192 
A. T. BRETT-DISEASES OF PLANTS IN 1890. 
so as to allow the frost to penetrate as far as possible. Much is 
being done,—by selecting seed (potatoes) capable of resisting 
disease, and by growing more earlier-ripening varieties,—to keep 
the disease within bounds, but whatever is done is being as effectually 
undone by the practices that I have referred to. What is wanted 
is more knowledge on the part of cottagers and others who grow 
potatoes, for when they know more of the nature and life-history 
of the potato fungus, I feel sure that they will take every pre¬ 
caution against its dissemination.” Mr. Odell also informs me that 
“M. Prillieux in France, and Mr. C. M. Weed at the Ohio Experi¬ 
mental Station, IJ.S.A., have found Bordeaux mixture to be highly 
fatal to the potato fungus. It is applied,” he says, “with a syringe 
and sprayed over the foliage, and is usually made of 6 parts of 
sulphate of copper and 6 parts of quick-lime to 100 parts of water. 
M. Prillieux has recently informed Dr. Plowright that a 3 per cent, 
solution is better than a 6 per cent.” 
The hollyhock disease was very prevalent in my garden last year. 
I sent specimens of the diseased leaves to Mr. E. M. Chater, and he 
informed me that he found the growth on the under side of the 
leaves to be clusters of the spores of a species of Puccinia , and that 
he had observed a similar fungus on the leaves of the common 
mallow (Malva silvestris). It appears that the disease first attacks 
the mallow, the fungus being bred upon its leaves, and the spores 
thence sent abroad to prey upon the leaves of the hollyhock. 
The only other diseased condition of plants which has been 
brought under my notice is that of fasciation. In a letter dated 
the 5 th of July, Mr, J. W. Odell says: “I send you a plant of 
Campanula media (Canterbury bell) showing a strongly-affected 
condition of fasciation. You will notice that there is a suppression 
of the floral envelopes which in many flowers are represented by 
mere rudiments in a contorted state. The reproductive organs are 
in some flowers absent, in others the stigmas show a tendency to 
revert to a foliar type. Other plants from the same batch of seeds 
show signs of fasciation, inherited no doubt from the parent plants, 
but, in the case of the plant sent, developed to an abnormal con¬ 
dition by liberal feeding.” 
I should be glad to receive notes on this subject from members 
of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society, the West Herts 
Agricultural Society, the St. Albans Farmers’ Club, or from any 
farmer or gardener. Information as to remedies which have proved 
successful would be especially welcome. 
