ALFALFA DISEASES. 267 



states. This is not the true "root rot." It is not 

 contagious ; drainage will stop it, but once rotted the 

 field had better be plowed, planted to other crops 

 or resown. 



The Cotton Root Rot. This is a most serious 

 proposition, fortunately not yet widespread. It is 

 found to some extent in Texas, Mexico and some 

 other cotton-growing states. "When root rot attacks 

 cotton the plants die in a circle, ever widening. If 

 alfalfa, is planted in a field infested with this disease 

 the plants die in similar manner, all dying, usually, 

 leaving a round spot of dead alfalfa. 



There is no known available remedy. If a field is 

 badly infected with root rot it should be plowed and 

 devoted to other crops for a time. It is not now 

 known how long the land will remain infected. Land 

 known to be infected with cotton root rot should not 

 be sown to alfalfa. 



