VII 



TOMATOES 221 



(about 3 gallons) to form a paste ; add 20 pounds of 

 98 per cent caustic soda (or 28 pounds of 70 per cent), 

 and mix thoroughly. The mixture becomes very hot, 

 turns brown, and forms a liquid ; add enough water to 

 make 20 gallons, and stir thoroughly. Pour off the 

 liquid part and put in tight keg for stock solution. 

 Four quarts of this solution in 50 gallons of water applied 

 with a spray pump will prove efficient. 



Damping Off. This is a very common seed-bed 

 disease of tomato and many other plants, and is due 

 to the same causes. Where the plants are grown in 

 large quantities the beds should be treated as recom- 

 mended for tobacco (see page 29). Where grown in 

 small quantities, use fresh clean soil and make the beds 

 so that the watering, drainage, and ventilation can be 

 controlled. 



EGG-PLANT 



The egg-plant is subject to many of the diseases which 

 attack the tomatoes, potatoes, and other solanaceous 

 plants. Among the most important of these are the 

 bacterial wilt (Bacillus solanacearum, E. F. Smith), 

 fusarium wilt (Fusarium lycopersici, Sacc.), sclerotium 

 wilt (Sderotia sp.). 



In addition to these, the most important diseases 

 are the seedling stem blight and the leaf spot. 



Stem Blight or "Damping Off. "--This disease is not 

 caused by the organism which causes the " damping off" 

 of so many plants, but by a fungus known as Phoma 

 solani, Hals. So far as the writer knows, it has not 

 been reported from the tropics, but with the increased 

 production of winter vegetables for northern markets 

 it may occur at any time. It is primarily a seed-bed 

 disease, which attacks the young plants near the ground, 

 causing them to break and decay. If only slightly 

 affected, the plant makes a slow and feeble growth. 

 The fungus is very small, but examination of the 

 diseased part of the stem shows small black specks 

 within which are produced the enormous number of 



