1908.] Insect, Fungus and other Pests. 



689 



Infested material has been fed to young cattle, horses and other 

 stock without any injurious effect, except that the horses were 

 found to cough from the tickling induced in their throats by the 

 mites. The mites should be swept together and destroyed by 

 boiling water or paraffin. Infested rooms should be fumigated 

 with sulphur. If troublesome in a loft, whitewashing or wash- 

 ing out with paraffin emulsion would be useful. 



Fungi. — Specimens of black currant leaves were received 

 from Hailsham and Ipswich, and were found to be affected with 

 Cronartium ribicola, Dietr., one of the hetercecismal uredines. 

 The alternating aecidial condition of this fungus develops on 

 living bark of the Weymouth pine (Pinus Strobus). As the 

 uredo- and teleuto-spore phases are produced on currant leaves, 

 it is highly probable that this condition of the fungus does 

 not necessarily depend for its continuance on the intervention 

 of the secidium condition on the Weymouth pine. Under any 

 circumstances infection of currant leaves can only be effected 

 while they are still quite young, and as currant leaves are not 

 injured by fungicides, spraying when the foliage is quite young 

 with half-strength Bordeaux mixture should prevent infection. 

 Diseased leaves should be collected and burned. The aecidium 

 stage appears in the form of irregular, dull, orange, powdery 

 masses bursting through the bark of the Weymouth pine. 



Hollyhock Rust. — Hollyhock leaves from Ipswich were 

 affected with the well-known Hollyhock Rust, caused by the 

 fungus Puccinia malvacearum, Mont. It is most important to 

 collect and destroy by burning all the diseased leaves, leaf- 

 stalks, &c, so as to reduce as much as possible the chances of 

 infection in the spring. During the growing season the plants 

 should be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture, care being taken 

 to spray the underside of the leaves. It has been ascertained 

 that when the carpels are attacked by the fungus, the seeds 

 produce diseased seedlings. 



Diseased Willows. — Willow shoots which were received from 

 Berkhampsted were attacked by Peniophora ochracea, Mass. 

 This fungus is only known as a saprophyte, and it doubtless 

 attacked the shoots after they had succumbed to some other 

 influence. The nature of the latter was not apparent from the 

 material and data supplied. 



Diseased Plums. — Plum trees at Cambridge were attacked 



