BOTRYTIS 
Botrytis is troublesome in some localities. This is the fungus that 
forms brown spots on the leaves during damp weather particularly in 
spring and early summer. Attempts to control it are primarily for the 
sake of appearance. Unless the condition is serious the bulbs are not 
affected though they may not achieve their full growth for the following 
year. In districts where it is prevalent, those districts having extended 
damp weather in spring, preventive measurs are recommended. A spray 
or dust of Bordeaux applied early will help to ward off an attack. This 
should be repeated whenever the weather is damp. Lilies especially sus- 
ceptible to Botrytis should be planted, if possible, where the foliage has 
an opportunity to dry off. Morning sun and a gentle breeze are helpful. 
This group includes L. candidum, L. testaceum, L. chalcedonicum, L. cana- 
dense, and L. Hansonii. L. candidum is probably the worst offender. With 
this lily the spores of the fungus are carried through the winter on the 
basal leaves that form in autumn. By spring these leaves have served 
their function and can be removed and burned if there is a tendency to 
Botrytis in the garden. 
MOSAIC 
Mosaic has been the most widely discussed of the troubles affecting 
lilies. We treat it at some length here because so much of the popularly 
published information on the subject has been both impractical and mis- 
leading. 
Mosaic is a virus that affects a few lilies seriously, some slightly and 
many not at all. There is no known cure. Perhaps some day the research 
pathologists will find one. Frankly, we do not feel it is nearly so serious 
as it has been generally painted, since it is quite easy to detect, compara- 
tively easy to “live with” and can be well controlled by proper selection 
and spacing of varieties in the garden. The gardener who has a bit of 
space so that his lilies are interplanted with other perennials and mayhap 
some shrubbery will have little or nothing to worry about. 
Mosaic is spread from one plant to another ONLY by means of a 
small group of sucking and chewing insects. It does not travel through 
air or soil. Aphis are the principle culprits. The farther north one goes the 
fewer aphis one finds. At Sandyloam, we have none. We believe that 
our only mosaic carrier is the potato leaf hopper. The insect carriers are 
almost invariably wind blown or crawling and consequently do not tend 
to travel far, not more than 30 to 50 feet in the garden. Since mosaic 
is spread only by aphis these can now be controlled by the use of Cystex 
— a new chemical which, when applied to the plants is absorbed and 
makes them toxic to aphids. 
BASAL ROT 
Though basal rot has been recognized for many years it is still little 
understood even by the specialist. Fortunately it attacks only a limited 
number of lilies, and we are now learning that prevention and control are 
possible through disinfection and careful attention to good cultural prac- 
tices. it is a kind of rot that starts either on the roots of the lily or at the 
basal plate and works up through the bulbs causing the scales to drop off 
and fal! away. It is possible that it may be present in the soil in which ihe 
bulbs are planted. !t is possible that it may be present on bulbs when 
they arrive from the nursery and it is also possible that some slight bruise 
or injury that occurs during packing or mailing or handling in the garden 
may be responsible. 
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