PESTS OF ORCHARD AND FRUIT GARDEN. 



29 



Fig Anthracnose. 

 Glceosporium fructigenum (Berk.), PI. X. fig. 4. 



In the year 1864 certain Fig orchards in Sussex were attacked by a 

 disease, so that the whole crop became more or less affected, and the 

 fruits dropped off before they were ripe. On this occasion the fungus 

 appeared as a circular patch of little pustules, which were destitute of 

 any common receptacle, but constituted little cavities which contained a 

 mass of minute hyaline elliptical sporules, or conidia, enclosing a small 

 nucleus at each extremity. When matured the walls of the cell con- 

 tracted, and the sporules were forced out from an opening at the apex in 

 the form of little tendrils. 



We have referred to this same disease previously as attacking Apples, 

 and must revert to it for any additional information. 



Gard. Ghron. 1856, p. 215, Aug. 27, 1864 ; Mass. PI. Dis. p. 281 ; 

 Cooke Hdbk. No. 1411. 



Fig-tree Canker. 

 Libcrtella ulcer ata (Mass.). 



This is a disease which has recently been recognised as causing 

 cracking and canker in the bark of Fig trees and shelling off large patches 

 as the disease progresses. 



The fruit of the fungus is produced within minute cavities of the bark, 

 and the very small conidia ooze out to the surface like fine hairs, which 

 are composed of conidia stuck together by a tenacious gluten which 

 becomes dissolved by moisture and liberates the exceedingly small conidia. 

 These conidia obtain an entrance into the bark through wounds, and 

 thus the disease is spread. 



It is recommended that all wounded surfaces should be coated with 

 tar at once. By no means should any knife be used in pruning or 

 trimming which has been employed in cutting out diseased parts until it 

 has been cleaned and disinfected, as a knife with adhering germs has 

 been known to infect a healthy tree. 



Gard, Mag. July 23, 1898, fig. ; Mass. PI. Dis. 292. 



Fig Grey Mould. 

 Botrytis cinerea (Pers.). 



Only recently we have been made acquainted with the serious injury 

 inflicted on green Figs by the attacks of a grey mould, which it is difficult 

 to distinguish specifically from Botrytis cinerea. The mould appears in 

 grey velvety patches at the apex of the fruit, being preceded by a soften- 

 ing and rotting appearance of the tissues, which are soon reduced to a 

 pulpy mass. No trace of sclerotia has yet been observed. 



The sterile hyphas are creeping, interwoven ; the fertile are erect, 

 gregarious in broad patches, of a greyish colour, either simple or sparingly 

 branched, with several short simple or divided branchlets near the apex, 

 septate, a little constricted at the septa, smoky-brown (about 12-14 f.i 



