21 
dryness of our climate is not favorable to the development 
of this disease and we apprehend no serious trouble from it; 
but as it is liable to appear at any time on introduced stock, 
it may be well to dwell briefly upon its characteristics. The 
cause of the disease is a fungus ( Gloeosporium venetum) 
and Professor Burrill of Illinois is credited with publishing 
the first account of it in 1882 under the name Raspberry 
Cane Rust. The disease appears to be confined to the 
blackberry and black-cap raspberry. As with the orange 
rust the vegetative threads of the fungus ramify within the 
plant and are perennial. The first evidence of the pres- 
ence of the fungus is seen in small, purplish, circular or 
elliptical spot on the canes near the ground. As the canes 
grow the fungus ascends and the spots appear at intervals 
even to the tips of the canes. The spores are formed about 
the centers of these spots and as they push outward the 
bark is ruptured and curled back. The spots then appear 
grayish white with a purplish border. Often several spots 
may coalesce forming irregular patches. While the princi- 
pal work of the fungus is on the canes, it is not wholly con- 
fined there, but may appear on the petioles and veins of 
the leaves. The nature of this fungus suggests the cutting 
out and burning of all canes seen to be affected. As a 
preventive measure it is recommended to spray, as soon as 
the canes are uncovered in the spring, with a solution of 
sulphate of iron, two pounds to five gallons of water, to be 
followed later, if the disease appears, by an application of 
the Bordeaux mixture. 
