110 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
small and light seeds. The young plants must be kept in 
partial shade. They may be allowed to remain undisturb- 
ed until Autumn, or the following Spring, when they 
should be transplanted while yet dormant. They will 
grow as luxuriantly in boxes orpotsasin the open ground 
provided abundant moisture and shade are not overlooked. 
The direct glare ol a mid day sun is injurious, while the 
ideal situation is where the slanting rays of the morning 
and afternoon sift through rather dense shade. 
Like everything else the fringed gentian has its enemies 
by far the worst of these in this locaHty is a fungus dis- 
ease. This apparently attacks the plants in all stages of 
growth from the 3'oung seeding to the plant in full bloom. 
The first indication that any thing is wrong will be that 
the plant is inclined to wilt at midday. In a few days or, 
sonjetimes not for several weeks the wilting becomes more 
pronounced and sooner or later the plant suddenly with- 
ers and dies. An examination of the lower stem and the 
tap root will reveal a blackened area usually encircHng the 
root. Below this diseased portion the root remains per- 
fectly normal for a considerable time after the death of the 
plant, above ground. 
I am informed by Prof. A. F. Woods of the Department 
of Agriculture to whom affected specimens were submitted 
that the mischief iscaused by a Fusarium. "This fungus," 
Mr. Woods further states, "while it appears never to have 
been reported upon gentians, is the cause of serious dis- 
diseased plants ;'they must be removed and destroyed by 
burning, and as the fungus is capable of iivmg in the soil 
and starting up new infections during succeeding seasons 
I suggest that you make a liberal application of quicklime 
to the infected soil. When a similar disease appears in 
j)lants in a greenhouse we recommend the entire removal 
of the soil." 
It will be well therefore in making the seed bed to 
thoroughh- sterilize by heat all soil in which the seedlings 
are to remain the first season. In transplanting the seed- 
