SPECIAL REPORT FOR YEAR. 47 



in a very limited area. An application of strong lime-sulphur 

 just before the buds open, tjhe same as is used for scale insects, 

 will control it. Bordeaux mixture or even a solution of 2 

 pounds of copper sulphate dissolved in 50 gallons of water, and 

 used as a spray at the same time will also act as a preventive. 



Diseases of Field and Garden Crops. 



Certain diseases of field and garden crops observed last year 

 are worthy of special mention. The leaf spot of the beet seems 

 to be very common and widespread in the State, and no doubt 

 does much damage. One case was noted at Orono where the 

 same disease was quite injurious to Swiss chard, although 

 it is claimed by those who have studied the subject that this 

 plant is seldom affected to a serious extent. 



On beet leaves the spots are at first very small brown specks 

 with reddish purple borders. When the spots reach a diameter 

 of one-eighth inch or more they turn ashen gray at the center 

 but the border remains purple as long as the blade continues 

 green. After a time the leaves blacken and dry up gradually 

 froim tip to base. These leaves stand more nearly upright than 

 the healthy ones and are somewhat curled or rolled. The older 

 and more mature leaves are attacked and killed first. 



Leaf-spot of the beet can be controlled by bordeaux mixture, 

 but to do so it is important to begin spraying early. 



Late blight of celery is a relatively new disease in the United 

 States, and has very recently made its appearance in Maine, 

 It has not been considered a serious malady in Europe, but judg- 

 ing from an outbreak in an Orono market garden in the sum- 

 mer of 1913 it may prove serious here, for it ruined the crop 

 in this instance. 



The attacked plants are covered by irregular rusty brown 

 spots more or less in the center of which, after the spots begin 

 to turn brown, may be seen little dark colored bodies imbedded 

 in the diseased tissues. These are the fruiting organs of the 

 fungus. No experiments have been tried at this Station for 

 the control of this disease,, but it is claimed that in the field 

 early spraying with bordeaux mixture or ammoniacal copper 

 carbonate is the most effective means of combatting it. There 



