PESTS OF THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



375 



of Senecio. Occasionally the same species makes its appearance in gardens 

 on the leaves of cultivated species of the same genus, such as Senecio 

 pulchcr and S. sarracenicus. 



Theorists tell us that the aecidiospores of this pest are produced on the 

 leaves and twigs of certain conifers, which, not heing garden flowers, may 

 here be excluded. Even the believers are a little sceptical, for Plowright 

 says : " I have had so many failures in infecting Senecio vulgaris with 

 the a?cidiospores from Fir trees that I think there must be more than one 

 species." 



The pustules of the Uredo are reddish yellow, soon becoming paler and 

 powdery. Uredospores shortly catenulate, or growing in chains, then 

 separating, elliptical, ovoid (20-40 x 14-26 ju), warted, orange. After- 

 wards teleutospores are said to be produced in other darker- coloured 

 pustules. Teleutospores cylindrical (110 /j. long), for the most part divided 

 transversely into four cells of an orange-red colour. 



We can suggest no remedy, except prevention, by keeping all wild 

 species of Ragwort at a distance and destroying infected plants, as the 

 garden forms are not apparently so susceptible to the disease. 



Universally diffused through Europe. 



Sacc. Syll. vii. 2633 ; Mass. PI. Dis. 261 ; Cooke M.F. 97, 218, 

 fig. 145, 146 ; Tubeuf. Dis. 374, fig. ; Plowr. Br. Ured. 240. 



Recently JEcidium Cinerarice has been detected in Austria on leaves 

 of Cineraria. 



Ptaemica Dot. 



Schizothyrium Ptarmicce (Desm.) 



Plants of Achillea Ptarmica are to be met with in old-fashioned 

 gardens, and the green leaves are liable to the attack of a special fungus. 



The leaves and stems are at first dotted over with the small black 

 points of Leptothyrium Ptarmica. These minute black receptacles con- 

 tain a number of oblong sporules, with an apparent central division 

 (10 x 6-7 n). This is regarded as an early and imperfect condition of a 

 more highly developed parasite, which resembles it in size and appearance, 

 and often grows in company with it. 



This latter, or Schizothyrium, came over from France with imported 

 plants many years ago. To the naked eye they look like fly spots, causing 

 no discoloration of the foliage. The receptacles are flattened and open on 

 the upper surface, enclosing minute ovoid sporidia (10 ^ long), enclosed in 

 asci, closely packed side by side in the interior. It has evidently a 

 perennial mycelium, since the dots or receptacles will continue to appear 

 on the same plant year after year for many years. The plants are stunted, 

 but not much disfigured by the parasite. 



The disease is known in France, Belgium, Germany, Finland, and 

 Siberia. 



Sacc. Syll. hi. 3379, ii. 5559. 



