76 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
Downy Minpew or THE Onion (Perospora  schloeindenv).— 
The mildew of the onion is a well-known disease in Europe 
and America and was recorded has having been found in this 
State by Dr. N. A. Cobb in the ‘‘Agricultural Gazette of 
N.S.W.” (1891), p. 616, and in August last, I found it in 
the Illawarra: suburbs, attacking a crop of eschallots. It is 
very destructive and causes extensive damage to onions and es- 
challots, as it spreads very rapidly dnring dull, damp weather. 
This fungus is closely related to the potato blight and the © 
vine mildew requiring fairly high magnifying powers to make 
out its structure. When the plants are affected the leaves of 
the onions or eschallots lose their bright, glossy green ap- 
pearance and turn a greyish-colour. If a portion of a leaf 
affected with the disease is placed under a microscope it will 
be seen that there are numerous little forked conidiophores 
or forked branches at the tip of which are little obovate or 
pear-shaped bodies. These organisms contain several minute 
swarm-spores which are analagous to seeds and when matured 
are hurled into the air and so dispersed toand infect other 
plants. When these minute organisms settle down on a plant 
the little swarm-spores are lashed about on the moisture laden 
leaves until at last they find a suitable spot; they next send 
out their germ-tubes and penetrate the stoma or breathing 
pores of the leaves and so spread the mycelium through the 
tissues of the plants. When plants are found affected with 
disease they should be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture to 
check the spread of the disease. Fresh slacked lime mixed 
with half the quantity of sulphur has also been found bene- 
ficial if used during the very early stages of the disease. All 
plants badly affected should be destroyed so as to prevent 
the winter spores being formed as they are provided with a 
thick protective coat and are very resistant. 
Tue ScireroTIuM DISEASE (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). — 
This is a very destructive fungus and causes onsiderable loss 
to cultivators of cucumbers, lettuce and other vegetables 
forced under glass in Europe and in the United States of 
America. It has also been reported as having attacked stored 
bulbs and other root crops, such as Dahlias, Turnips, Beet, 
etc. In‘ July last I discovered this fungus attacking a crop 
of epicure beans at Penshurst. So far as I can ascertain this 
is the first time it has been found in Australia, but it should 
be carefully watched to prevent it from spreading. 
Peacn Lear Curt (Hxoascus defurmans).—Leaf-cur] fun- 
gus is quite familiar to orchardists and cottage-gardeners 
during early spring, and in some seasons, especially in the 
months of October and November its action is most severe 
‘and causes great damage to peach crops and occasionally 
nectarines. In this Stateit has been known for many years. 
. 
