330 STATE flORTICULiTURAL SOCIETY. 



DISEASES OF THE TOMATO. 



This plant is attacked by a number of diseases, which are commonly 

 known as rots of the fruit and blights of the leaves. The form of rot 

 caused by the fungus Macrosporium solani is perhaps most troublesome. 

 While other fungi are often found associated with it, the most common 

 form of rot, which so often appears at the blossom end of the fruit, is 

 attributed to it. While some varieties are more subject to the attack of 

 this disease than others, it seems most likely to appear upon plants that 

 have been subjected to some kind of check, and for this reason it is per- 

 haps most prevalent in hot, dry summers, although a cold, wet season 

 seems to invite the development of the disease. 



It shows at the point attacked as a greenish-brown spot, which gradually 

 enlarges and may involve a greater part of the fruit. The diseased por- 

 tion seems to sink below the surface of the surrounding healthy parts and 

 the cuticle may turn yellow and finally white. If conditions are favorable, 

 a crop of olive-green spores will develop upon the diseased parts, by which 

 the rot will be distributed. 



By the use of Bordeaux mixture soon after the fruits have set, repeating 

 it once at the end of two or three weeks, and if the rot still persists apply- 

 ing copper sulphate solution, the crop can be grown with but little danger 

 from the rot. The frequent use of the cultivator, in dry seasons, will also 

 lessen the check to the plants and the danger of attack by the fungus. 



While it is not certainly known that the use of fungicides will prevent 

 the blighting of the leaves, it seems to have a good efPect, and may be 

 found desirable for the purpose. 



INSECTS OF THE TOMATO. 

 THE TOMATO SPHINX. (Protoparce celeus Hbn.). 



The large green tomato worms frequently annoy people because of their 

 great size and ugly appearance. They are perfectly harmless to handle, 

 and because they are so readily noticed, picking them off by hand is the 

 quickest and simplest remedy we can suggest. They are very hearty 

 eaters and will quite often nearly strip the vines of their foliage. A cut 

 of the three stages in its life history will show the stages of transforma- 

 tion of the sphinx. The pupa will often be plowed up when making 

 garden in the spring. This jug-shape case should be destroyed when 

 found. 



