1911.] PUBLIC D0CUMP:NT — No. 31. 63 



after wilting occurs, hut as the disease becomes more severe tlie 

 plants wilt more badly, and after a time die. Examination of 

 the roots and stems near the surface of the ground showed 

 evidence of the fungus Fusarlinn. In some instances this fun- 

 gus has been traced quite largely to the roots and stems. The 

 fungus develops princi])ally in the wood ducts, eventually clog- 

 ging them by shutting off the water supply from the roots. 



As the disease has been called to our attention only recently 

 we have not had an opportunity to study it thoroughly or to give 

 the matter of remedies much consideration. It nuiy be found, 

 however, that, like many others, it will prove to be merely spo- 

 radic, and little may be heard from it in the future ; although 

 on the other hand, it may become a permanent and serious 

 trouble. 



Cucumber crops are unusually susceptible to certain troubles 

 which in many cases are traceable directly to mismanagement. 

 Practically all cucumber growers force their plants to the limit, 

 regardless of external weather conditions, in this respect differ- 

 ing from florists and other market gardeners, who endeavor to 

 adapt their crops to weather conditions. Too much forcing in 

 the fall months, when the sunlight is poor, produces a tender 

 tissue peculiarly susceptible to disease, and is a bad practice. 

 There is no doubt, in the writer's estimation, that crowding the 

 plants and extensive forcing, especially when the sunlight is 

 poor, are responsible for a large part of the modern Fiisarium 

 troubles. Some years ago we found in our experiments that 

 young aster plants which had been forced under glass in ster- 

 ilized soil were decidedly more susceptible to stem rot than those 

 grown in ordinary soil out of doors. The sterilized plants grew 

 so rapidly that the tissue was very tender ; whereas those grown 

 out of doors formed tissue of an entirely different texture, which 

 was less susceptible to disease. The stems of cucumber plants 

 are often in bad condition near the surface of the ground, due 

 to a combination of circumstances. Mites, eel worms, bacteria, 

 etc., often affect the stem at this point, causing lesions and seri- 

 ous disruption of the tissue, and stems in this condition easily 

 become affected with one trouble or another. The Fumr'mm 



