PESTS OF THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



37 



was first known in Chili in 1852, and in 1862 appeared at Melbourne, at 

 which time no Puccinia on malvaceous plants had been known in Europe 

 (Gard. Chron. Sept. 2, 1865). Afterwards it is heard of in the countries 

 named below. It reached Spain in 1869 and France in 1873. In the 

 latter year it was first heard of in the south and on the east coast of 

 England ; but it was not until afterwards that it was heard of in Bavaria, 

 then in Italy, and later in Germany. 



The pustules are round and firm, and are scattered over the leaves 

 and petioles, being at the first of a greyish flesh colour, and afterwards of 

 a reddish brown. They never become powdery, but the spores adhere 

 together in a compact mass. No fecidium or uredo has ever been found 

 associated with it, or suspected of any connection. The teleutospores are 

 spindle-shaped, gradually attenuated towards each extremity, but some- 

 times with the thickened apex rounded (35-75 x12-26//). A cross- 

 division in the centre separates them into two nearly equal cells. The 

 whole surface is smooth and the contents yellow-brown. The pedicels, or 

 footstalks, are long, firm, and persistent. The pustules often drop out 

 from the leaves and stems, leaving holes and scars. It is easy enough to 

 make these spores germinate in water. 



The area of distribution is a large one, and it is probably even greater 

 than we know. In Europe it was recorded in Britain, France, Portugal, 

 Switzerland, Germany, Bavaria, Austria, Italy ; in Eastern Africa, the 

 Cape of Good Hope, and Algeria ; in many parts of North America, and 

 in Chili, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Patagonia, and in Australia. 



No efforts were spared, when the disease was at its height, either to 

 eradicate or mitigate its evils, but with small success. One cultivator 

 was sanguine in the application of diluted Condy's fluid, which, it is 

 reported, caused the pustules to turn black and fall out, whilst the fluid 

 did no injury to the plants. 



It has been questioned whether the disease became hereditary, and 

 whether the germs were contained in the seeds. One nurseryman 

 affirmed that all their Hollyhock seeds exhibited in the seedlings when 

 growing this fungus on their first leaves. Three other cultivators 

 vouched for seeing young seedlings similarly affected, and the Rev. M. J. 

 Berkeley confirmed this view. 



Gard. Chron. Aug. 22, 1874, fig. 163 ; Nov. 11, 1882, fig. 106 ; Aug. 

 23, 1890, figs. S3-35 ; Sacc. Syll. vii. 2368 ; Mass. PL Dis. p. 252 ; 

 Grevillea, i. 41, ii. 137, iii. 41 ; Corda Icon. vi. t. i. f. 12 ; Cooke Fungi 

 Uses &c. p. 231 ; Tubeuf. Dis. 360, fig. ; Ploiur. Br. Ur. 212. 



Hollyhock Anthracnose. 

 Colletotrichum Althaa (South.), PI. II., fig. 43. 



It is not quite certain whether this disease has already made its 

 appearance amongst us, although it has for some time given considerable 

 trouble in the United States. Any part of the plant may be attacked, but 

 it is chiefly visible on the leaves. 



Large brown or smoky patches occur on the leaves, which increase in 

 size until the whole leaf is diseased or withered. On the petiole the 

 spots are light yellowish brown, becoming blackish and sunken. 



