109 
Fig. 1, Leaf of tea plant showing the pale — formed by 
sý us blig ht” (Pestalozzia Guepini) ; nat. ; 
through a auae of the fruit of the fungus; x 199. Figs. 3 & 4, 
Peers of the fungus; x 400. Fig. 5, Conidia germinating ; 
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BLISTER BLIGHT. 
(Exobasidium vexans, Massee). 
The amount of injury caused by this parasite, along with an 
interesting account of its general appearance and mode of ^» 
thered from the following account by Dr. Wat 
* One he very worst blights on tea is known to en Wes as 
Blister "B ght. At ed it seemed to me as es this might prove a 
species of blister mite (Phytoptus), but I a now disposed to 
regard it as a fungus, and possibly a oA of Exoascus or 
of leaves ake well-form M cireular blisters, also the further 
stages of the blisters appearing hairy fander ae sone ang others 
turned quite black. The history of the dis mewhat 
striking. It t invariably appears on tea E kas pe Seca pruned 
in the autu About April it extends to the pruned tea, which 
has by d come into leaf. At first it looks like a minute pink 
Spot, which, on being viewed through the leaf, is seen to be 
surrounded by a pale margin. This widens, and the upper 
surface of the leaf at this point becomes depressed into a oiana 
pit that appears shining and moist. Sia under urinae loo 
üke a wart of a white, wo olly appeara These warts, as Rees 
Le o suite together and invade the ae until ihe whole of 
the affected parts shrivel up. The woolly surface of the ms 
Eu seems to be covered with white filaments, but I could never 
detect these as bearing spores. Shortly after this the leaves and. 
shoots turn quite black, and fall to the ground. At this stage the 
tea plantation looks as if it had been burned. ave seen 
hundreds of acres completely ruined in this manner. But in two 
months or so, new shoots appear, and the blight is not seen again, 
asa rule, till next spring, and even then spasmodically, and where 
unpru uned tea exists. It was very bad in the spring of 1895, and 
in 1897 I could not discover a bush with this blight in the very 
gardens where, at the time of my first visit, all operations had 
been completely stopped by it 
view entertained by Dr. Watt as to the fungous nature of 
the naati proved to be correct, microscopic examinatiou showing 
-ìt to be an undescribed species of na neci possessing 
features vd interest from the = neca al standpoint, more 
ls soris nie igi the spongy jer us of the leaf ee 
situated Within the area occupied by the mycelium of the fungus. 
