Dec. 1894.] 



mjURlOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 



203 



Mangel and Beet Rust. Vromyces hetce, Persoon. 

 Fig. 1. 



Rusted Leaf , natural aize, Musted Leaf, magnified ( x 10). 



This is not an uncommon rust on mangel wurzels and beets 

 in this country. It is also common in France, Germany, and 

 other European countries, and in America and Canada. It is 

 not generally noticed by farmers here, nor considered to be of 

 much harm to the mangel crop ; probably because its nature 

 and its action upon the plants are not realised. Yet if it is 

 thick upon the leaves, as it has been in some seasons, and 

 especially in the last, it must cause serious injury. The fungus 

 lives upon its host — the mangel wurzel, sugar beet, and garden 

 beet — just as the wheat rust, Puccinia graminis, lives upon 

 and injures the wheat plant, and must consequently hinder the 

 full growth and ultimate development of tlie crop. 



In the last season there was a great deal of rust upon mangel 

 plants in many parts of the country. It was especially rife in 

 the South Eastern counties, and in some fields reduced the yield 

 considerably. In one instance in East Kent, it was estimated 

 that a crop upon a considerable acreage was decreased by 1 1 tons 

 ]>er acie, according to the estimate of the grower, who stated 

 that up to a certain time this was the finest field of mangels in 

 the district ; but it fell off rapidly when the rust spread over the 

 leaves of the plants. Fields of mangels were noticed in which 

 the rust was worse upon poor spots, as well as in wet, weedy 

 corners and outsides. Now and then a field was seen in which 

 almost every leaf was spotted with rust which extend.ed even 

 to the stems. The mangel crop has disappointed a good many 

 persons this year, and this was due no doubt in a considerable 

 degree to the wet weather ; but rust also tended to hinder the 

 bulbs from attaining full size, in many cases. 



The Vromyces hetce attacks mangels on the Continent and in 

 America and Canada. It is also very injurious to sugar beets 

 in France, Germany, and the United States, by affecting the 

 foliage and decreasing the amount of sugar in the bulbs. 



This fungus is also frequently found upon garden beet, whose 

 bulbs it causes to be small, malformed, and fibrous. It has been 

 very plentiful upon these plants during the last summer and 

 autumn, and in many market ^ardens^ and gardens, materially 

 injured the crop. 



