A Study of Meadow-Crop Diseases in New York 



13 



According to the estimates of Callander and his associates (1927:991), 

 which are the most recently available data, the farmers of the country 

 received an average of $14.52 a ton for clover hay and $13.52 a ton for 

 alfalfa during 1926. Since the hay prices have not varied widely through 

 recent years, these prices are considered satisfactory for 1928 in New York 

 State. On this basis New York growers actually lost approximately 

 $2,515,000 in 1928 because of disease in their clover ai d $645,000 on alfalfa, 

 making a loss of approximately $3,160,000 on these two hay crops alone. 



This loss came from leaf spots only and does not take into consideration 

 such diseases as anthracnose, powdery mildew, and root rots, which 

 undoubtedly do much additional damage in the State. 



From table 3 it appears that Pseudopeziza leaf spot, anthracnose, and 

 Macrosporium leaf spot are the most serious diseases of red clover in the 

 State. Cercospora leaf spot, rust, and Pseudoplea leaf spot attack alsike 

 severely, while Pseudoplea leaf spot and rust seem to be worse on white 

 clover. Among the diseases of alfalfa, Pseudopeziza leaf spot and 

 Stagonospora leaf spot are most destructive. 



The diseases observed on grasses and miscellaneous suscepts are brought 

 together in table 4. 



TABLE 4. Summary of Meadow-Crop-Disease Records, Grasses 



* Sixty-four-fields basis for Cercospora estimate, 93-fields basis for the others, 

 t Apparently a new record for the State. 



From table 4 it appears that timothy is most severely attacked by 

 Cercospora leaf spot and next by Heterosporium leaf spot. Cercospora 

 leaf spot is also destructive on orchard grass, while Helminthosporium 

 leaf spot is the most ruinous disease affecting blue-grass. 



The miscellaneous, or rare, diseases or fungi that the survey revealed on 

 legumes and grasses are as follows, the apparently new records being 

 marked with an asterisk (*). On red clover: * Stagonospora leaf spot, 

 sooty blotch, * bacterial leaf spot, powdery mildew, * girdle, and * gray 



