VI 



TOBACCO 



151 



healthy plants for planting, and the fields should be 

 well drained. 



Paluppu. This is a root disease of Dumbara which 

 is caused by an undetermined species of Fusarium. 

 The stem becomes discoloured at the base and the leaves 

 dry up, the plant undergoes a premature ripening and 

 eventually dies. The plants should be destroyed, and 

 it has been recommended that lime be used on the soil 

 from which they are taken. 



14 



FIG. 63. Tobacco plants affected with nematodes. 



Nematodes. These pests attack the tobacco in 

 common with many other plants on which they live. 

 They have been reported from the United States, the 

 West Indies, and Hawaii, and since they are so widely 

 distributed, they no doubt attack the crop in many 

 other places. The extent of their injuries is somewhat 

 questionable ; the writer has examined many plants in 

 Cuba which had an abundance of the galls (Fig. 63) 

 on the roots but an apparently healthy top. However, 

 in Porto Rico, they are said to be the cause of 



