INSTITUTE, PUSA, FOR 1918-19 75 



sulphur. All these sprays proved efficacious and there was 

 not a single case of the fungal leaf curl in the sprayed 

 areas. It was very interesting to note that one tree which 

 had escaped the attention of the spraying gang became 

 covered with the leaf curl. 



During the progress of the spraying experiments in 

 Kumaon striking differences were noticed both in the sus- 

 ceptibility of different varieties of apple to disease and their 

 liability to spray injury from the different sprays. Future 

 spraying experiments will be largely influenced by the in- 

 formation obtained in this direction. 



(4) Chilli diseases. The study of the diseases of 

 chillies has been continued by Mr. Dastur. 



Further experiments in the treatment of " die-back " 

 caused by Vermicularia Capsici Syd. did not give any defi- 

 nite results. The methods adopted were preventive spray- 

 ing, shade, and late sowing. There was a failure of the 

 monsoon in September and October, and the consequent 

 dryness of the air, at the time when the normal high humi- 

 dity and the susceptible stage of growth of the plant 

 usually combine to produce an outbreak, prevented the 

 fungus from developing, and the crop remained free from 

 attack. It was, therefore, impossible to judge of the effect 

 on the disease of the various measures tried. However, it 

 is evident that an attempt to avoid damage from this para- 

 site by sowing a month later than the usual time, so that the 

 susceptible period when flowering occurs may be delayed to 

 the drier period of the cold weather, is not likely to be com- 

 mercially profitable. The yield of fruits obtained from 

 the late-sown crop was very poor. Similarly the intercul- 

 ture of rahar (Cajanus indicus) as a shade crop between 

 the rows of chillies had the effect of stunting the latter and 

 cannot be recommended. Further experiments on the same 

 lines are being continued this year. 



The blossom and twig rot of chillies, caused by Choane- 

 phora cucurbitarum (B. & Rav.) Thaxt., which was men- 

 tioned in last year's report as having done considerable 

 damage in 1917-18, was not observed last year on a single 



