NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



915 



stumps, felled timber, and timber in buildings. How far the assumption 

 can be supported that these are all parasites (even partial) will require 

 better proof than is given before the claims can be admitted as proved. 

 The list is useful, however, as indicating fungi whose life-histories are 

 worthy of closer examination. — W. G. S. 



Tobacco : Wilt Disease, and its Control. By R. B. E. McKenney 

 (U.S.A. Dep. Agr. Bur. PL Lid., Bull, No. 51, pt. 1 ; Sept. 18, 1903).— 

 The wilt disease of Tobacco has been known for a number of years in 

 North Carolina. So far as at present known, the wilt disease does not 

 make its appearance until the Tobacco has attained about a third of its 

 growth. The first evidence is a sudden wilting or drooping of one or 

 more leaves. As a rule the wilting of a few leaves is followed by wilting 

 and withering of all the leaves. Later the base of the stem blackens and 

 rots. At times nearly the entire field will go down with the disease 

 during the first year. Microscopic examination of wilted Tobacco always 

 reveals the presence of a fungus belonging to the genus Fusarium. This 

 is found in the woody parts of roots and stem. 



As shown in other wilt diseases, the Fusarium is a soil fungus, and 

 gains entrance to the plant through the fine roots. It rapidly spreads 

 into the larger roots and up into the stem. 



Once a plant becomes infected by the disease there is no hope of its 

 recovery. The treatment must be one of prevention of the spread of the 

 disease. The Fusarium has been known to live in the soil for a number 

 of years and still be able to produce the disease, especially in mild winters. 

 It is useless therefore to plant Tobacco on infected fields until they have 

 rested for from five to eight years. In order to eradicate the disease all 

 sources of infection of new fields must be destroyed. All diseased plants 

 should therefore be burned on the field where they were grown. None 

 of the diseased Tobacco should be mixed with manure and compost heaps. 

 It is recommended that no fertiliser containing kainit or muriate of 

 potash be used, as these make the conditions more favourable for the con- 

 tinuation of the disease. — M. C. C. 



Tomato, The. By Ed. J. Kyle and Edward C. Green (Agr. Ea p. Stn. 

 Texas, Bull. 65, Jan. 1903 ; illustrated). — A resume of the successful 

 cultivation of early Tomatos in Texas for the trade. This particular 

 branch of market-gardeuing being very profitable when successful, but 

 offering more difficulty than other crops, farmers and growers will be sure 

 to find the practical instruction contained in this paper most useful. 



The importance of seed- testing, and, better still, of saving one's own 

 seed from good fruit on early plants, rather than from early fruits on 

 ordinary plants, is emphasised. 



The whole process, from the preparation of the ground to the final 

 marketing of the produce in suitable receptacles, together with likely 

 diseases and insects, is freshly and crisply described. 



The paper concludes as follows : " How much will it cost to produce 

 an acre of Tomatos ? What number of crates of marketable fruit does 

 an acre produce ? What is the price per crate usually obtained by the 

 grower ? ' ' 



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