Horticulture. 



400 



The tomato is subject to the attacks of several insects and fungi. The 

 high state of cultivation of these plants, and the many varieties produced by hybrid- 

 isation probably account for this. The careful gardener is always on the look 

 out for these enemies, and, by taking them in hand at the earliest manifestation, 

 often saves his crop. Among the insect pests, the worst is American boll-worm 

 (Heliothis Armiger), which ranks among the most destructive of cut-worms. In the 

 case of the tomato, this Avorm attacks the fruit to devour the seeds, thus causing 

 the fruit to rot and decay. It will therefore be understood that if the plants are 

 allowed to sprawl about on the ground, and the fruits resting near or on the 

 damp soil, they are much more liable to the attacks of these pests than if the 

 plants are staked or trellised. Cut-worms are not difficult to trap with heaps 

 of half-dead weeds placed among the plants, for they crawl under them for 

 shelter instead of burrowing into the ground, and in these simple shelters can 

 be easily collected and destroyed, while an ounce of Paris green well mixed 

 with a pound of damp pollard and placed in little hollows in the ground among 

 the growing plants forms a very attractive food for all these caterpillars, which 

 eat it readily and die. 



Another common disease in India is the "Sleeping Disease" of tomato 

 (Fusrnim lycopersiei , Sacc.) It is a fungus disease, and takes its popular name from 

 the sudden manner in which an apparently well-grown healthy tomato plant will 

 suddenly wilt, droop down, and die almost in a night. This is caused by a fungus 

 that gains an entrance into the smaller roots, rapidly extending through 

 the main roots into the base of stem, and at once affects the whole 

 of the plant. The outward symptoms are a discolouration of the stem when 

 cut through, instead of the natural normal green tint, and a close examination 

 shows that the stem above the ground is more or less clothed with fine white 

 mould, spores of fungus. There is no known remedy for this fungus, no fungi- 

 cide has been found to check it, and the only recommendations that have been 

 made by investigators is, to pull up all plants, weeds, and dead leaves, rake 

 them together and burn ; and mix quicklime with the soil they have been 

 growing in. Seeds taken from diseased plants, or from plants grown in an 

 infested district, are said to transmit the disease, and should not be used. There 

 are some other diseases, but these two are best known in India. — Indian Planting 

 and Gardening. 



[The tomato, though a popular fruit in Ceylon, is not used as much as 

 it might be. The western districts are perhaps a little too wet, but it grows 

 well on the Hanguranketa side of Kandy, and good tomatos can now be got 

 in Kandy market.— Ed. 



