318 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
very common in the early stages of growth, then later on, when the 
reserves have been accumulated, much damage is done by Bacteria, 
Fusarium, and Phoma ; and finally, during the storage in winter, 
Botrytis and Bacteria cause extensive decay. It is not uncommon, 
when the clamps are opened in spring, to find a quarter to three- 
quarters of the stored roots to be rotten and unfit for use. It may thus 
be estimated that in average years about half the crop is destroyed by 
these parasites. At the rate of fifteen tons an acre this gives 750,000 
tons grown, and, assuming only one-third to be destroyed, this means 
250,000 tons, which at 10s. a ton represents a loss of £125,000 in these 
two northern counties. 
Losses due to destruction of timber are of a most serious nature, 
one might again say about one-third of the whole. Agaricus melleus, 
Peziza Wilkommii, Trametes radiciperda, and various species of Poly- 
porus are some of the most destructive to forest trees, while pit-props 
and all kinds of worked timber suffer greatly from attacks of Stereum 
hirsntum, Merulius lachrvmans, and other saprophytic fungi. 
It will be remembered how in the 'eighties the cultivation of coffee 
in Ceylon entirely ceased through the ruin caused by the activity of 
Hemileia vastatrix. 
Other crops, such as tea, plantation rubber, hops, gooseberry, 
and every kind of fruit, all pay a heavy toll to fungus diseases. 
It might be mentioned that in a single greenhouse the failure of 
tomatos through disease has resulted in a loss of £200, while the 
horticulturist is by no means immune, his difficulties in contending 
against mildew, damping off, and the innumerable attacks of plant 
parasites leading to heavy financial loss. 
In view of all this it is really rather remarkable that so little in- 
terest is shown in the study of Economic Mycology. Nor can botanists 
be held altogether above reproach in this matter. Hitherto they have 
given little encouragement to the prosecution of research in Phyto- 
pathology, and problems of importance equal to any in any branch 
of science await solution in this section of Botany. It is unfortunate 
that there is scant sympathy with the technical part of the subject 
among botanists generally, and there is danger of its passing altogether 
into other hands. 
In my view our ordinary botanical courses should include a wider 
treatment of the fungi, and while appreciating to the full the valuable 
results of cytological work, one may claim at the same time that it 
might reasonably be supplemented by study of the life-histories of the 
fungi from the point of view of their work in Nature. More students 
might thus be led to take up research upon economic lines, who would- 
be equipped with a broad scientific training founded upon sound 
principles of physiology, bio-chemistry, and bio-physics. There is 
great danger in a narrowly technical education, and it is to be feared 
that at present there is not a sufficient supply of suitably qualified 
men to undertake the investigation of problems in the etiology of 
disease. 
