22 



ment of Agriculture for examination, and the Pathologist reported as 

 follows : 



The leaves all appear badly infected with fungus Ascochyta nicotiance. To the 

 best of my information this fungus has not as yet been found within the limits of 

 the United States proper, and we have never heard of its previous occurrence in 

 Porto Rico. In past years several reports of its occurrence have been made from 

 various points in Italy. These reports, however, have been very meager, and we 

 know very little concerning its destructive nature and practically nothing con- 

 cerning the methods of control. Judging from the specimens of leaves submitted, 

 it would appear to be a rather serious disease, and great care should be taken to 

 prevent its spreading into other places. 



It is quite possible that judicious fertilizing would increase the 

 vigor of the plants and render them less susceptible to the disease. 

 The use of a fertilizer containing a rather large percentage of potash, 

 and, if the soil is soggy, careful attention to drainage, might be bene- 

 ficial. Diseased leaves and all refuse from a diseased crop must be 

 burned. 



Some of the results obtained in the experiments are summarized as 

 follows : 



Results of harvesting 5,300 plants, or four-elevenths of an acre, of shade-grown 



tobacco. 0 



Pounds. 



Weight of cured leaves 330 



Weight of fermented leaves 287 



Loss in fermenting 43 



Wrappers: 



Dark 26 



Medium 44 



Fine _ T 42 



Total 112 



Small, medium and fine 5 



Partly spotted, medium and fine T. 5 



Resago. medium and fine 57. 5 



Quebrado 31 



Total . 101 



Fillers: 



Light ... 43 



Heavy..... 31 



Total 74 



Yield of four-elevenths of an acre 287 



Yield per acre 789 



«It should be remembered that this was a diseased crop and not a fair example. 



