i84 DISEASES OF THE SWEET PEA 



roots were dwarfed, blackened as though 

 jurned, resembling the injury of Thielavia 

 •oot rot. Upon testing the soil it was 

 Found to be strongly alkaline. Hard wood 

 ishes, contain about 30 per cent caustic 

 iime and from 5 to 12 per cent potash. It 

 ivas the excess of both of these substances 

 ;hat made the soil so alkaline, the roots of 

 :he sweet peas becoming burned and inhib- 

 ting growth. This kind of injury could 

 )e considered purely physical; nevertheless 

 my injury which interferes with the nor- 

 nal functions of the parts of the plants 

 ilso results in a disturbance in its metabol- 

 sm, and is therefore considered as a physio- 

 ogical trouble. A remedy for this was 

 •ound in the use of acid phosphate, fol- 

 owed by a good drenching of water. This 

 lelped to neutralize the alkalinity and to 

 )alance the food rations in the soil. 



