due to weather, varietal differences, infected seed, or to a combina- 

 tion of various causes. 



Anthracnose {Gloeosporium melongenae E & H). — The first 

 planting was of the long purple variety and for some time was 

 quite free of disease. When in full bearing the fruit on certain 

 plants was attacked l)y anthracnose. which from that time on in- 

 creased until at the time the bed was abandoned and the plants 

 pulled, practically all of the fruit on all plants was affected. It 

 seems probable that the fruit on naturally weak plants was attacked 

 first, and then as the other plants were weakened through nematode 

 attacks and other agencies, the disease spread to all. Tlie fact that. 

 owing to lack of a market, the fruit was not picked more than a 

 few times doubtless assisted. 



The disease was characterized by sunken, more or less circular, 

 pits of varying size up to half an inch, often coalescing. Many fruits 

 were so severely attacked that from a half to three-quarters of the 

 surface was cankered. Fruit of all sizes was attacked, and when 

 seriously infected dropped to the ground, leaving the pedicel still 

 attached to the plant. The conidia occurred in salmon-pink masses 

 (sjwrodockia) clustered in the bottoms of the pits. 



It is not likely that spraying will avail against this disease. Re- 

 sistant or non-susceptible varieties properly cultivated and kept free 

 of nematodes or other weakening agencies will prevent serious loss. 



Wilt or Crown Rot (Sclerotium rolfsii Sace.) — Several plants 

 Avere killed by this fungus early in the season. The cases observed 

 were all xery characteristic. There was a rotting of the roots and 

 of the bark at the crown, accompanied l)y jiroduction of white myce- 

 lium both on the roots and at the base of the stem. Later brown 

 sclerotia appeared around the crown and on the surface of the soil 

 adjoining. AVhen occurring together with root-knot, death of the 

 ])lant was especially rapid. SclfHa phroia and Alfrnionthcra srs- 

 silis, weeds growing adjacent to the eggplant, were found attacked 

 in one instance. 



Leap Spot, Fruit Rot (Phonwpsis vera us [Sace. & Syd.] ) Unr- 

 ter.^ — This fungus caiisiMl a leaf spot, fruit i-nt and stem bliglit or 

 cank'M- of the New York S])ineless variety grown in the second plant- 

 ing. .\s a leaf-spot fungus it has been conunonly known as Pliyllo- 

 sficta hortorum Spcg. Xeither the anthracnose nor othej- diseases 

 were o])serve(l on this variety. Conunercially the ero]) was a total 

 failure as a result of the combined attacks of this fungus and insects. 



1 Identification voi-ified by Mr. L. L. Hartci-, PatholoKi.st, Biupjui of Plnnt I)i(histiv, 

 U. S. Department of AKvicultiire. 



103 



