NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



157 



Bust fungi attack the leaves and stalks. Spraying with Bordeaux 

 mixture or soda copper mixture (2 lb. copper sulphate, 2 lb. soda, 

 10 gals, water), collecting and burning fallen leaves, are the best 

 remedies. Puccinia ribis attacks the black currant; P. pruni, stone 

 fruit; Phragmidium ruhi, the raspberry. 



The fungi causing leaf-blotch require two hosts for their develop- 

 ment. One of these is the juniper. It is therefore desirable to destroy 

 all junipers in the vicinity of orchards. Gymnospomnium sahinae pro- 

 duces leaf-blotch on pear trees, G. tremelloides on apples, G. confusum 

 on the quince. 



Leaf-curl is caused on the peach by Exoascus deformans, by 

 EJ. pruni on the plum, and by E. bullatus on the pear. E. cerasi pro- 

 duces swellings on the branches of cherry trees, from which a bushy 

 growth develops. The branch must be cut away behind the growth 

 and burnt. 



In the case of mildew and false mildew, dust the foliage with flowers 

 of sulphur or spray with Bordeaux mixture and burn diseased and fallen 

 leaves. The best known forms of mildew are : Podosphaera tridacty'la, 

 on plums; P. oxyacanthae, on apples; Phyllactinia sujfulta, on pears; 

 Microsphaera grossulariae, on the gooseberry; Oidium Tucheri, on the 

 vine; and Sphaerotheca pannosa, on the rose. Poly stigma rubrum 

 makes large rusty spots on the leaves of the plum. Stigmatea mespili 

 causes similar damage to the foliage of pears, quinces, and medlars. 

 Gnomonia ery thro stigma causes cherry-leaf scorch. Leaf-spot causes 

 the leaves to fall off, and also the fruit. Phyllosticta pirina and 

 Septoria piricola cause this in pears; Ph. prunicola is the agent in 

 plums; and Ph. cerasi in cherries; Ph. ribicola in red currants; 

 Ph. fragaricola in strawberries ; Ph. persicae in peaches ; and Ph, vindo- 

 bonensis in apricots. Gloeosporiu7n ribis damages the fruit of the 

 currant and the gooseberry. Eepeated spraying with Bordeaux mixture 

 or soda copper may keep these fungi in check. Spraying with these 

 mixtures is also a remedy for shot-hole due to Cercospora circumscissa 

 and Clasterosporium amygdalarum, as well as for scab due to Pusi- 

 cladium and mould caused by Monilia fructigena. — S. E. W, 



Orchards, Winter Vetch for a Cover Crop in Michigan. By 



H. J. Eustace {U.S.A. Exp. Stn., Mich., Circ. 13, July 1911; 5 figs.). 

 Tests in orchards and vineyards in different parts led to the conclusion 

 that the winter, hairy, or sand vetch {Vicia villosa) is especially valu- 

 able for the purpose of a cover crop, and its value is now beginning to 

 be appreciated. On the general subject of cover crops see abstract on 

 "Orchard Green-Manure Crops in Oahfornia," E.H.S. Journal for 

 December 1911 (vol. xxxvii. p. 470). — A. P. 



Orchid Cultivation in Osmunda regalis Fibre. By E. Bloss- 



feld {Orchis, vol. v. pt. viii. pp. 122-5). — Many epiphytic orchids 

 thrive in Osmunda fibre, cut into pieces about three inches in length. 

 Some dry fibre is placed above the drainage m the pot, the orchid 

 inserted, and dry fibre pressed round it in small quantities at a time 



