Horticulture. 



(3.) We should pay attention to the proper rotation of crops, as it has been 

 found that planting the same crop too often encourages the disease, the disease being 

 spread by means of spores in the soil. 



(1.) We should be careful to weed and keep our crops clean, especially from 

 cruciferous weeds which will only help to propagate the disease. 



(5. ) Try if possible to let the infected plot lie fallow but clear of weeds ; this 

 remedy seldom fails to put an eud to the disease. 



(6.) Isolate the plot affected with the disease as it is very easily spread. In 

 fact, treat the plot infected like some spot infected with some infectious disease. The 

 infected soil can be easily carried to uninfected land by tools, cart wheels and in 

 numerous other ways. 



(7.) Be careful to pay great attention to the seed bed. Watch the young 

 plants, removing any infected so as to get healthy plants. Some fungicide may be 

 used preparatory to sowing, as sulphate of copper or Bordeaux mixture. 



Among particular remedies found suitable, dressing the soil with recently 

 slaked lime at the rate of 35 to 75 bushels per acre, considerably reduces if not pre- 

 vents the disease, as it has been found that club root seldom take place in a soil rich 

 in lime. This has been proved a useful remedy in Nuwara Eliya. 



In passing I do not think it out of place to mention a few other diseases due to 

 fungi which attack cabbages and cauliflower in Australia and Europe, and which 

 happily so far have not been known to our gardeners in Nuwara Eliya. Among root 

 diseases should be noted "Black Leg or Foot-rot " ( Phoma brassiccv)- A plant attacked 

 by this disease is readily recognised. The leaves have a sickly withered look, the 

 stem is shrivelled and the roots become rotten. On being pulled up the under- 

 ground parts show numerous little black points visible to the naked eye which con- 

 stitute the fructification of the fungus. 



Among leaf diseases should be noted White Rust "albugo Candida," a sort of 

 mould in the leaves which looks as if the leaves have been sprinkled with while wash, 

 (2) Ring Spot ( Sphairella brassicicola) is shown by circular patches of about g of an 

 inch in diameter, greeuish towards the margin and dirty from towards the centre, 

 covered with minute densely crowded black points : and lastly Putrefactive Mildew 

 ( Peronospora parasitica) is found on cabbages, cauliflower, turnips, radish and cress, 

 and is seen commonly on the nasturtium showing itself as a delicate white or greyish 

 mould on the under surface of the leaves, the affected parts usually appearing 

 yellowish and soon becoming dried and withered. This disease is formed by a fungus 

 belonging to the same division as the "potatoe disease fungus." Gardeners in Nuwara 

 Eliya should be on the look out for these diseases, which are sure to appear in time, 

 and promptly send any infected specimens to the Government Mycologist to report 

 on. Lastly, among insect pests the Black Grub, or " Cut- Worm" as it is known in 

 America has been and is a source of great annoyance to our gardeners. The grub is 

 itself the caterpillar of several different kinds of night flying moths. They carry on 

 their ravages in the night playing havoc among young plants, especially in the seed 

 beds where three-quarters of the plants are very often killed in a single night. 



To the Government Entomologist we are indebted for the following remedies 

 and precautions against this pest : — 



(1.) Mechanical means of prevention are the surest. These consist of placing 

 a tin cylinder round each young plant until it has outgrown its liability to be attacked. 

 We can make good use of empty jam and condensed-milk tins for this purpose. The 

 cheaper plan is to tie a roll of stout paper loosely round the stem of each plant before 

 placing it in the soil. 



