THE GARDEN BOOK OF CALIFORNIA 



of insects where they may be expected, and fungoid growths 

 and mildew can often be averted by drying out the soil, dig- 

 ging it up to let in more oxygen, and otherwise "keeping 

 things sweet." 



TREATMENT OF PLANT DISEASES 

 It would be impossible in a work of this character to de- 

 scribe very minutely the various plant diseases. Generally 

 speaking Californians have not suffered a great deal from 

 epidemics of disease among plants. Where Eastern growers 

 have, for instance, several types of disease in carnation cul- 

 ture, we in California are said to have but one. This is dis- 

 cerned by the appearance of small dark spots at the base of 

 the leaves, which will occasionally turn black. Where ad- 

 vanced, the only remedy is to root out the plant and bum; 

 but early in the season the use of Bordeaux Mixture de- 

 scribed elsewhere in this chapter will cure and prevent the 

 spread. Rose rust will find its way as well into the garden 

 and may also be treated with Bordeaux Mixture success- 

 fully. Indeed for nearly all of the fungi diseases the Bor- 

 deaux Mixture is the only necessary treatment. A myste- 

 rious disease has affected the La France rose for a number of 

 years, but no pathologist has yet been able to offer a remedy 

 or even to completely diagnose the disease. 



It would be impossible to describe the different forms 

 that these parasitic fungi take upon different plants, but the 

 best means of averting trouble is to prevent the attacks. 

 Fallen leaves from plants which have been attacked by fungi 

 should be gathered and burned, and all diseased wood 



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