DISEASED CONDITION OF PLANTS 41 
leaves. The top of the plant became a light green colour 
and yellow blotches appeared on the leaves. This 
gradually became worse, the yellow blotches dried up, 
and the plant developed the typical symptoms of 
“ chlorosis.” After 60 days the new growth was weak 
and yellow and the flowers dropped without setting. 
In 37 days plant No. 4 developed symptoms of chlorosis, 
which are so familiar on some nurseries, but they were 
not so serious as in plant No. 3. The leaves became a 
light green colour mottled with yellow and the tops 
were decidedly weak. Plants Nos. 5 and 6 developed in 
the normal way and produced healthy leaves and large 
trusses of fruit. 
Stagnant water is a common cause of chlorosis of 
tomatoes, and may be found on all lands where the 
water table is near to the soil surface. Experiments 
conducted on such lands have demonstrated the import- 
ance of efficient drainage, which has produced satisfactory 
results when all other efforts of soil amelioration have 
failed. “Yellows” of many plants have been shown 
to be directly connected with waterlogged soil conditions. 
Thus ferns lose their green colour and turn white, the 
leaves drop off, and all growth ceases. When such 
plants are re-potted into fresh soil they quickly 
outgrow their diseased condition. Cucumbers grown 
in beds placed on excessively damp borders become 
chlorotic when their roots reach the base. H the 
beds and borders become waterlogged the plant 
wilts, and will die if the water is not quickly drained 
away. 
On the other hand, a deficiency of water in the soil 
has a harmful effect upon plant growth. Every plant 
requires water to enable it to reach its maximum state 
of development, and if the soil moisture is not sufficient 
the growth is less than normal. Not only is the rate of 
growth affected, but the leaves are small and flower and 
fruit production limited. ‘‘ Blossom-end rot” or “ point 
rot’ of the tomato, which is found wherever tomatoes 
