Cauliflowek 1445 



diseases 



Club root. This is a common disease in western New York and 

 is becoming more common on Long Island. It is a swelling of 

 the root caused by low organisms known as slime molds. The 

 disease receives its name from the club-like appearance of the root 

 system. Infection takes place through the root, and the organ- 

 isms are able to live in the soil. The remedy is rotation of crops, 

 keeping all closely allied crops away from the land for at least 

 five years, and applying lime to the soil once every two or three 

 years, or at longer periods. Care should be exercised not to 

 bring the disease from the seed bed. Fields are soon rendered 

 worthless in this manner. . 



Black rot. This is a common disease of the cabbage which is 

 very destructive to cauliflower. Infection generally takes place 

 through wounds, slowly working through the veins and involving 

 the whole plant. The growth of the disease is marked by a yel- 

 lowing or browning of the leaf from the tip backward and a 

 darkening of the fibro-vascular bundles. The best remedy seems 

 to be rotation. 



Soft or stump rot. A common disease in seasons of hot and 

 muggy weather. A wounded portion of the plant offers an open- 

 ing for this parasite. The stem and inside of the head generally 

 rots first. Rotation and liming the soil seems to be the best 

 remedy. 



Physiological trouble. Ricing is a physiological trouble prob- 

 ably resulting from renewed growth or pushing up of the flower 

 heads, frequently caused by rain after a long period of drouth, 

 especially where the plants have been standing still. Cultivation 

 seems to be a good method of controlling this trouble. Additions 

 of humus-makino; material to soil will also aid materially in in- 

 creasing its water-holding capacity, thus helping to do away with 

 the trouble. Bad seed selection may be another cause. 



PICKLING 



Cauliflowers are often grown for the pickle factory. There 

 seems to be no difference in the culture from that mentioned for 

 market, with the exception of harvesting. The flowers in harvest- 

 ing are removed from the plant and the leaves taken from them. 



