2 BULLETIN 1484, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Cook (1) deferred to the new disease in 1923 as possibly analo- 
gous to other growth disorders which he had studied in China and 
Haiti. After further observations in 1923 and 1924, he published a 
full description of the disease and its mode of occurrence and desig- 
nated it acromania or crazy-top (2) . Comparisons with similar disor- 
ders and malformations were made, and the possibility of its being 
an infectious mosaic disease distributed by insects was suggested. 
It was noted from the first that the symptoms of the disease were 
intensified by conditions which were obviously unfavorable, and 
efforts were made to associate its occurrence with soil conditions, but 
it was soon recognized that it could not be fully explained on the 
basis of a simple fertility relation. The persistence of certain indi- 
cations of a soil relationship, however, made it appear desirable to 
continue observations with a recognition of the possibility that 
environmental conditions might influence the disease, regardless of 
whether or not it was of an infectious character. Since the discovery 
of a mosaic disease that is carried by the soil, as announced recently 
by McKinney (4) , it becomes obvious that a consideration of possible 
soil relations may not be out of place in an investigation where a 
disease of this nature is suspected or known to be involved. 
A somewhat cursory survey made by the writers in cooperation 
with the Maricopa County agricultural agent's office 2 in November, 
1925, showed that the disease was present in both Pima Egyptian 
and upland cotton in all parts of the Salt River Valley and that 
more than half of the fields were affected to some extent. It was 
also found in scattered areas in the Casa Grande Valley, where it 
was first noted in upland cotton by the writers in 1923 and identi- 
fied by them as being analogous to the disorder in Pima cotton. The 
disease has not been found to occur along the Gila River, where the 
soil is deep and silty and especially favorable for plant growth. Very 
little of the disorder was observed in the Cave Creek delta area sev- 
eral miles north of Phoenix, and none was found in the Queen Creek 
district, which is especially noted for its favorable soil conditions. 
So far. as the writers have been able to ascertain, the disorder is 
not found except in Maricopa and Pinal Counties, Ariz. There have 
been no reports of its presence in other cotton-growing areas of the 
Southwest, and no indications of its occurence were observed by the 
writers in visits to the other cotton-growing sections of Arizona and 
California in 1924 and 1925. 3 
Although the disorder probably is of recent origin and is still local- 
ized in extent, it is already of considerable economic importance. 
Its disastrous effect on the yields, which can be readily observed in 
some fields, provides evidence that it may develop into a serious 
problem in cotton culture unless a better understanding of its nature 
and suitable control measures become available. 
Since Cook has already described in detail the typical symptoms 
which identify the disorder, it seems unnecessary to include a 
descriptive treatment in this bulletin. 
i Italic numbers in parentheses refer to "Literature cited," p. 21. 
' The writers are indebted to County Agent H. A. Stewart and his assistant, J. B. Duerson, for aid In 
locating areas of cotton affected by crazy-top in the Salt River Valley, Ariz. 
3 In September, 1926, mild manifestations of crazy-top affecting small groups of plants in fields of upland 
cotton were observed by one of the writers in the San Joaquin and Imperial Valleys of California. 
