40 



A Clover Fungus. 



abundantly present in specimens of diseased plants sub- 

 mitted to him, and was decidedly of opinion that it was the 

 cause of the affection. In the spring- of 1898 it was seen that 

 this disease had injured the clover plants in several localities. 

 The winter was so very mild that the fungus received no 

 check from frost and cold. 



In some clover fields in different places examined in 

 March, before the spring growth had commenced, the 

 estimates of the percentage of clover plants destroyed by the 

 fungus, or apparently destroyed by it, varied from 5 to 30 

 per cent. There were bare patches, more or less extensive, 

 in some of these fields, while in others plants were dead, or 

 dying, only here and there. In one field where hop plants had 

 been recently grubbed, and where, therefore, its condition of 

 fertility was very high and the clover plant very strong origi- 

 nally, the loss of plant seemed exceptionally great ; and 

 though it was seen in May that the plants which survived the 

 attack of the fungus had spread in a luxuriant manner, and 

 some of those actually attacked had thrown out new shoots, 

 the crop was evidently reduced materially. In other fields, 

 where the attack had been comparatively slight, the uninjured 

 plants and those partially injured had spread widely after their 

 manner, and occupied a good deal of the ground left bare by 

 the failure of those badly infected. In most cases the loss ot 

 plants appeared small in May, compared with what was 

 expected and indicated by appearances in February. To a 

 casual observer the ground in many cases seemed as well 

 covered as usual and likely to yield a good crop, but close 

 investigation showed that weeds occupied some of the space 

 between uninjured plants, in spite of their extraordinary efforts 

 to extend their growth in every direction, intensified by the 

 stimulating manures applied to them. 



The attack seemed to be worse upon heavy soils, as these 

 naturally have more moisture than sandy or light land. 

 Professor Rostrup found this to be the case in Denmark, and 

 that the best manured land especially suffered. He also 

 found that the stronger and thicker the plant the greater and 

 more severe was the injury. This experience also agrees 

 with that recorded in England this year. 



