July  30,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
115 
it  shows  the  soil  to  he  iion-porous,  lienee  too  wet,  and  the  com¬ 
ponents  solved  sour.  By  renewing  the  inside  border  one  year, 
and  the  outside  another,  tli.e  Vines  may  be  lifted  and  the  border 
renovated  without  loss  of  crop. 
RHODODENDRONS,  A  SELECTION  (W.  H.).— Rhododen¬ 
drons  do  not  necessarily  require  a  peaty  soil,  but  they  prefer  it, 
and  do  well  in  it.  Any  good  loamy  soil  suits  them.  They  do  not 
thrive  without  ihuch  care  in  mulcliing  and  watering  in  a  sandy 
soil.  They  refuse  to  grow  in  a  soil  containing  lime.  The  peat 
you  send  a  sample  of  is  good  ;  it  is  sweet,  fibrous,  and  not  too 
spongy.  This,  incorporated  with  your  garden  soil  will  do  ad¬ 
mirably.  The  following  are  varieties  such  as  will  give  you 
satisfaction:  and  they  can  be  obtained  from  John  Waterer  and 
Son,  American  Nursery,  Bagshot:  Lady  Eleanor  Cathcart,  Mrs. 
Tom  Agnew.  Jno.  Waterer,  Kate  Waterer,  Mum,  Gomer  Waterer, 
Sappho,  B.  W.  Elliott,  Chionoides,  Delicatissimum,  James  Mason, 
John  Walter,  Madame  Carvalho,  Minnie,  Mrs.  Jno.  Penn, 
Princes  Hortense,  and  Princess  Mary  of  Cambridge. 
TOMATO  PLANT  DISEASED  (A.  W.  R.).— The  plant  we 
found  on  careful  examination  microscopically  to  be  infested  Avith 
the  parasitic  fungus  knoAvn  as  Macrosporium  Tomato,  syn.  M. 
lycopersici,  Avhich  causes  the  disease  called  black  stripe.”  ^  It 
appears  to  be  present  wherever  the  Tomato  is  cultivated.  The 
fruit  is  most  frequently  attacked,  but  the  fungus  is  also  often 
present,  as  in  your  case,  on  the  leaves  and  stems.  It  is  a  near 
ally  of,  if  not  identical  with.  Potato  leaf  curl  fungus,  Macrospo¬ 
rium  solani,  Avhich  affects  the  stems,  leaves,  and  “apples”  of  the 
Potato  in  a  similar  manner  to  the  fruit  of  the  Tomato,  indeed, 
we  cannot  discover  any  distinetKe  feature,  only  Avhat  may  be 
due  to  host-plant  influence.  Black  stripe  certainly  is  one  of  the 
worst  fungoid  diseases  affecting  the  Tomato.  The  leaves  of  the 
plant  first  curl,  and  at  this  stage  there  is  usually  no  external 
signs  of  the  fungus,  but  presently  brownish  streaks  or  stripes 
appear  on  the  stem,  the  petioles  of  the  leaves,  and  the  leaves 
themselves  become  blotched,  and  the  fruit  also  is  affected,  usually 
at  “  eye  ”  or  style  end  where  the  floral  organs  have  been,  or  at 
the  heel  or  point  of  insertion  of  the  stem,  though  the  stripes  or 
blotches  may  appear  on  any  part  of  the  fruit.  According  to  some 
cnltivatO'rs  the  disease  originates  in  the  soil,  others  attribute  it 
to  the  seed,  and  fungologists  regard  the  fungus  as  a  Avound- 
parasite.  One  thing  is  certain  ;  the  disease  is  propagated  by 
spores,  and  the  mycelium  runs  throughout  the  stem  of  the  grow¬ 
ing  plant,  Avithout  apparently  doing  any  injury  until  it  reaches 
the  soft  young  groAAdh  ;  here  a  shrinkage  is  caused,  also  dis¬ 
coloration  of  portions  of  the  stem  and  foliage  and  fruit,  Avhich 
become  visibly  affected  Avith  dark  broAvn  or  black  stripes  and 
blotches,  and  in  bad  cases,  not  infrequently,  the  upper  part  of 
the  plant  collapses  altogether  or  the  crop  is  ruined.  This  appears 
the  exact  condition  of  your  plant.  It  Avas  quite  sound  in  the  root- 
stem  and  roots,  even  the  stem  above  ground  Avas  not  affected  in 
the  tissues  only  Avhere  the  black  stripe  appeared,  and  a  similar 
