 

 plants once or twice during the season with a solution of 

 sulphide of potassium. Dissolve an ounce of sulphide of 

 potassium in & quart of hot water, and add water to make 

 two and a-half gallons of solution. 



Japanese Lily Disease. It sometimes occurs that 

 newly-imported bulbs of L. auratum and speciosum refuse 

 to grow; and, upon examination as to the cause, it is found 

 that they have become rotten. This is due to the bulbs 

 being infected with a fungus prior to exportation. The 

 disease develops in course of transmission of the bulbs to 

 this country, the packing together of so many bulbs in the 

 vessel facilitating the process. 



REMEDIES. The bulbs should be carefully examined 

 when purchased, and if the outer scales are badly dis- 

 coloured or decayed it is useless planting them; they 

 should be burnt. If only slightly attacked, remove the 

 infected scales and burn them, and then immerse the 

 bulbs in a one per cent, solution of salicylic acid for twenty 

 minutes before planting. Anyway, this is the advice of 

 that eminent expert in plant diseases, Mr. George Masse. 



Colchicum Smut. A fungus which forms oblong 

 patches of black mould on the leaves of Colchicums and 

 Muscaris, arresting growth, and finally killing the plants. 



M2 



