i9o6.] American Gooseberry Mildew. 



56e 



a cobwebby appearance, which soon becomes white and powdery 

 from the development of the light conidial spores. Later in 

 the season the leaves and other parts affected turn a rusty 

 brown. The fungus prevents the berry from growing, and the fruit 

 becomes worthless. During the summer therefore the disease 

 can easily be detected and the bushes can be dealt with accord- 

 ing to the extent of the disease. 



During the winter the disease remains dormant and will not 

 spread from plant to plant. During this period, however, it can 

 be conveyed from one district to another in bushes and stocks^ 

 It is clear that enormous and irreparable mischief may be done 

 in this way, and it is the duty of all nurserymen to take pre- 

 cautions not only for their own sake but for the sake of the 

 locality in which they live. 



The Board therefore urge all nurserymen and market gardeners 

 who intend to buy bushes or stocks of Ribes aureiun^ whether 

 from abroad or from Ireland or even from other growers in 

 Great Britain to observe the following precautions: — 



(1) . Only to purchase from those growers or dealers who are 

 prepared to offer a guarantee that the plants they are selling 

 are of their own growing, and that no case of American goose- 

 berry mildew has ever appeared in their gardens or in the 

 immediate neighbourhood, and that the said plants have not 

 been near any gooseberry plants recently brought on to the 

 seller's premises. 



(2) . To plant such gooseberry bushes or stocks as they may 

 buy, or acquire from ether premises than their own, in a special 

 part of their nursery or garden at some distance from other 

 gooseberry bushes. 



(3) . To destroy all plants found to be affected with the 

 mildew, and to spray with Bordeaux mixture all others sus- 

 pected of being infested, with the object of destroying any 

 external mycelium or adhering spores that may be present. 

 This should be carried out when the disease is dormant. 



(4) . To keep a careful watch on all gooseberry plants in the 

 forthcoming spring for any signs of mildew, and to report any 

 appearance suggestive of the disease immediately it is detected^ 

 to the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 

 4, Whitehall Place, London, S.W. 



