373 



which may be the form in question, but in the absence of speci- 

 mens, the writer has no way of proving the point. 



Whether the form in question is a new species, in which case 

 it might be named Septoria Apii, or simply the above variety, is 

 unimportant. The fact remains that the presence of this disease 

 is noteworthy and it is therefore brought to the attention of my- 

 cologists. 



The fungus is described as follows : 



Spots amphigenous, white to tawny, irregular, becoming con- 

 fluent, the entire leaf finally wilting. Pycnidia black, innate, 

 scarcely erumpent, amphigenous, 74-100// in diameter, mostly 

 goM, globose-subglobose, loosely gregarious. Sporules hya- 

 line, curved-flexuose, 25-40 // X 2-2.5 M, apparently non-septate 

 or septulate, eguttulate, one end commonly attenuate. 



On leaves of cultivated celery. 



Blight of Watermelon Vines. 



For some years past growers of watermelons in the southern 

 part of Delaware have suffered badly from a disease which seems 

 heretofore to have escaped the notice of mycologists. 



During the present season a noted grower in this section ex- 

 perienced almost a complete failure of his crop through the same 

 trouble. The malady was not brought to my notice until rather 

 late in the season, and hence it was difficult to make the extend- 

 ed field observations which would be advisable. 



Present observations have demonstrated, however, that the 

 trouble is due to a parasitic fungus, most destructive in its habit, 

 and capable of widespread financial disaster wherever it gains 

 foothold. Young plants, 10 feet or less in length, attacked by 

 the fungus, generally go down completely, while older plants suf- 

 fer through the more or less complete destruction of their foliage 

 and other tender parts of the vine, preventing completely the fur- 

 ther development of the melon. Nor do the young fruit, up to 

 the size of marbles, and fruit buds escape, such parts turning 

 black, and finally developing the mature pycnidia of the fungus. 



In short, the disease attacks leaf, leaf stalk, stem, tendrils, 

 fruit buds and blossoms. It shows itself upon the leaves as 

 black, circular or irregular spots, marked by concentric ridges. 

 These spots increase in size and coalesce so as to cover a large 



