29 2 Gardening 



proper examination will reveal the grubs burrowing in the 

 stem near the base of the plant (page 333) . 



Plants may also wilt badly from lack of water. One 

 needs to recognize the various conditions that cause wilt- 

 ing before deciding that the bacterial wilt is present. 



Muskmelons, watermelons, cucumbers, and squashes 

 are all subject to attacks of this disease at any time during 

 their growth. It is now a common and a very serious 

 disease of vine crops in the United States. 



OTHER BACTERIAL DISEASES OF GARDEN CROPS 



A wilt disease of potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants 

 caused by a bacterium is especially destructive in the 

 southern states. 



A soft rot of the carrot and other vegetables is a com- 

 mon and widespread disease and is 'caused by another 

 bacterium. 



A bean blight, caused by a bacterium, is common on 

 both the kidney and the Lima bean. Its presence is 

 readily detected by the occurrence of water-soaked 

 patches or swellings that appear in the stems, leaves, and 

 green pods. The disease is seed-borne and there is no 

 effective control, except the use of seed from healthy 

 plants. However, treatment of diseased seed is some- 

 what effective in preventing this disease. 



Before planting, soak the seed in a solution of mercuric 

 bichlorid (i part to 1000 parts of water) for 15 minutes ; 

 then rinse or wash in pure water, after which spread 

 out the seeds to dry. This kills the bacteria that are 

 being carried on the seeds. As the solution attacks 



