Dec. 1896.] INJURIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 28i> 



The system adopted in this cultivation is as follows : — Small 

 bulbs are planted which do not flower the first year, but, 

 remaining in the ground for two years longer, flower abundantly 

 during this period. After the second flowering there is a growth 

 of small bulbs from the old ones. The latter are taken up, and, 

 being of good size, are sold to gardeners : the small bulbs are 

 retained and planted again to produce flowers and bulbs in due 

 course. 



A large grower writes : " So far as I can tell, a bulb is attacked 

 after the flowering season, as I have never observed the plants to 

 look at all sickly during their green state ; but they seem to go 

 off afterwards as if by magic, whole beds becoming entirely 

 worthless." Another grower says that a "plot of snowdrops at 

 the end of two years did not show the slightest sign of disease, and 

 the foliage died bright and naturally ; but this spring not one in 

 a thousand put in an appearance ; only a stray bulb here and 

 there, and no sign whatever of the others. They had all rotted 

 and disappeared, leaving no trace behind. My experience is a 

 common one; all goes right for a time, and then the fatal 

 disease puts in an appearance, and the bulbs wholly disappear." 



Upon examination of affected bulbs it will be seen that at the 

 commencement of the attack there are brown, or chestnut-coloured, 

 marks under the dried skin, upon the outer folds of the bulb, 

 originating generally close above the root, and spreading upwards. 

 Gradually the inner folds are affected and the whole of the bulb 

 becomes brown ; the colour finally changes to b-ack, when 

 complete decay ensues. In some of the brown parts of a few 

 bulbs where decay was not complete, the branching filaments of 

 a fungus could be seen, exactly resembling those of Polyactis 

 (Botrytis) galanthina as described by Berkeley. It appeared, 

 however, that the active state of the fungus was practically over. 

 Mr. Wortbington G. Smith remarks that " it is never seen in 

 perfection till the early spring, when it attacks the bulbs with 

 great vigour." This is fully corroborated by the rapid decay of 

 the bulbs after the spring flowering, as stated by the growers. 

 There were also seen upon the delicate skin covering the bulbs 

 dark-coloured scierotia. These were in what De Bary terms 

 the " resting state," which depends " on the habits of life of the- 

 species in the natural condition, whether the period of rest is 

 confined, for example, to winter, or is not constantly connected 

 with the time of year." But in due time sporophores are pro- 

 duced from these scierotia, from which the conidial stage of 

 Polyactis (Botrytis) galanthina is developed. The scierotia on 

 the bulbs sent for examination have not as yet germinated^ 

 although they have been placed under favourable conditions ; 

 their exact relation to the Polyactis cannot, therefore, be ascer- 

 tained. De Bary says that it is often not until after some 

 months that sporophores are developed. 



According to Tubeuf an account of a sclerotium found on 

 snowdrop bulbs is given by Ludwig, but no description of it is, 

 added. 



