FUNGI AFFECTING SEEDLINGS AND 

 CUTTINGS 

 The Damping=off Fungus 



Pytliium BeBaryanum 



The malady known as daniping-off " is familiar to 

 all experienced gardeners. It affects the seedlings and 

 cuttings of a great yariety of plants in the propagating 

 bed. It appears oftenest when the soil surface is damp^ 

 the temperature high and the sky clouded. ^'Its first 

 appearance is indicated by a slight paleness and droo})- 

 ing of the seedlings. If these be carefully remoyed^ 

 it will be seen that the root^ either throughout its lengthy 

 or in portions^ is beginning to shrink and decay, and 

 that the root hairs are destroyed. Later, if the plant is 

 not yigorous enough to resist tne fungus and to put 

 forth secondary roots, the disorganization of the tissue 

 extends to the stem, resulting ultimately in the toppling 

 oyer of the plant and its thorough decay, although, in 

 some instances, the plant remains green for some days 

 after falling. This extends from one plant to another, 

 until only a few or none of the seedlings in a bed may 

 be left."* The plants attacked and the soil between 

 them becomes more or less coyered with the mildew-like 

 growth of the fungus mycelium. Eecent inyestigations 

 indicate that the fungus gains entrance to the plants 

 through the roots. 



Treatment. — According to Mr. T. W. Galloway, 

 of Haryard Uniyersity, the fungus may be destroyed by 



*T. W. GaUoway. 



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