‘THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE TOBACCO BLUE- 
MOLD (PERONOSPORA) DISEASE IN THE GEOR- 
GIA-FLORIDA DISTRICT. 
Statements reported to have been circulated in the press and in 
the tobacco trade to the effect that the Florida-Georgia shade-tobacco 
industry has been destroyed by the tobacco blue-mold disease, which 
recently appeared in that region, have not been authorized by the 
United States Department of Agriculture, and are entirely without 
foundation. The disease, which, so far as known, was first observed 
on commercial plantings in this country early this season in the 
Gadsden-Decatur district, and aroused much apprehension among 
the growers there at that time, has been under investigation by us 
since late in March. The infection in the seed beds was distinctly 
threatening and the same condition existed in a very considerable 
number of the fields for several weeks. Since about the middle of 
April growing conditions in the region have been favorable for the 
development of the crop and adverse to the spread of the disease, 
so that its attacks have been substantially confined to the lower 
leaves, and are estimated at not to exceed 5 per cent of the crop in 
the infected areas; that is, on the average only about one leaf per 
plant. Advices to the end of May indicate that the crop is making 
a rapid, luxuriant growth, showing little insect injury, with little 
probability of spread of blue mold later in the season. 
The hot dry period during the first 10 days of May appears to 
have had much to do with checking the further development of the 
disease. This was followed by nine days of light rains which were 
very favorable to the growth of the tobacco and did not cause any 
noteworthy spore production of the fungus. Since then the weather 
thas been dry and very few new spots have developed. 
We are informed that statements have been made to the effect that 
this disease will spread on tobacco in storage and that even leaves 
which may mature without visible infection would be unsuitable for 
use. There is no foundation for such statements, as the disease does 
not spread on harvested and cured tobacco. Clean leaves are in all 
respects normal and suitable for wrapper use. 
In some ways the common names “mildew” and “mold” that 
through long usage have become attached to fungi of this group 
51978—21 (3) 
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