PESTS OF GARDEN VEGETABLES. 



819 



Tomato Bacteeiosis. 



A bacterial disease of Tomatos has been destructive on the Continent, 

 and since appeared in England. The fruit blackens and is at length 

 wholly destroyed. 



Another similar disease, if not the same one, has made its appearance 

 in the L'nited States, where it attacks the Tomato, Egg Plant, Potato, 

 and species of Petunia. The disease causes the foliage to wilt, and, 

 later on, the stem and branches become discoloured and die. In Potatos 

 the disease passes down to the tubers, causing a brown or black rot. 

 Possibly this may be the same as Bacillus phytophthorus. 



Mass. PI. Dis. 338, 342. 



Sleeping Disease of Tomatos. 

 Fusarium Lycopersici (Sacc). 



This disease has been prevalent in Guernsey, and in other places in 

 Britain. The leaves become dull and droop, and the stem collapses. 

 The root is attacked first, gradually extending to the lower part of the 

 stem. Shortly after the sleeping stage, the portion of the stem above 

 ground is covered with a delicate white mould, of erect branched threads, 

 which produce small two-celled conidia (Diplocladium). Afterwards, 

 from the same mycelium, the spindle-shaped spores (Fusarium) are 

 produced in immense numbers. Spraying appears to do no good. 



Gard. Chron. June 8, 18^5 ; Journ. B.H.S. xix., 1895, p. 20, figs. 

 1, 2, 3 ; Mass. PI, Dis. 328. 



Other Tomato Fungi. 



After the attacks of Macrosporium, and sometimes meanwhile, the 

 spindle mould (Fusarium Solani) will attack Tomatos as freely as 

 Potatos, and complete the round of destruction. 



The potato rot mould (Phytophthora infestans) will sometimes attack 

 the tomato, but must be well guarded against, as it would be a fatal foe 

 if once it came to be established. 



Cultivators have been terrified by a long list of supposed tomato 

 diseases, which has been thrust forward without any justification, except 

 to alarm them. The majority of these are saprophytes, and only flourish 

 at the expense of otherwise decaying vegetable matter. Such, for instance, 

 are Sporocybe Lycopersici and Dactylium Lycopersici, which has a strong 

 family likeness to Tricothecium roseum, and probably Phoma destructiva 

 and Sphceroncma Lycopersici. Doubtless they will all prove harmless 

 enough for any other purpose than to allow the writer a remote chance 

 of becoming immortal by means of strings of useless names. No fungi- 

 cides will be required. 



Mint Rust. 

 Puccinia Mentha (Pers.), PI. VIII. fig. 122. 

 All kinds of Mints are liable to infection from the common mint 

 rust which is plentiful on wild Mints : in gardens mostly when in damp 

 situations. 



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