128 THE CHRYSANTHEMUM 



tingency might arise in which this insect would have 

 to be reckoned with. Being forewarned we x can also 

 be forearmed. It is thus described by a Southern, 

 grower: "The body of the corythuca is about the size 

 of a black aphis, in color a dirty gray, with wings that 

 stand out, giving it the appearance of a small, woolly 

 sheep. It feeds altogether on the under side of the 

 leaf, congregating in colonies like the red spider, but 

 minus the web protection. When the plant is shaken 

 it flies to the ground but soon finds its way back to the 

 stem of the plant, and, ascending to a leaf, starts at 

 once the formation of- a new colony. If ever allowed 

 to get the upper hand it means ruination of the plants. 

 The touch of kerosene proves certain death to this 

 insect, therefore a thorough spraying of the under sides 

 of the leaves with a weak solution of kerosene emulsion 

 is a sure means of exterminating the pest." 



FUNGOUS DISEASES 



There are several of these that have to be reckoned 

 with, but, unlike insect pests, good cultivation goes a 

 long way toward conferring immunity from them. At 

 times, however, they will appear, although in a general 

 way there is usually some contributing cause underlying 

 the attack resultant from errors of treatment or of 

 neglect. The worst of these is that known as 



Rust. This is so called because the leaves develop 

 numerous pustules which, bursting, scatter a fine rusty 

 dust; in reality, the spores of the disease all over the 

 leaves, beside which the leaves are badly discolored and 

 disfigured by brown patches where the pustules formed. 

 This disease gave growers great concern when it first 

 appeared, and for a time it was thought it would exter- 

 minate the Chrysanthemum, but now that we have 

 come to a proper understanding of its nature and 



