Unique Features of the Pathology of Ornamental Plants

This paper is concerned with the vast and diverse array of ornamental plants which have high unit value and usually are short-term inten­ sively cultivated on small acreages. The first paper (30) in this series on unique features of the pathology of various dealt with relatively few types of forest trees which have comparatively low unit/year value, and are long-term, large-acreage receiving limited cultivation. These two pa­ pers thus present polar extremes of crop types and of applied plant pathol­ ogy. Webster's Third New International Dictionary defines an ornamental as a plant cultivated for its beauty rather than for use. Ornamentals have been referred as amenity crops (22), in the sense that they contribute to physical or material comfort or convenience or pleasant and agree­ able life, but this overlooks their usefulness. Ornamental plantings used control erosion, provide shade and ameliorate the environment around home through control of temperature, wind, and traffic noise, reduce headlight glare on highways, and help purify the atmosphere of pollu­ tants have become necessities of modem life.