DEPARTMENT OF HOETICULTURE. 235 



the tops of the posts along either side of the row. Then edgings were tacked 

 across from one side to the other, four about each plant and a foot apart. The 

 .plant now found itself growing up between the horizontal edgings, and as it 

 began to lop the rack held it above the ground. Upon this simple rack the 

 tomatoes needed no tying nor training and they spread themselves freely to the 

 sunlight. The circulation of the air under the racks was so free that there was 

 no unusual danger from rot. This is decidedly the best rack which we have 

 tried. We noticed, also, that the fruit ripened more uniformly here than on 

 the plants which were tied to stakes. We shall try other methods of training- 

 next year. It appears advisable to try but a very few sorts each year in order 

 that they can be tested upon a larger scale. 



Tomato Rot. — Our green tomatoes have rotted to an unusual extent this year. 

 The rot first appears as a slight spotty discoloration about the apex of the to- 

 mato, gradually extending and becoming darker until the whole top of tlie fruit 

 sinks in. The disease attacks the fruits at any t'me after they are a third or 

 quarter grown. It threatens to become a serious obstacle to tomato growing. 

 It is commonly supposed that in such dry years as the present rots are not preva- 

 lent. Tomato rot is, of course, of fungous origin. The microscope reveals 

 abundance of bacteria and the mycelium of some higher fungus, as well as 

 occasional isolated septate spores. Professor Arthur * has made numerous 

 inoculations from cultures of the bacteria but has not produced the rot. Hence 

 he concludes that some higher fungus produces the disease. As yet we know 

 of no remedy or preventive. The first preventive which suggests itself is to 

 plant varieties which are least liable to attack. E. S. Goff f is of the opinion 

 that the fruits on the most vigorous plants are most liable. Such has not been 

 our observation. We occasionally observe plants in no way distinguishable from 

 others, which are nearly exempt while all the contiguous plants are much 

 affected. We have made careful observations upon the average per cent, of rot 

 in each variety. These observations are recorded in the last column of the 

 table. It will be observed that the per cent, of disease is ninety or above in 

 Emery, Paragon, Eochester, Livingston's Acme, Market Champion, Golden 

 Queen, Perfection and Livingston's Favorite, while among the market varieties 

 the per cent, is nothing or unimportant in Prize Belle, Advance, Mikado, Yellow 

 Victor, Eed Valencia Cluster, Precursor, Fulton Market, Golden Trophy, Island 

 Beauty, Boston Market, Golden Queen, Conqueror, Gen. Grant, Cardinal, Tro- 

 phy, Criterion, Canada Victor, The Cook's Favorite, Hundred Days and Alpha. 

 Although these figures are striking, they may nevertheless be the result of 

 accident. The affected varieties were scattered among the others, however, 

 causing them to appear as if especially liable to attack. Further observations 

 must be made before conclusions can be reached. In some cases the same 

 variety from different sources showed marked differences in amount of rot. For 

 instance, Livingston's Favorite from Henderson showed 20 per cent, of rot, 

 from Sibley, 90 per cent.; Cardinal from Henderson, 5 per cent., from Sibley 

 75 per cent; Queen from Henderson, 10 per cent., from Nellis, 75 percent.; 

 Golden Queen from Eawson, none, from Burpee, 90 per cent. As there is no 

 reason to suppose that the disease is convey eel in the seeds, it would seem that 

 its appearance is accidental. It is singular that the angular varieties (see 

 Synopsis), the cherry and pear-shaped varieties and those immediately derived 

 from them have been almost exempt from attack. The disease ceased to do 

 much damage late in the season. 



*Rep. N. Y. Exp. Sta., iii., 379. 

 t Rep. N. Y. Exp. Sta., iv., 183. 



