124 ReErorT oF THE DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY OF THE 
disease known to be preventable by spraying) is always more or 
less prevalent, and it seems likely that the destructive disease 
known as cane blight may be checked, it is recommended that 
currants in the Hudson Valley be sprayed regularly every sea- 
son. | 
INTRODUCTION. 
The region between Highland and Newburgh in the Hudson 
River Valley is the principal fruit-growing section of Eastern 
New York. Grapes, peaches, raspberries and currants are grown 
extensively. Currants are grown more extensively here than in 
any other part of the State. They constitute one of the leading 
fruit crops in this famous fruit-growing section. 
While visiting this locality June 18 and 14, 1901, we observed 
that the currant foliage was quite generally affected with a form 
of leaf blight or anthracnose caused by the fungus Glwosporiwm 
ribis. The lower leaves were yellow and thickly covered with 
very small brown spots. Almost all the currant plantations 
were more or less affected and the presence of the disease could 
be detected at a considerable distance by the yellow color of the 
foliage. In some cases the leaves were already dropping quite 
freely. Fruit growers were alarmed. They were not accus- 
tomed to see the currant foliage behave in this way. 
Since there seemed liable to be an epidemic of this somewhat 
unusual disease we planned to watch its progress. During the 
remainder of the season we made frequent visits to the locality 
and kept close watch on the disease, particularly in a badly 
affected plantation on the farm of Mr. J. A. Hepworth near Mil- 
ton. This plantation consisted of about five acres in a peach 
orchard on high, well-drained, slaty soil. 
SYMPTOMS. 
The disease works from below, upward. The lower leaves 
become thickly covered with small dark-brown spots, turn yellow 
and fall. The disease appears in June and continues active 
throughout the season or until the bushes have been completely 
defoliated. In the present case it must have appeared rather 
