This disease is caused by a microscopic nematode or true worm, _Heterodera radicola_,[2] that infests the soft fibrous roots causing small galls or swellings. When present in sufficient numbers it causes the death of the roots and the consequent starvation and death of the tree. It is by no means confined to the fig, but attacks the roots of many other fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs and is especially injurious to many garden vegetables and farm crops.[3] This pest thrives best in moist sandy soils, and is troublesome throughout the entire coast region. No effective remedy is known when a tree is once infested, hence the necessity for planting on land known to be free from the pest, and the importance of not growing vegetables between the trees that will act as a nurse crop for the disease. Neal recommends thorough drainage of the land and the application of tobacco dust mixed with unleached ashes or lime as the most promising remedial measures. He advises against the excessive use of ammoniacal manures as producing a soft, succulent root growth favorable to the growth of the nematode. (See Bulletin No. 20, previously cited.) Footnote 2: G. F. Atkinson, “A preliminary report upon the life history and metamorphoses of a root-gall nematode (_Heterodera radicola_ (Greeff) Müll.) and the injuries caused by it upon roots of various plants.”—Alabama Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. No. 9. Footnote 3: J. C. Neal, in an account of the root-knot disease (Dept. Agr., Div. Ent., Bul. No. 20) gives a list of over 60 species of plants known to be infested by it. FIG-LEAF RUST. Brown spots frequently appear on the foliage during the summer, and, if numerous, cause the leaves to fall prematurely. These spots are caused by a true rust fungus, _Uredo fici_ Cast. It occurs quite frequently widely, and abundantly, but as it usually does not develop enough to be noticeable until after the crop is ripe, it seems to do but little harm. No attempt has been made to find a remedy. FIG CERCOSPORA. A somewhat similar injury to the leaves is known in Europe, caused by an entirely different fungus, _Cercospora bolleana_ (Thum) Sacc. It had not been observed in this country until the summer of 1895, when it was found abundantly in Mississippi by S. M. Tracy. A _cercospora_, probably the same species, is also reported from Florida by H. J. Webber. It probably occurs quite commonly, but has been overlooked, its injuries being confounded with those caused by the _Uredo_. DIE BACK.