1909.] Insect, Fungus, and other Pests. 



35 



growers are not as fully alive to the losses they incur as they 

 might otherwise be. With the object of ascertaining whether 

 the nature of the soil affected the spread of this disease in 

 any way, the Board made a few inquiries in districts where 

 the fungus was said to be prevalent. The results were not 

 reassuring. Gardens in Huntingdonshire on light loams, as 

 well as others on gravel, were seriously affected, while gar- 

 dens in Cambridgeshire situated in stiff white clay were 

 equally diseased. In Herefordshire the disease is found on 

 heavy soils, mostly of Lias clay origin, and in Kent it is 

 found on all kinds of ground. It has been suggested that 

 it is due to imperfect drainage, but as far as has been ascer- 

 tained up to the present, the bushes on well-drained land are 

 as liable to attack as on other kinds of soil. One report states 

 that a certain grower in Kent — an educated man — declared 

 that in a certain spot in his garden bushes were always 

 attacked. Young, strong bushes were planted when the dead 

 were removed, but even these were killed in due course. All 

 round this spot, however, which is some four to five yards 

 square, the bushes were healthy and strong. The drainage, 

 shade, &c, were uniform throughout the garden. This 

 evidence is not, however, borne out by other growers, who 

 have planted with success healthy bushes on the same site 

 as bushes killed by the fungus. Reports from Huntingdon- 

 shire say that only "one-legged" bushes are attacked, but 

 this is not confirmed in Kent. Further investigation is 

 required and specimens of bushes so affected should be sent 

 to the Board for examination, together with a full report of 

 the conditions under which they have been grown. Some 

 cause may thus be discovered to explain why a fungus, 

 which, judging from its affinities, is not a rampant parasite, 

 though ready doubtless to attack an already enfeebled host, 

 should be so widespread in England and the source of so 

 much injury. 



Ghost Moth, — A specimen of carrot badly attacked by 

 the larva of the Ghost moth (Hepialus humuli) was for- 

 warded to the Board from Southend-on-Sea. The corre- 

 spondent reported that the caterpillars had proved very 

 destructive to his crop, and that he had frequently turned 

 them up with the spade whilst digging a new plot for 



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