40 



From this it appears that greenliouse crops started in August or Septem- 

 ber become affected from outdoor crops, as this is the time the mildew 

 is prevalent on outdoor cucumbers. This mildew can be completely 

 controlled by spraying with Bordeaux mixture every two weeks ; but 

 for indoor cucumbers it would be better lo plant them in October or 

 November, rather than earlier, as there is little likelihood of these 

 becoming infected. 



Akthkacnose (Colletotrichiwi Lagenarium (Pass.) Ell. & Hals.). — 

 At the present time this fungus causes more trouble to outdoor cucum- 

 bers and melons than all other organisms combined. The attack has 

 been so severe in some instances that it is almost impossible to succeed 

 in raising a crop without having it all destroyed before maturing the 

 fruit. The first indications of anthracnose are yellow spots on the 

 leaves, which multiply and enlarge, and in a very short time the whole 

 plant succumbs. The spread of the disease is frequently so rapid that 

 it only requires a few days for the entire crop to die. Crops killed by 

 this fungus present a dry, parciied aspect, as if they had been subjected 

 to hot and dry winds of the greatest intensity. Greenhouse cucumbers 

 are also affected with anthracnose in the spring of the year. We have, 

 however, never observed this fungus on indoor crops earlier than March 

 24. The anthracnose does not appear so destructive in the greenhouses 

 as out of doors ; at least, greenhouse cucumbers will continue to live 

 some time after being infected with this fungus. All of the expei'i- 

 ments made in spraying for the control of the anthracnose have been 

 very discouraging. About all that can be said at the present time is 

 that vines thoroughly sprayed every one or two weeks will remain 

 green slightly longer than those not spra3'ed. During the season of 

 1901 it caused an immense amount of damage to melons, making its 

 appearance during the latter part of July in this State. 



Bacteria Wilt. — Many cucumbers grown out of doors frequently 

 become wilted. It is caused in many cases by bacteria, which mul- 

 tiply so rapidly in the plant as to clog up the vessels. Since there are 

 certain worms which affect the I'oots and stems of cucumbers that also 

 cause wilting and subsequent collapse of the plant, care must be taken 

 to distinguish between these two troubles. If the wilting is caused by 

 worms, an examination of the roots will show its presence ; whereas» 

 if caused by bacteria, the roots may appear perfectly healthy. If the 

 wilt is caused by bacteria, sections of the leaf petiole about one inch 

 long, i^laced under a tumbler, or in any moist place, will exude a muci- 

 laginous material from their ends. This constitutes a rough method of 

 diagnosing the disease, the exudation being caused by the bacteria mul- 

 tiplying so rapidly in the tissues that tliey are forced out. No effective 

 remed}' is known for the bacterial wilt at the present time. 



Othkk Tkoubles. — Some other difficulties which growers of green- 

 house cucumbers have to contend with are caused hj organisms be- 

 longing to the animal kingdom, such as aphis, thrips and nematode or 

 gall-forming worms. Fumigation with tobacco is the general method 

 of treatment employed for the two former pests, while freezing or 

 sterilizing the soil constitutes efficient remedies for the extermination 

 of nematode worms. 



