It must be 10 or more years since this place was hit by what I come to call the curling virus.
The host plant or shrub was a group of volunteer elder bushes. The leaves curled. Then it was dahlias and geraniums. I tried to destroy what I found.
An “expert” said it was spray drift. Oh, those experts! They think we are the stupid ones.
One autumn I decided to take cuttings from some outstanding geraniums and grow them in the south upstairs bedroom.
I carried these plants past a pretty hanging violet on the first landing. After awhile, the geraniums curled up, then the violet.
Another year, when I thought it safe, I brought in another kind of plant. Later, what I thought was young and unopened leaves on a large and attractive ficus proved to be curling virus.
The same “expert” said, “She must be storing farm chemical in the basement.”
Again, an ignorant city person who thinks he knows something.
This problem is no way resembles farm chemical damage.
I thought the disease to be in remission, but it came back this year in terrible strength. I should mention that some years ago I tried the Canadian Department of Agriculture, no interest.
I have so far spent hours cutting and burning cotoneaster, potentilla, elder, a large portion of a large pine, dozens of lilies, some peonies, some bleeding heart and lilac.
I was so pleased to have a fine germination of garden peas and a grape crop that would have been more than I would ever be able to use. Now these are curled up and I might as well pull them up and burn them for they will die.
So far, since the problem is only for an unimportant female, I have been shrugged off.
This garden and plantation are nearly 100 years old and have been written up in several newspapers, books and magazines over the years. It could all be lost.
Now, if the disease, which I think is insect spread, can kill garden peas it can kill field peas. I expect tender canola could be hit. If a billion dollar industry can be hurt then some real experts might get busy on the problem.
Until now, whether animal or plant problems, I have tried not to spread them. I will no longer bother.
I see some caragana curling and dying. If only it hit just that.
I have sent samples to the local agriculture office, of pine, bleeding heart, peony and hosta.
Will anything be done?
Christine Pike
Waseca
