Counteracting Diseases Of Plants

Tliose who attending the March meeting of the Wasblenaw Fomological Society )ad the pleasure of listen ing to a very iuterestiug pauer on Becent Progress in the study and Treatment of the Diseases of l'lants by l'rof. V." M. Spaulding. The professor said that the study of vegetable pathology was leading lo practical results. Within the past few years touch had been learued by scienutic invesügation of the nature and causes of the vaiious diseases of fruits, flowers and grains. There are hardly moi e than half a dozen men in this country vho are makmg a special study of plast diseases and most these are unabie lo give up all their time to it. In Jiuiope, althuugh more atlention is paid to it, the nurnber of iuvestigators is not large. A beller provisión is however, made for secunng the necessaiy facilities for studjing the diseases. It is probably safe to say that the Etiology of the paiasitic diseases of plants is, on the whole, betler umler stood to-day thau are the diseases of the humau systetn and this, notwithstanding the fact that the therrtpeutics of planls number hardly as many years as as the theory and practico of medicine does ceuluries. In a recent work op this subject by Von Thumen I tind the names of some 35 diseases of cultivnteii plants, due to the influence of as many different parasitic organisms, and in nearly every case the structure, habits and mode of attack of the parasite and its effects are clearly and accurately described and the means of combating it satisfactorilv indicated. The "Report on the Fungus Diseases of the Grape-vine" sent out by the U. S. De- partment of Agriculture in 18Ü6, is one of the most creditable pieces of work ever issued from that departmeiit. . VVith the imformation accessible grape growers in the eastern United States may go on and extend their vineyards witli reasonable confidence of reward as far as parasitic diseases are concerned. The contributions on the Black Knot of the plumand clierry by the Crystogamic laboratoryof Harvard University are the most complete and satisfaetory. The studies and experiment on pearblight by Prof. Arthur, of the JSew York Agricultural Experiment Station, seem entirely Jconclusive and the cause of this disease has been found in a minute organism, classed with the bacteria. We are indebted to Prof. Trelease of the Agoic Experiment Station, of W'isconsin, for valuable results of tho study of the diseases of fruits. Of these there may be special] v mentioned the spot disease of strawberry leaves. The description of the parasite, the indications of varieties most susceptible to the disease and others tbatare practically exempt and the directions for checking the difficulty are of the greatest importance to fruit growers. The researches by Prof. T. J. Burrill, of the University of Illinois have produced a great deal of valuable imformation coucerning certain common and destructive parasitic diseases. One of these is the orange rust of raspberry and strawbeny leaves eommou enough about Ann Arbor, and of wide occurrence elsewhere. Anolher is the cane rust. For both of these the remedies already indicated by experience are recummended, viz: Gutting out the canes as soon as the berries are picked, keeping the üelds clean and chousing such varieties as have proven Ies3 liable to attack. After recording some of the important investigatious inaugurated at the Astricultural Department at Washington conceruing destructivo plant diseases the Professor thinks that, although substantial progresa has been made withiu a few years part in the knowledtte and scientitic treatment of the diseases of the field, garden and orchard crops, very much still remains tobe done. Of the cause of some of the worst destructiye 'diseaes, peach yellows, for example, we are still altogether ignoran t and it is very desirable ihai every fact hearing upon the distribution and habits of thvs and other insufficieutly studied diseases of fruits should be carefully and minutely recorded. There is need of allane help that can be secured through such heai ty ani continued co-operation, for the field i3 lar-je and the traiued workers very lew. It is to be regretted "that with the special provisión made by the general government for the maiutainance of experimental siations in the different states. Measures have not been taken by our owu State Board of AgrictiUure for the prosecution of this line of iuvestigation and it is to be hoptfl that ihe subject may receive in due time the altentiou that its importance demands. Following Prof ápaulding, Mr. Erwin F. Smith, of the Department of Agri" culture, at Washington, gave a history and descriptiou of the peach yellows, illustrated by photographs, so that every fruit grower could see at a glanee the appearauce of the disease. Fortunately tor Washtenaw this 'disease by which whole orchards have been destroyed on the western sliore of Michigan, has never made its [appearance liere. The only remedy uow is the irnmediate taking up and burning of the infected tree. Peach trees twenty-five and thirty years old weye reported by Messrs. Parshall and Treadwell. A vote of thanks was tendered Prof. Mpauldiug nd Mr. Smith. The subject of fruit exchange war taken up. Tlie neccessity of a bettes distribulion of our fruit is feit. The crowding of fruit at one or two commission houses get prices down to zero. As it is now, fruit growers are at the mercy of the commission man, whocan allow them just what he pleases. Tlie committee ou fruit exchange will have a jieeting the 17th. of Maich. Prof. B. E. Nichols and Mr. Ganzhorn read the constitutions of incorporated fruit exchangesof Benton Harbor and other places. The eihibit consisted of a beautiful red apple by J. Allmand, for a name. V'm. Canwell thought it was a lien üavis, otters were not positive about the name. A fine display of artificial flowers was made by Mis. Martin UI ark.