These trees came into full foliage and bloom without a sign of the presence of their peculiar fungi-the twig blight (Micrococcus), the orange rust (Rastelia aurantiaca), the leaf blights (Entomosporium maculatum and Hendersonia cydonia). Until about the middle of July there were no symptoms of disease on these trees. Then their leaves began to spot with the Entomosporium and the Hendersonia. They were subsequently sprayed every three weeks with the Bordeaux mixture, and although a few signs of these fungi came upon the leaves they held them in apparent health until October.

Last year, in August, these trees lost their leaves excepting one tree, which I sprayed a few times with the Bordeaux mixture to try if the foliage would stand it. This sprayed tree suffered less from leaf blight than the rest did, and it was the only tree of the six which fruited this year.

The rest of the quince trees treated grow in the orchard. They lost much of foliage and fruit by the fungi in 1888. This spring, after the leaves were formed (May 13), they were sprayed with Bordeaux mixture and this repeated until July 22. At this date (October 26) they hold most of their leaves. A few trees left unsprayed are bare of foliage.

MELON BLIGHT.

On several hundred hills of melons I sprayed alternate bills along the rows with Bordeaux mixture, beginning as soon as they began to make vine, repeating the application every two weeks until the middle of August, when the vines were generally blighted. Last year I thought I saw benefit from the spraying. This year I did not see any. Probably the summer has been too wet. I also tried dusting many melon hills with sulphur and lime. All blighted alike.

The best preventive I have yet found for this malady of the melon vine is to cover it as it grows with a sprinkle of hay or litter. Melons must not be planted twice on the same ground.

TOMATO BLIGHT.

I planted two rows of tomatoes; rows, 40 feet apart. Sprayed one row with Bordeaux mixture as soon as the plants were in bloom. It burnt the foliage. I then sprayed other tomato plants with the solution of copper carbonate. This did no harm, and proved protective against tomato blight. The Bordeaux mixture reduced to one-half its strength is fully strong enough for the tomato leaf, and protects it from the blight. Like the melon, the tomato should not be grown twice on the same plat where this fungous disease exists.

POTATO BLIGHT.

(Phytophthora infestans.)

For years I have failed to grow the Peachblow potato-one of our most valuable varieties. This failure has been so constant and so gen.

eral in this region that culture of the Peachblow is abandoned, it being thought that this variety is "run out."

Every summer, just as this potato plant is in bloom, it is struck with this blight. The leaves and stalks wither, and growth of the tubers is aborted. Last autumn I bought a few bushels of White Peachblow potatoes to give them another trial under protection of the copper sulphate solutions.

acre.

Between the tree-rows of a young orchard, where I had just ploughed under a heavy clover sod, I planted these potatoes June 26, manuring in the rows with ashes and a half a ton of Mapes's potato manure per In the spaces between tree-rows were planted three rows of potatoes, 3 feet apart, in each space. These parallel plats and rows are 75 yards long, and separated by the trees; the plats are 12 feet apart. There are five plats, with fifteen rows of potatoes. When the plants were a foot high, I sprayed the west plat, No. 1, with Bordeaux mixture. Also the plat next to it, No. 2. The middle plat, No. 3, was not sprayed. The next plats, 4 and 5, were sprayed. This spraying was at intervals of two weeks until September 10.

On October 4, on plats 1 and 2, the potato plants were green and growing, apparently healthy. On plat 3 (untreated), the plants were dead and dry, and had been thus for two weeks. They were victims of the potato blight. Plats 4 and 5 were healthy as 1 and 2. On October 17, a hoar-frost slightly nipped the leaves of these potatoes, but the stalks are yet green and they are yet growing (October 26).

On October 25, I caused photographs to be taken of plat 2 (treated), and of plat 3 (untreated). I also dug a few hills. One (untreated) yielded four small potatoes. Next, a hill (treated), yielded thirteen large potatoes and four small ones. Another hill from plat 3 gave five small potatoes; and another from plat 2 gave ten large tubers and five quite small.

On November 5, the potatoes were dug, the yield being as follows:

The tubers from the treated plats are large and marketable, those from the untreated quite small. Plat No. 2 is alongside of a row of trees. This accounts for the falling off in yield.

In another potato patch (Mammoth Pearl) I treated-part with modified Bordeaux mixture, part with solution of copper carbonate. These are also preventive of potato blight. They were not, however, applied as early or as often. I had time only to make a thorough experiment on the Peachblows. The Pearl potatoes were dug (ripe) October 4, a quarter acre yielding 70 bushels. In spraying potatoes next year I purpose

mixing with the Bordeaux mixture a solution of London purple, 1 pound to 200 gallons of water. The fungus and the potato bug may thus be doctored at one operation.

STRAWBERRY LEAF-BLIGHT.

(Sphaerella fragariae.)

It may be of interest to mention some crude experiments made in eradication of this fungus. This year my strawberry plants were badly infested by this blight, which badly damaged the crop of fruit. When through picking (June 27) I sprayed some rows of strawberry plants with a solution of sulphuric acid, 1 pint to 6 gallons of water. This mixture killed all as if burned with fire. Soon a new growth started from the crowns, and now (October 26) the contrast in the apparent health of the rows is quite perceptible. The sprayed rows are nearly healthy; those not sprayed are much diseased.

I also, in June, sprayed a few rows with Bordeaux mixture, and others with the copper carbonate, but saw no benefit, as they were doubtless applied too late to prevent the infection. This fungus must be prevented. It can not be cured.

I have an acre of strawberries on which, next spring, I shall try to kill or cure the blight by spraying early with a sulphuric acid solution. It will disinfect the plants similarly to burning them off with fire.

REPORT OF A. M. HOWELL, OF GREENVILLE, S. C.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the experi mental work done by me during the season of 1889 in the treatment of the fungous diseases of the grape and tomato. As the experiments were successful and satisfactory to fruit-growers and others who witnessed the effects of the treatment in contrast with the ravages of fungi on untreated plants in close proximity, the important details of the work and its results may be briefly told.

Respectfully,

B. T. GALLOWAY,

A. M. HOWELL, Special Agent, Greenville, S. C.

Chief of the Section of Vegetable Pathology,

United States Department of Agriculture.

Early in April I was requested by you to prepare for some experiments in combating the fungous pests of plants, and in due time I received my commission as a special agent of the Section. I was also furnished a Eureka sprayer, and was authorized to purchase the chemicals necessary for the work.

19669-No. 11--4