1907.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 1(31 



young twigs and branches become covered with a thick black 

 growth, resembling soot, which interferes with their normal 

 functions, thus checking their growth. A satisfactory way 

 of ridding the branches of this sooty growth is not known 

 to us at the present time, and from reports which we have 

 received it would appear that the lime and sulfur treatment 

 has no eifect upon it. The best method of prevention is to 

 kill the psylla, which can be effectively done by spraying. 



Some incidental observations have been made during the 

 year on diseases which are unusual, at least in this region ; 

 and these will be referred to briefly, since it is necessary that 

 further studies of these be made before it can be ascertained 

 whether they are likely to cause much trouble. Our atten- 

 tion has been called a few times to some greenhouse tomato 

 troubles, one of which is probably the Fusarium wilt, or 

 " sleeping disease," as it is termed, — a trouble which has 

 been reported elsewhere. 



Another tomato trouble which has been brought to our atten- 

 tion is probably identical with Qidema, and is caused by 

 abnormal heat and moisture conditions. In another case a 

 bacterial trouble of the tomato was observed which Avas un- 

 doubtedly brought about by the exceedingly poor management 

 of the crop. 



Two new or little-known asparagus troubles were noticed 

 during the past season, one of which is undoubtedly a Rhiz- 

 octonia rot, which is mentioned as occurring on asparagus by 

 Saccardo. We were not able to make an elaborate study of this 

 asparagus infection, owing to the limited amount of material 

 which was at hand. Most Rhizoctonia troubles are serious, 

 and it remains to be seen whether this will prove to be so 

 or not. 



Bacterial Disease of Cucumbers. 



The bacterial disease of cucumbers, termed by Dr. Erwin 

 E. Smith " bacteriosis," has been seen here in summer for 

 some years on out-door cucumber crops. My attention, how- 

 ever, has not been called to its appearance on greenhouse crops 

 until this year; but if the reports and descriptions of this 

 disease are correct, it has occurred in more than one green- 

 house durinc; the vear. 



