30 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JULY 
nearby bay and ocean is abundant; heavy dews are frequent in 
summer and remain until late in the forenoon. The soil here is 
also more like the typical eastern asparagus soils, being of a light 
sandy nature, drying excessively in summer unless irrigated, which 
can be easily accomplished from artesian wells. 
In both these districts the aecidial stage of the 
asparagus rust is extremely abundant in spring, fol- 
lowing the winter rains, the condition shown in jig. 2 
being of ordinary occurrence in large areas. As the 
season progresses, this is 
followed at Milpitas with 
the usual development of 
the rust about as seen in 
the east; the aecidia are 
followed by an epidemic 
of uredo on the main cut- 
ting beds, which kills the 
tops quite generally and 
turns finally into black 
Tust as a final stage. In 
_,, the river country the prog- 
Fic. 7.—Aecidi- ‘ : 
al patch checked TeSS Of the disease is not 
by lack of atmos- so regular. As the season 
theric moisture. changes from moist spring 
to dry summer, the effect 
shown in fig. 7 becomes 
evident. This is an aecid- 
ial patch upon a young stalk which started 
in the usual manner, but as the air became 
drier and dews less abundant its develop- 
ment was checked. Soil moisture was 
abundant, but it is seen from this not only 
that the fungus requires atmospheric moist- 
ure for its Spore-germination, but that a o2 
Certain degree is also needed for the divi on cee 
development of Spores from the aecidial ing spores; plant green and 
atches. At i ne . vigorous. Bouldin Island, 
pé this stage the mycelium is July 98, i607. 
