11 
THE CHIEF DISEASES OF FRUIT-TREES, ALSO THE MOST 
PREVALENT FUNGOID AND INSECL BLIGHTS. 
ROOT FUNGUS (Lycoperdon gemmatum). 
This terrible pest may occasionally be met with in all parts of the 
colony, most frequently in rather dry fern lands. It attacks fruit-trees 
of every kind, but does not confine itself to trees ; ornamental shrubs, 
gooseberries, currants, box-edging, strawberries, and other herbaceous 
plants—even meadow-grass, rye-grass, and cocksfoot—are occasionally 
attacked, while troublesome weeds, such as sheep-sorrel, wireweed, and 
sow-thistle are not allowed to escape. Chains of hawthorn hedges, 
pines, oaks, cypresses, and other forest-trees have been killed by its 
ravages in the Waikato District. In the majority of instances, fruit- 
trees are attacked just when coming into bearing, or when they have 
been in bearing from two to four years, but trees from ten to fifteen 
years’ growth-are not exempt. It is most capricious in the selection 
of its victims; sometimes single trees in a hawthorn hedge are 
attacked ; at others, two or three together; or every tree may be 
killed for the distance of yards. In an orchard a single tree in a row 
may be visited, or every second or third tree, or the pest may travel 
the rows obliquely, or pass from one row to another in a most irregular 
and erratic manner. It is not easy to form an estimate of the loss 
occasioned by this destructive parasite: tree after tree, apparently 
in vigorous health and bearing, is suddenly stricken, withers, and dies. 
In the Hamilton and Cambridge Districts alone, the value of fruit- 
trees destroyed by this pest during the last four years must be esti- 
mated at not less than £4,000.* 
Even the youngest trees are not exempt from attack ; although its 
greatest ravages are effected amongst trees which are commencing to 
yield the grower a fair return for his outlay, time, and labour. On 
witnessing its effects in various localities in the Waikato, I was not 
surprised to find that it was regarded by the settlers with greater 
apprehension than any other disease to which fruit-trees are subject, 
not excepting the peach-blight. The frequent and extensive gaps 
caused by its ravages, and the certainty with which new plants are 
attacked when replacements are made, may well dishearten the most 
enthusiastic cultivator, and cause the gravest fears for the future. 
The first indication of the attack of the parasite is afforded by 
the leaves of the affected plant, which present a starved and drooping 
appearance ; ultimately they become discoloured and fall; but there 
is no external indication of the cause. On examining the roots they 
appear flecked with delicate white cottony-looking threads, which 
permeate the soil in all directions, and frequently form small matted 
patches resembling the fine mould often seen on stone-fruits. Hach 
thread consists of a delicate tube, and when a number of tubes become 
* After this report was sent to press, I was informed by Mr. G. Edgecombe, Secretary to the 
Waikato Horticultural Society, that the above sum does not by any means represent the value of 
fruit-trees destroyed during the period stated. 
