622 Insect, Fungus and other Pests. [Jan., 



chalk downs, and on which " Anbury " or " Finger-and-Toe " 

 is unknown. Quite 75 per cent, of the crop was affected. 

 The branching and malformation of the thickened base have 

 been caused by the arrest of the growth of the primary stem. As 

 a result the swollen base became branched, each branch pro- 

 ducing a tuft of leaves. No " Anbury " or other fungus parasite 

 was present. It is impossible to say what was the cause of 

 the arrest of the growth of the first crown of leaves, but in the 

 maj ority of instances it is due to the work of an insect early in 

 the season. The Board have been informed that " the plants 

 did go off a bit after they were visible " early in the season, 

 and when they were seen in the rows " they hardly moved 

 for three weeks." This points in the direction of the turnip 

 fly or some other insect that attacks the plant about the same 

 stage. 



Diseased Honeycombs. — From near Holm wood (Surrey) the 

 Board received between the end of October and early in 

 November several specimens of honeycomb for examination. 

 One specimen showed undoubted traces of foul brood (Leaflet 

 No. 32). In another comb the fault appeared to be chilled 

 and mildewed brood, an indication that the stock was a very 

 weak one, and unable to make its way in the untoward condi- 

 tions prevalent during the season of 1907. The same comb 

 showed evidence of the ravages of the wax moth. In regard to 

 a further specimen, the Board were advised that the loss of the 

 stock was apparently caused by starvation. The cells were very 

 dry and did not seem to have been occupied for a considerable 

 time. The bees should have been supplied with food during 

 the breeding season when outside nutriment was unavailable, 

 as in the past season. 



Abnormal Tomatoes. — Tomatoes forwarded from Melrose 

 showed scattered hard green patches which refused to ripen. 

 This condition of things has been proved to be due to a lack of 

 potash in the soil. Sulphate of potash, crushed and sprinkled 

 0 ver the soil at the rate of 1 oz. per square yard (say 2| cwts. 

 per acre), has proved beneficial. 



Diseased Gooseberry Shoots. — Specimens of gooseberry 

 bushes from Maidstone were found to bear minute black 

 dots scattered over the shoots. These dots were the micro- 

 sclerotia of Cladosporium epiphyllum, Fr, a saprophyte growing 



