VEGETABLE GROWING IN NEW SOUTH h'ALES. 109 



In harvesting for storage and for seed, the greatest care should be taken 



to avoid bruising. 







Sunburn of Tomato. 



Tomato fruit sometimes becomes scorched by the sun, spots being formed 

 that at first are pale yellow, and later black. These spots sometimes 

 resemble the diseased areas produced by ripe rot, and soon become infected by 

 various fungi. Heavily foliaged varieties are less liable to attack, and if 

 methods of cultivation, such as staking, are adopted, that will provide for the 

 foliage shading the fruit, less damage will result. Plant as early as possible, 

 so that plants will attain good growth before the approach of hot weather. 

 Spraying will do no good. 



White Rust of Turnip and Cabbage. 



This fungus attacks nearly all plants belonging to the cabbage family in 

 every part of the world. Among cruciferous weeds, Shepherd's Purse suffers 

 most severely, and as this and other related weeds may harbour the pest, 

 particular attention should be given to their destruction. The fungus attacks 

 the plants when they are seedlings, and grows up with the plant. At a later 

 stage it produces on the leaves, stem and flowers, small white areas presenting 

 the appearance of little blisters. It should be remembered that infection 

 <3an only be effected during the seedling stage, and therefore the seed-beds 

 should occupy a fairly dry, open situation. 



The fungus effects different hosts in varying ways. In the case of Shep- 

 herd's Purse, for example, the stems become enlarged and distorted, and 

 usually no malformations of the flowers or leaves occur, while in the radish 

 the flowers often become strikingly modified. 



The methods of control recommended are : Rotation of crops (see page 22); 

 destruction by burning of all diseased plants ; destruction of cruciferous 

 weeds which harbour this fungus, and the application of a mixture of equal 

 parts of freshly-slaked lime and sulphur, which should be dusted on the plants. 



Wilt of Tomato. 



This is primarily a disease of the plant, and it is caused by a parasitic 

 fungus that invaders the vascular tissue and by its action produces wilting. 

 A plant that is attacked gradually sickens, loses its green colour, wilts, and 

 finally collapses to the ground. Plants are attacked here and there in the 

 field, and if a badly-affected one or a dead one be pulled up, the roots are 

 found to be decayed or destroyed by a dry rot. As the cause of the trouble 

 is a soil dweller and a 'root parasite, spraying is of no value in controlling it, 

 and good cultivation and rotation are the chief preventive measures. 