remark  applied  to  the  leaA'es  and  fruit.  If,  therefore,  the 
disease  originated  in  the  soil,  or  even  in  the  seed,  it  left  no'trace 
microscopically,  the  symbiosis  being  complete  and  indiscernible 
even  by  the  microscope.  This  is  not  remarkable,  for  eA-en  in  the 
case  of  Tomato  leaf  rust  (C'ladosporium  fulvum),  and  also  in  that 
of  sleeping  disease  (Fusai’ium  lycopersici),  the  disease  may  be  pre¬ 
sent  Avithont  A’isible  sign  or  eA^en  Avhen  examined  microscopically ; 
nevertheless,  it  is  Avell  knoAvn  that  seed  obtained  from  such  plants 
produce  diseased  seedlings.  On  the  other  hand,  sound  seeds 
saved  from  fruits  affected  Avith  black  stripe,  blotch,  or  rot,  do 
not  become  affected  with  that  disease,  or  even  Avith  “leaf  rust,” 
often  confounded  Avith  black  stripe  from  its  also  causing  broAvn 
stripes  on  the  stems  and  blotches  on  the  fruit,  and  also  Avith  sleep¬ 
ing  disease.  This  favours  the  fungologists’  point  of  Aueiv,  viz., 
that  black  stripe  is  a  AA’ound  parasite,  attack  being  due  to  minute 
cracks  in  the  euticular  tissues  or  softened  parts  of  the  cuticle 
from  moisture  resting  on  particnlar  parts,  such  as  round  the 
style,  or  at  the  point  of  insertion  of  the  stem  of  the  fruit.  The 
data  means  culturally  that  Tomato  houses  are  kept  much  too  close 
and  moist,  that  they  hai’e  not  enough  air,  and  the  atmosphere 
not  buoyant  so  as  to  prevent  the  deposition  of  moisture  on  fruit. 
Indeed,  it  implies  a  freely  ventilated  atmosphere,  all  the  light 
possible,  and  moisture  kept  from  the  fruit  and  stems,  not  alloAA'- 
ing  the  faded  floral  organs  to  remain  after  fertilisation  is  effected. 
Checks  of  all  kinds,  such  as  forcing  treatment  at  one  time  by 
keeping  relatively  close  and  moist,  and  at  another  inducing 
stuntedness  by  excessiA’e  A'entilation  and  sudden  drying  of  the 
atmosphere  on  a  recurrence  of  bright  Aveather  after  a  dull  period, 
must  be  carefully  avoided,  also  the  use  of  green  stable  manure, 
either  as  a  mulch  or  on  the  soil,  as  this  is  considered  to  favour 
the  disease,  and  also  causes  the  fruit  to  crack,  tlms  rendering  it 
susceptible  in  a  high  degree.  Instead  of  a  manure  calculated  to 
induce  a  gross  habit  of  plant,  a  mixture  of  parts  superphos¬ 
phate,  2  parts  sulphate  of  ammonia,  and  1  part  muriate  of  potash, 
Avell  mixed,  and  3oz  applied  per  square  yard  as  a  top-dressing ;  or 
as  a  liquid  manure,  loz  per  gallon  of  Avater.  This  certainly  forti¬ 
fies  the  plant  against  disease,  and  favours  the  crop  without 
inducing  over-lnxuriance.  We  do  not  see  Avhat  you  can  do  more 
to  repress  the  disease  than  destroying  plants  by  fire  as  soon  as 
they  shoAv  signs  of  it.  and  spraying  Avith  potassium  sulphide  solu¬ 
tion.  Sterilisation  of  the  soil  is  advised  for  this  disease,  but  the  heat 
must  not  exceed  ISOdeg  or  212deg,  the  former  being  safe,  or  the 
nitrifying  micro-organism  Avould  be  prejudiced,  but  if  the  disease 
goes  over  in  the  seed,  as  Ave  suspect  in  many  instances,  it  is  all- 
important  to  destroy  tlie  disease  plasma  thereon  or  attached, 
Avhich  Avonld  probably  be  effected  by  steeping  the  seed  before 
soAving  in  AA-ater  at  a  temperature  of  130deg  to  13odeg  for  five 
minutes,  but  on  this  point  Ave  haA'e  no  definite  data,  and  it  Avould 
be  Avell  to  ascertain  this  by  experiment,  so  as  not  to  destroy  the 
vitality  of  the  seed. 
