76 



The Bulletin. 



Watermelon. — Watermelon wilt is similar to the cotton wilt, whole vines droop- 

 ing and dying in a day. The darkening of the veins in the stem, the recurrence 

 on soil once infected, are the characteristics by which it may be recognized. 

 Since cowpeas are often raised with melons, infected melon vines readily find 

 their way through the cowpea hay to the manure pile. In the manure pile the 

 fungus increases rapidly, and the manure thus becomes capable of carrying the 

 disease to any land to which it is applied. Stable manure in the infected region 

 is therefore dangerous. Land once infected can not be cured, therefore precau- 

 tion should be taken to prevent the infection of land which is now healthy. 



BLIGHT. 



Potato, Ir'sh. — Experiments in many States have proved the value of spraying 

 Irish potatoes with* bordeaux mixture. The yield is often doubled or even 

 trebled. Bordeaux mixture should be applied; the first application when the 



Fig. 119— Potato late blight. 



plants are about eight inches high with subsequent applications every ten to 

 fourteen days. Any one interested in this spraying should write to the Experi- 

 ment Station, Geneva, N. Y., for their Bulletin on the subject. 



BLACK ROT. 



Qrape. — This disease is the most common of all grape diseases, and is found all 

 over the State. It may be recognized by the black, dried, wrinkled berries. In 

 many sections the crop is absolutely worthless on account of the prevalence of 

 this disease, and it is found to some extent at practically every home where grapes 

 are raised. This disease can be almost entirely controlled by proper, thorough 

 spraying with bordeaux mixture as recommended above for apples. A special 

 Bulletin concerning this disease can be had on application to the North Carolina 

 Agricultural Experiment Station, West Raleigh, N. C. 



Every farmer should familiarize himself with the chief plant diseases and 

 learn how to prevent them. He should learn how to make bordeaux mixture 

 and the lime-sulphur washes, and should use them. He should equip himself 

 with spray pumps suited to his needs. THE TIME TO DO THIS IS NOW. Write 



