CROTALARIA, A NEW LEGUME FOR THE SOUTH 5 
S. P. I. No. 64062 produced 992 pounds or 16.5 bushels in duplicated 
plots. 
The summer of 1928 was exceptionally rainy, and the seed of 
C. striata did not develop properly, the thick stand making condi- 
tions very unfavorable for seed production. Approximately 50 
per cent of the seed molded in the pods and did not develop. 
As shown in Table 7, the seed yields were much reduced by cutting 
back the top growth. An interesting point in this connection is 
that seed matured on the new growth from the stubble at practically 
the same time as on the uncut plants. 
INSECT ENEMIES 
Crotalaria is host plant to several insects. In the United States 
the only ones doing appreciable damage are the bella moth 
(Utetheisa bella Li.) and the pumpkin bug (Nezara viridula L.). 
The larvae of the bella moth develop in the pods and destroy the 
seed, doing considerable damage. They are more numerous and 
consequently do more damage early in the season than later. No 
control measures have been determined. Planting late and cutting 
back the first growth of early plantings would tend to throw the 
fruiting season late. 
The pumpkin bug seldom does serious damage to the crotalaria 
plant. It is very fond of the seed pods and feeds on these almost 
exclusively, therefore the seed crop suffers most. When crotalaria 
is used for cover or green manure in citrus groves the pumpkin bug 
may go from the crotalaria to the citrus fruit, doing considerable 
damage. ‘This is especially true when the crotalaria plants drop 
their pods, for any reason, such as frost, drought, or heavy damage 
by pumpkin bugs or other insects. The pumpkin-bug damage to 
citrus fruit has been studied by the entomologist of the Florida Agri- 
cultural Experiment Station (77), and control measures have been 
advised consisting of cutting back the crotalaria in August or earlier, 
but never cutting it late in the fall after the pods are formed. In 
the latter case the bugs, if present, will be driven to the citrus fruit. 
In other words, the crotalaria crop should not be allowed to go be- 
yond the bloom stage before cutting. When handled in this way 
it will be necessary to reseed every year, but with low-priced seed 
this is no serious objection. 
DISEASES ° 
ANTHRACNOSE 
Anthracnose has been a conspicuous disease in crotalaria for the 
last few years and is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum crotalariae 
Petch. The disease is most commonly found on Crotalaria striata 
and (. spectabilis, probably more pronounced on the latter. The 
6 The section relating to crotalaria diseases was prepared by George F. Weber, associate 
plant pathologist, Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Gainesville, Fla., and is based 
largely on work done in Florida. No specific studies have been reported from other sta- 
tions in the United States, but diseased plants have been observed at stations in Georgia 
angi South Carolina, and probably most of the diseases listed by Mr. Weber occur in these 
and other Southern States. In the Tropics of the Far East Fomes lignosus and FP. 
lamaoensis have been reported as attacking crotalaria roots (10). 