NAMES  OF  PT>.\NTS. — Correspomlents  whose  queries  are  un¬ 
answered  in  the  present  issue  are  respectfully  requested  to  consult  the 
following  number.  (T.  G.  T.). — Sinningia  tubiflora  Fritsh  (syn. 
Gloxinia  tubiflora,  Hook,  in  “  Bot.  Mag.,”  t.  3971.)  (E.  A.  Cb). — 1, 
Verbaseum  nigrum  ;  2,  Lysimaehia  vulgaris  ;  see  also  next  Aveek. 
- - 
Trad«  Catalognes  Received. 
E.  H.  Ki’elage  and  Son,  Haarlem,  Holland. — Dutch  Bulbs. 
Ant.  Roozen  and  Son,  Overveen,  Haarlem,  Holland. — Bulbs. 
B.  S.  Williams  and  Son,  Victoria  and  Paradise  Nurseries,  I'pper 
HolloAvay,  London.  N. — Bulbs. 
CoYent  Garden  Market.— July  29tli. 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Fruit. 
s.  d.  s.  d 
A.pples, Tasmanian, case  12  0tol4  0 
Apricots,  per  box  ...  1  0  13 
Bananas . 10  0  15  0 
Cherries,  box .  13  3  0 
,,  ^-sieves .  8  0  10  0 
Grapes,  Hamburgh  ...  1  6  2  0 
s.  d.  8.  d 
Lemons,  Messina,  ease  10  0tol5  0 
Oranges,  case  .  10  0  20  0 
Pines,  St.  Michael’s  3  6  5  0 
StraAvberries,  South¬ 
ampton,  per  bskt.  2  6  3  0 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Vegetables. 
Artichokes,  green,  doz. 
,,  Jerusalem,  sieve 
Batavia,  doz . 
Beet,  red,  doz . 
Cabbages,  Spring,  tally 
Carrots,  bunch  . 
,,  ncAV,  bnch.  ... 
Cauliflowers,  doz. 
Corn  Salad,  strike 
Cos  Lettuce,  doz . 
Cucumbers  doz . 
Endive,  doz . 
Herbs,  bunch  . 
Horseradish,  bunch  ... 
s.  d. 
s.  d 
2  0  toO  0 
1  6 
0  0 
2  0 
0  0 
0  6 
1  0 
2  0 
3  0 
0  2 
0  0 
0  6 
0  8 
4  0 
5  0 
1  0 
1  3 
1  0 
0  0 
3  0. 
4  0 
1  6 
0  0 
0  2 
0  0 
1  3 
1  6 
Leeks,  bunch  . 
Lettuce,  Cabbage,  doz. 
Mushrooms,  forced,  lb. 
Mustard  &  Cress,  doz. 
punnets . 
Onions,  bushel  . 
Parsley,  doz.  bnchs.  ... 
Potatoes,  CAvt . 
,,  Jersey,  neAv,  CAvt. 
Radishes,  doz . 
Spinach,  bush . 
Tomatoes,  English,  lb. 
Turnips,  bnch . 
,,  neAA-,  bnch.  ... 
s.  d.  s.  d 
0  2to0 
10  0  0 
10  0  0 
16  0  0 
3  0  0  0 
2  0  0  0 
6  0  8  0 
14  0  15  0 
0  9  10 
2  0  0  0 
0  6  0  7 
0  0  0  2 
0  5  0  6 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Cut  Flowers 
Arums,  doz . 
