340 Diseases of Truck Crops 



stem. On the other hand, the Dwarf Champion 

 seems to be especially susceptible to hollow stem. 



BLOSSOM END ROT 



Cause Unknown. 



Blossom end rot, also known as point end rot, may 

 be found wherever tomatoes are grown. It is a dis- 

 ease of the fruit only. In some seasons fifty per cent. 

 or more of the fruit crop is ruined by it. It seems 

 to be more serious in dry weather and on light soils. 



Symptoms. Infection is manifested as a water- 

 soaked spot at the blossom end of the fruit (fig. 64 

 b-c) . The size of the spot may be that of a pin-head, 

 or it may spread so rapidly as to involve half of the 

 tomato. A few days later, the water-soaked spot 

 becomes black and leathery and ceases to make fur- 

 ther progress. Complete rotting of the fruit may be 

 brought about by secondary invasions. 



Plants subject to frequent slight wilting produce a 

 greater number of defective fruits. There seems no 

 doubt but that the water supply in the soil is an 

 important factor in limiting or increasing blossom end 

 rot. The factors of drainage and cultivation are 

 therefore important considerations. Although dry 

 soils and drought favor the increase of the disease, yet 

 the condition of health of the plant itself seems more 

 important than the decrease of water supply. 



The use of fertilizers, too, seems to influence the 

 trouble. Heavy applications of manure or of potash 

 seem to increase the rot, as do fertilizers in the form of 



