Neovmber 18, 1831. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
487 
according to the location of the injury—if on the footstalk of a leaf, that 
leaf perishes, if at the base of the stem the whole plant succumbs. Some¬ 
times a fungus seems to be so caustic in its effects that by merely creep¬ 
ing over the surface, sending down here and there, however, branchlets 
which without entering the epidermis act as suckers, the tissues beneath 
•are destroyed. 
REMEDIES. 
It will be seen from the foregoing that there is much diversity in the 
physiology of fungi. A full account of the differences known in structure 
and habit would reciuire a much fuller presentation of the subject than is 
possible here ; but enough has been said to indicate, at least, that there 
can be no one method of fighting these invisible foes. The unfortunate 
•thing really is, that with all the information yet attained, there is so 
little of practical value in the way of fighting them, after any methods. 
We can at least, however, understani many things which need not be 
done, and so save unnecessary expense and labour, just as the study of 
entomology saves men from stringing sweetened corn cobs and hanging 
■them in trees to catch curculios. It is whimsical and futile to attempt 
any kind of medication of a plant by incorporating materials in the soil 
about the roots. Such applied substances will not usually be absorbed to any 
"Considerable extent unless, indeed, directly useful to the plant, and it may 
be safely said that no fungus parasite can be banished or even excluded by 
the presence in the tissues of any chemical substance thus absorbed, 
acting as a medicine. And the same may be said of any attempts at 
medication by directly introducing into the tissues by boring holes or 
■otherwise, any substances whatever. The driving of nails, &o., into trees 
^or such purposes is an admittance of ignorance, or it is quackery. In all 
this I do by no means assert that soil elements in certain cases cannot be 
added which may prevent or reduce the ravages of fungi; but, if so, these 
olements must be such as act by giving special thrift and quality of growth 
s-ather than as medicines, 
We may understand, too, that nothing can be accomplished out of 
■doors by fumigations or loading the air with strong odours. The im¬ 
possibility of retaining even sulphur fumes sufficiently concentrated in 
the open air about plants to kill them should teach us that we cannot thus 
destroy an organism having so little dependance on pure air as a fungus. 
It is emphatically the exception, not the rule, that under suitable cover 
any such method of doctoring these diseases can be practised with profit. 
How hopeless, then, the case out of doors ! So, too, it is usually useless to 
^’■PPly powdered substances to the affected plants in the hopes of ridding 
them of tiiese parasites. Those who advise others from pretended know¬ 
ledge still advocate in books and papers the application of flowers of 
flulphur to Grape Vines in our country to prevent or cure the “ mildew ” 
and “ rot.” How many tons of sulphur have been thus wasted! There 
is indeed one species of fungus (uncinuld), sometimes found on American 
Vines, which can be reduced in this manner; but it, at least in the West, 
is of little moment compai’ed with any one of the three others that is not 
in the least inconvenienced by the sulphur as applied. In Europe this 
sulphuring has been found beneficial, but against the recently introduced 
American mildew (Feronospora) they have already discovered the antidote 
ineffectual. It is surely time that writers in our country should begin to 
understand that a successful remedy for one thing in Europe may not 
prove useful for another thing in the United States. The application of 
washes containing ingredients inimical to fungi has in some cases more 
effect, and when the special work to be done is understood positive good 
may follow. But even in this, too much dependance must not be placed 
for general use. Such washes are only applicable to the trunks and 
larger limbs of trees, and owing to the increase in diameter of the stem 
cracks soon occur in any such coating, after which the exposure is nearly 
as great as before. 
Without further criticisms of such methods of prevention or cure, it 
may be stated that something can still be offered for special cases; but 
the prescriptions cannot be made general. In the first place, much in the 
way of prevention can be accomplished, has already been accomplished, 
by selecting varieties for culture which are not subject to the despolia¬ 
tions of injurious fungi. The orange rust (on the leaves) is very destruc¬ 
tive to the Kittatinny Blackberry, but does not appear on the Snyder; 
the White Doyenne Pear is very often caused to crack and thus become 
useless by a fungus (Fusicladium) which often grows to some extent on 
certain other varieties without injuring the fruit in the least. Such illus¬ 
trations are very numerous, and when observers learn carefully to dis¬ 
criminate different diseases they will rapidly increase. Season of growth, 
soil, and methods of cultivation and fertilisation may be usefully studied 
for the purpose now in view. It is not always the least vigorous plants, 
as so often asserted, that are most liable to rust, mildew, &c. Sometimes 
it is directly the opposite, as in the case of Wheat grown on land which is 
too rich. Certainly we must not suppose the plants need be in thriftless 
condition before fungi can grow upon or within them. There is simply 
some condition more favourable than others for the injurious developm“nt 
of the parasite. This special condition it is our business as skilful culti¬ 
vators to find out. 
There are some special methods of treatment, too, by which success 
may be gained. One kind of Wheat smut (Tilletia) can be effectually 
prevented by washing the seed with a solution of copper sulphate (blue 
vitriol); but this treatment for the rust on the straw is like smoking 
cigars to cure corns on the feet. The rust has nothing to do with the 
see 1, but comes from spores passing the winter in the fields. Bagging 
Grape bunches and growing the Vines under shelter has already been re¬ 
ferred to. Washing the trunks and larger branches of Apple and Pear 
trees with strong alkaline solutions, makes the bark smooth and much 
less liable to injury by what is improperly called sun scald. The fact is 
the bark after such washing is a more certain barrier to living enemies, 
because more elastic and less liable to crack by the expansion of growth 
or from the alternations of temperature. 