Asparagus,  Fern,  bnch. 
Carnations,  12  blooms 
Cattleyas,  doz . 
Croton  foliage,  bun.  ... 
Cycas  leaves,  each 
Eucharis,  doz . 
Gardenias,  doz . 
Geranium,  scarlet,  doz. 
bnchs . 
Gladiolus,  The  Bride, 
doz.  bun . 
Iris,  Spanish,  doz.  bun. 
Ivy  leaves,  doz.  bun — 
Lilium  Harris!  . 
Lily  of  Valley,  12  bnchs 
Maidenhair  Fern,  doz. 
bnchs . 
s. 
2 
1 
1 
10 
0 
0 
2 
2 
4 
4 
6 
1 
2 
9 
4 
1.  s.  d  I 
)to  3  0  j  Marguerites,  white, 
doz.  bnchs . 
,,  yellow,  doz.  bnchs. 
Myrtle,  English,  bunch 
Odontoglossums . 
Orange  blossom,  bunch 
Pyrethrum,  double, 
doz.  bun. 
2  0 
1  3 
12  0 
1 
1 
3 
2 
T?/-\c'/:xc5  XTi  Y^Vl + 
0 
0 
0 
6 
0 
0 
0 
5  0 
6  0 
8  0 
0  0 
3  0 
12  0 
5  0 
doz . 
,,  pink,  doz . 
,,  yelloAv,doz.(Perles) 
,,  Liberty,  doz . 
,,  Generals . 
Smilax,  bunch  . 
Stephanotis,  doz. 
Violets,  doz.  bun. 
,,  Marie  Louise... 
s. 
d. 
s.  d 
3 
0to4  0 
1 
6 
2  0 
0 
6 
0  0 
4 
0 
5  0 
2 
0 
0  0 
4 
0 
5  0 
1 
0 
1  6 
2 
0 
3  0 
1 
6 
2  0 
2 
0 
4  0 
1  6 
2  0 
4 
0 
5  0 
2 
0 
2  6 
2 
0 
2  0 
2 
0 
3  6 
Average  Wholesale  Prices.— Plants  In  Pots 
Most  of  the  undermentioned  plants  are  sold  in  48  and  32-sizcd  pot 
Aralias,  doz . 
Araucaria,  doz . 
Aspidistra,  doz . 
Crotons,  doz . 
Cyperus  alternifolius 
doz . . . 
Dracaena,  var.,  doz.  ... 
,,  viridis,  doz. . 
Erica  Cavendish! . 
,,  candidissima  ... 
Ferns,  var. ,  doz . 
small,  100 . 
Ficus  elastica,  doz.  ... 
Foliage  plants,  var,  each 
Fuchsias,  doz . 
s.  d. 
s.  d 
s.  d. 
s.  d 
5  0tol2  0 
Geraniums,  doz.  ...  ... 
4  0to6  0 
12  0 
30  0 
,,  Ivy,  doz.  ... 
6  0 
8  0 
18  0 
36  0 
Grevilleas,  48’s,  doz.  ... 
5  0 
0  0 
18  0 
30  0 
Heliotrope  . 
6  0 
8  0 
HjMrangeas,  pink 
10  0 
12  0 
4  0 
5  0 
,,  Avhife  ... 
10  0 
12  0 
12  0 
30  0 
Lycopodiums,  doz.  ... 
3  0 
0  0 
9  0 
18  0 
Marguerite  Daisy,  doz. 
6  0 
9  0 
18  0 
24  0 
Myrtles,  doz . 
6  0 
9  6 
18  0 
21  0 
Palms,  in  var.,  doz.  ... 
15  0 
30  0 
4  0 
18  0 
,,  specimens 
21  0 
63  0 
10  0 
16  0 
Pandanus  Veitchi,  48’s, 
9  0 
12  0 
doz . 
24  0 
30  0 
1  0 
5  0 
Pelargoniums  . 
8  0 
0  0 
6  0 
8  0 
Shrubs,  in  pots  . 
4  0 
6  0 
