Even worse results were obtained witli the second crop planted 

 in the same beds as the first. As noted the disease attacked the plants 

 almost as soon as the first leaf was formed, although the first spray- 

 ing had already been given. In all nine sprayings of Bordeaux 

 (3-3-50) were made at three to four-day intervals. Practically no 

 salable fruits were produced, the vines making little growth after 

 the first few weeks. 



One peculiar circumstance was noted after the beds were aban- 

 doned. Certain of the plants which had not been killed outright 

 made considerable new growth, free of disease, and even produced 

 normal fruit after the weeds had grown up around them, in spite 

 of rather heavy rains. This circumstance suggests that infection 

 occus from the soil. Another year it is proposed to experiment with 

 mulching and the training of the vines off the ground, since it is 

 apparent that spraying is ineffective under Porto Rican conditions. 



This disease has been reported as occurring upon various other 

 wild and cultivated members of the cucumber family, but except 

 for the melon no otlier hosts have as yet been found. Species exam- 

 ined have ])een : 



Luffa eylindi-ica Esponja. 



Momordiea cliaraiitia Cundeanior. 



Sechiinii edule Chayote. 



Lageiiaria leucantha Pipe gourd. 



Cueurhira pepo Calabazo, squash. 



Anthracnose. — Ripe cucumber fruits and particularly the nub- 

 bins exposed to the sun on the nearly leafless, mildew-infected vines 

 were attacked l)y anthracnose (ColletotricJi tnii Iiu/' nan'tdii [Pers.] 

 E & H). The black fruiting spots of the fungus occurred in more 

 or less circular sunken spots on the exposed surface and also on 

 the indefinite dull white corky areas due primarily to sunburn. Va- 

 rious otlier saprophytic fungi were also present in such cases. 



A fungus apparently referable to PJiijUoslicta cucKrhitaceanon 

 Sacc. v\as found under the same conditions as tlie antliraenosc fun- 

 gus. In this case the grayish or dirty white iri-egular areas were 

 dotted with the iniiuitc t)liH'k pycnidia (fruiting bodies). 



Neither tb.e fungus noi' bacterial wilt iioi- any roiin of dampiu'^' 

 off were observed. 



Egoim.axt (Soknnni iii< l()ii(j( na). 



As was the case with the beans, one serious disease attacked the 

 first planting and anotliei- (juite distinct, the second. It was not 

 possible to determine from the data of one season whet her this was 



102 



