DIVISIOX OF TOBACCO 1023 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Spanish, which are more resistant, but the market for such varieties is not favourable 

 and even these kinds become badly affected. 



Mr. James Johnson, a plant pathologist from the College of Agriculture, Madison, 

 Wisconsin, made no hesitation in calling the disease Tlr hivia hasicola. We have 

 planned to co-operate with him in trying to breed a resistant strain of Burley by sow- 

 ing different types of seed selected in 1913 from fields in Essex county. It is believed 

 that through a process of selection and breeding a disease-resistant strain can be 

 worked out. 



PRECAUTIONAIJV MEASURES. 



First. — The soil of the seed-bed which produced sick plants in 1013 miist be either 

 discarded or steamed for twenty to 30 minutes with pressure at 100 pounds. To treat 

 the bed area, secure a pan the width of your beds, 8 to 10 feet loTig. and 4 to 6 inches 

 deep. A serviceable and inexpensive pan can be made by securely nailing galvanized 

 roofing to four pieces of 2- by 4-inch oak scantling, and soldering the seams so that no 

 steam may escape. Have an intake in the form of a short piece of galvanized pipe 

 securely fastened in one corner of the scantling frame; one handle on each side of the 

 pan would make it more convenient to handle. 



The writer saw some beds last spring prepared and cured for alike, but part of the 

 bed area was. disinfected with steam and a portion left not treated. At the time of 

 his visit there was at least 3 inches difference in the growth of the plants. In short 

 the untreated portion gave promise of being a failure, while the treated area was pro- 

 ducing healthy seedlings with very little work required in weeding the beds. 



Second. — Adopt a longer rotation, say, corn, cereals, clover, followed twice in 

 succession before planting Burley on the soil. The above precaution applies parti- 

 cularly to an area of ground which has been frequently used for Burley tobacco. 



Third. — The year previous to planting, apply 1,000 pounds superphosphate i)ev 

 acre, since this fertilizer will counteract the most rapid flovplnpment of the organisni 

 Avhich causes the disease in the soil. 



Fourth. — Let the farmer consider as diseased a field or. whieli a very uneven 

 growth of tobacco was observed in 1913 and be convinced that growing tobacco con- 

 tinuously on the same soil is a risky and exhaustive practice. 



16— 66i Harrow. 