Something can be done, too, by directly preventing the development 
and dissemination of the spores. In numerous cases the winter is passed 
only by spores on or within dead leaves. Careful destruction of these 
may assuredly be very helpful. If one has an isolated vineyard he may 
do much toward freeing his Vines from fungus depredations by burning 
affected fruit as discovered and just before the leaves fall in autumn, 
pruning and burning all refuse, then the following season frequently 
picking off any diseased leaves, tendrils, fruit, &c., as the marks appea’-. 
This has been practically tried with excellent results ; but it takes some 
labour and eternal vigilance. Knowing just how, where, and when to 
strike is important in any warfare, and advantages can frequently be 
gained in the kind of struggle now in question. In some localities 
Apple trees, especially certain kinds, are badly afiiicted with a fungus 
on the leaves and fruit, which burrowing in the tissues causes a reddish 
or yellowish, usually a swollen spot, from which finally appear numerous 
cylindrical spore vessels, becoming with age fringed by splitting into 
threads. More or less injury is done according to the number of infested 
areas, often, however, utterly devastating the tree. This fungus (Gym- 
nosporangia) has a regular alternation of growth on the Apple tree and 
the Red Cedar, forming on the latter balls sometimes mistaken for the 
fruit of the tree. These balls are an inch or more in diameter, and 
in May send out, when soaked with rain, conspicuous yellow gelatinous 
masses, which must have drawn the attention of all who have had 
the opportunity of seeing them. The battle would be a hard one against 
this species if fought only on the Apple, but on the Cedar it is by no 
means so difficult. The annually produced balls (galls) can be picked 
off, if so desired, without great labour from one or a few trees, or, what 
is still easier and more effectual, the Cedars can be entirely destroyed 
and the Apple orchard perfectly saved. Other such cases are known, and 
more may be by proper investigations. It has been proved that the rust 
of Wheat (Puccinia) has an alternate stage on the Barberry, and the 
latter has in some places been carefully rooted out on this account. But 
facts show that the Barberry cannot be essential to the development of 
this fungus, for the latter prevails in regions where the shrub is not pre¬ 
sent at all. Either the alternation is not essential or something else 
answers the place of the Barberry. Suppose this last to be the truth, 
which indeed is most probable, and suppose this unknown something to 
be as valueless to the farmer and as readily extirpated as the Barberry, 
what benefit—counted in money—would successful investigations confer 1 
Is it not worthy of endeavour, fostered by governmental or other aid ? 
And if so in one case, what shall we say of the hundreds in which the 
demand for information is still more urgent because less is already 
attained ? 
A FEW NOTES. 
Although the flowering season of the wonderful collection of Roses 
in the Waltham Cross Nurseries of Messrs. W. Paul & Son is now 
practically over, yet there is much worthy of note. Rose culture both in 
pots and out of doors is a special feature, and the plants are this season 
full of vigour and health, clearly demonstrating that they find a congenial 
home both as regards soil and skilled attention. Several of the new 
seedlings, designated “ Waltham Climber No. 1,” “ 2,” and “ 3,” were 
still in flower in the open ground at the time of our visit a few days ago. 
Camellias, too, are grown remarbably well, a very large house being 
devoted to a collection of these plants, ranging in size from very fine 
and ’ well-trained specimens to small, sturdy, and exceedingly healthy 
examples. A house occupied with Lapageria alba and rubra, the shoots 
trained against the inside of the roof, completely covering it with healthy 
foliage and a mass of bloom, was an interesting sight. The young Vines 
in pots, which were ripening their canes outside, are grand sturdy 
examples. In the house occupied by climbing Tea Roses planted out is a 
wonderful example of Davoniensis. Although planted out less than ten 
years ago, it has a main stem nearly as thick as a man’s arm. Many 
other items might ba mentioned, but as these are only brief notes they 
cannot now be included. 
On my return journey to town I gave a hurried glance through Mr. 
Ware’s interesting nursery at Hale Farm, Tottenham. On the right- 
hand side of the entrance there was a bright assemblage of that grand 
autumnal flower the Chrysanthemum. Nearly every shade of colour was 
represented in the many striking and valuable varieties grown. The 
single Dahlias were still highly attractive with their gorgeously coloured 
masses of bloom. A few good plants were seen in my hasty glance 
round the beds and borders of hardy flowers. Particularly noticeable 
were Stokesia cyanea, a lovely perennial with lavender-blue flowers ; 
Erigeron Biglowii, violet; Aster Amellus, violet, with yellow centre, and 
salsuginosus, large white ; Campanula Van Houttei pallida, lovely pale 
lavender ^ Tritoma Burcbelli, a striking novelty, and Primula Cashmeriana, 
a charming species, flowers rich violet, with yellow centres. Amongst 
bulbous plants in flower Montbretia Pottsii, an effective border plant, 
with lovely orange-scarlet tubular flowers ; Colchicum autumnale fl.-pl. 
and speciosum, yellow ; and another gay mass of bloom was conspicuously 
showy in Amaryllis lutea. A few bright plants were in flower on the 
rockery. Saxifraga Fortunei was still carrying a few of its erect panicles 
of snowy white blooms ; Silene maritima. Fuchsia globosa, and Campanula 
garganica were also very showy. In little crannies of the rockwork 
Stenbergia lutea and Nerine japonica, lovely bulbous plants, were a 
masi of bright yellow blossom. Time would only permit me to jot down 
