The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-14

opened buds at the base of the petals,
reforming the flower; third, the ex-
tension OF the fungous growth down
the stem, sometimes its entire length.
causing what is commonly called stem
rot which in severe cases extends
| down into the roots. Sometimes the
stem is first affected, causing it to
damp off and wilt.
The conditions favorable to the
spread of fungus seem to be moist,
humid weather, with frequent show
ers, followed by hot sunshine. 1t M y
be quite severe one season and disap-
pear entirely the following season,
and unless the roots themselves are
affected there seems to be no perma-
nent injury, and 1t is only in a few
sections where serious harm has been
done and where I believe the same
soil con dition and overlooking which
have previously explained have
something to do with it. Spraying
with Bort'eAux mixture as a preven-
| tive has been recommended. Where
roots are badly affected 1t Is best to
replant them in perfectly fresh, sweet
soil, free from manure, cutting away
ell affected parts.
The other trouble is variously
known as "nematodes or eel worms"
Club roots" "Lemoine disease" &C.
| There has been mitch discussion and
difference of opinion regarding these
so-called diseased roots. I believe it
| to be more a condition than a disease
condition brought on usually, as
previously stated. by the excessive use
Of manure when the roots are newly
planted and before they can properly
assimilate the overdose. It Is mani
| tested by distorted, undeveloped roots,
covered with lumpy knots and nodules.
An unusual number OF eyes are
formed, sending up many stems Of
weak growth. which do not mature
flower buds. This condition can also
be produced by too deep planting by
the use of large divisions OF old worn
out roots, by planting in a sour pasty
soil, or by anything which seems to
check healthy action of the roots.
My remedy is to cut the infected
roots into small divisions Of one or
two eyes, shorten the roots to two OF
three inches, and replant In perfectly
fresh soil without any manure. This
forces an entirely new system OF root
growth, and so treated the trouble
usually disappears in a year or two.
Some varieties appear to be more sus-
ceptible than others and occasionally
the trouble persists for a number OF
years. II these happen to be cheap
kinds II is usually better to discard
them and start new with clean roots
with expensive varieties, however, II
= IN 81
them.
Practically all the novelties from
Europe that have come to us from old
gardens are affected when we first
get them, and IL we were TO reject
them on this account we would have
to forego such wonderful varieties as
lie Cygne, La France, Mont Blanc,
! &c.-in fact, nearly all the fine new
French varieties, all more or less af-
fected when first received, soon out
grow this trouble when planted in
new ground here.
Remember. the smoothest.' health
lest roots taken from one place, plant
ed in a sour soil oversaturated with
fresh manure and the most beautiful
specimen OF club root will develop the
following year. Fortunately, It is not
contagious, as many have claimed, for
affected roots can be planted in good
soil side by side with healthy ones,
and have never known a single case
where the healthy roots were affected
by them, which convinces me that the
sick plants are simply suffering from
a cause similar to what we would &C.
scribe as an inactive liver or a bad
case of biliousness in our own sys-
TENS.
To sum up. fungous attacks are local,
due to weather conditions, and are
only occasionally seriously destructive.
Club roots are due to overlooking. i'm
proper soil or planting. and are not
contagious. Cut off and burn dead
foliage in the fall and use hardwood
ashes or lime rs fertilizer for acid
soil. applying manure as a top-dress-