CALIFORNIA THISTLE

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 67, 23 March 1929, Page 7

CALIFORNIA THISTLE

A CONTROLLING RUST. A few weeks ago fungoid diseases in plants were being dealt with in the agriculture lesson of the Standard VI. boys at the Stratford primary school, and this jprolnpted Don Thomson, son of Mr P. Thomson, to take to school some samples of Californian thistle, affected, with a ) On the

suggestion of Mr I>. Taylor, serum assistant at the school, the samples were forwarded to the. Cawthrou institute), Nelson, (.and -Bon Jias received) (the following reply from* Mr B, J. Parlane, assistant niycoio-. gist: “Your letter and specimens have boon, handed to mo by Proles, sor OEasterfield lor attention. 1 ("f thiistle is attacked by a- rust-fungus named Puccmiai Obtegens, which is found in many places in New Zealand as well as in most other temperate countries. The dense brown mass on the leaves and shoots ol the plant is due to the spores of the rust, which are lor mod during most ojf the year. The rust is of considerable importance in controlling the plant, but will not eradicate it altogether. It will live from yeai to year in the same patch of thistles, and at times prevents seed) from being formed in the flowering heads. The specimens arrived in very good condition, and will be an acceptable addition to rt'ir 'herbarium. T hope you will semi u s anything else you. And that is of interest, either fungal or plants. t»1 larger fungi of the toadstool or puffball types.”