34 



CIRCULAR NO. 120, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



been confused Avith the distortion of the leaves by phuit lice, but the 

 two malformations are readily distinguished. 



Leaf-cut is in the nature of an environmental injury, not due to 

 l^arasitic organisms or to constitutional weakness, but api:)arently 

 connected with exposure to heat and dryness. All varieties of cotton 

 are susceptible during the early stages of growth. 



Though leaf-cut is not fatal, it is responsible for much damage by 

 retarding the growth of the young plants. The loss of the terminal 

 buds interferes with normal habits of branching, and the plants are 

 permanently deformed. Damage from leaf-cut can be avoided or 

 reduced by improved cultural methods, and the deformed plants can 

 be removed by later thinning. 



[Cir. 120] 



ADDITIONAL COPIES of this publication 

 -t\. may be procured from the Superintend- 

 ent OF Documents, Government Printing 

 OflBce, Washington, D. C, at 5 cents per copy 



