62 



ROSES 



parasite so saps the vitality and interferes 

 with the processes of growth that the leaves, 

 even if they were healthy in themselves, are 

 unable to perform their work. The fact is, 

 that the leaves are infested with the anthrac- 

 nose filaments, and soon after falling, if not 

 before, they w^ill show the spore formation of 

 the anthracnose fungus, Gloeosporium rosae. 

 In general appearance and habits of growth, 

 this fungus is quite similar to the one causing 

 the anthracnose of the raspberry; possibly it 

 is identical, and if so the presence of the one 

 is a menace to the host of the other. 



The rose plant is most likely to be attacked 

 while young, or at least it is to be presumed 

 that the young portions of a plant are most 

 susceptible. The attack is from without, 

 and the spores falling upon the surface of the 

 young, tender canes and leaves as well, there 

 germinate and produce, in a short time, an 

 affected spot. If this takes place in a cane, it 

 is natural to suppose that the portion above 

 the infested part will be girdled, in so far as 

 the attack is great, and this will interfere with 

 the direct support by the whole plant of the 

 part beyond the diseased place. Besides 

 this, the fungus spreads, and more rapidly, in 



