
a4 | : 2 SOUTHERN FLORIST AND  NURSERYMAN 
on may say this branch of the 
floral industry is working hard, spar- 
ing no time or money, having of- 
_ fered our services, cooperation, pool- 
ing of cars, planting of vegetables 
in greenhouses, assisting the public 
to plant Victory gardens, to foster 

sales of bonds and savings aoe 
It was brought out that many are — 
riding on the gravy train. To those _ te 
I would say, please don’t expect the 
others to do the job; plan now ea, 
do constructive, essential work, be- — 
fore the Government makes you do 
things you did not expect. ” 
Treatment of Cone Advised Before Planting 
FOR GLADIOLUS ROT, SCAB 
Is Prevonisiive S| Fusarium Infection 
By D. B. CREAGER 
Illinois Natural History Survey 
USARIUM rots and bacterial scab 
- are among the most destructive 
diseases of gladiolus. There is no 
easy way to control them complete- 
ly, but.much- can be done :to re- 
duce their destructiveness. 
Fusarium rots and bacterial scab 
reduce flower production: Not only 
do these diseases destroy bulbs and 
reduce bulb yields, but they can 
greatly affect flower production as 
well. As high as 50 to 75% reduc- 
tion in flower yield may result from 
fusarium rots; in fact, one of the 
fusarium rots can be so severe in 
Picardy, the florists’ leading vari- 
ety, that an original quantity of 
infested bulbs can be almost com- 
pletely eliminated within two years 
if nothing is done to control the 
disease. In general, bacterial scab 
is not so destructive as the fusarium. 
diseases, but during favorable sea- 
sons for infection flower production 
in some varieties can be reduced 
more than 50%. All of these dis- 
eases are serious enough to warrant 
the attention of all florists growing 
glads, whether they carry along 
their own planting stock or buy a 
new supply of bulbs each year. 
Chemical treatment of bulbs is 
recommended. Based on the results 
of three. years’ experiments, in 
which a number of chemical com- 
pounds have been tested, we rec- 
ommend the use of cresol solution 
compound (USP XI) as a general 
treatment for gladiolus bulbs just 
before planting. In preparing bulbs 
for this treatment, carefully exam- 
ine and discard all of those showing 
symptoms of fusarium rots. The 
cresol treatment will not cure dis- 
eased bulbs; it merely serves the 
important function of removing sur- 
face contaminations so that the 
plants will not become infected aft- 
er the bulbs are planted. 
Corm Treatment Before Planting 
For treating bulbs in this prep-.: 
~ soaking the bulbs for 12 hours in 
aration, use 1 pint of cresol solu- 
or less 
tion compound (USP XI) to 25 gal- 
lons of water. Smaller quantities of 
the same strength solution can be 
._ prepared by-using one teaspoonful 
of the compound to each quart of 
water. This can be used in any 
type of container that will hold wa- 
ter; unlike corrosive sublimate, it 
will not corrode metal. Soak the 
bulbs in the solution for six hours: 
just before planting. Any number 
of bulbs can be treated at-one time, 
just so that all. are covered with 
the solution. Cotton-net onion bags, 
or burlap bags are convenient for 
handling different lots of bulbs for 
the treatment. 
We have no experimental records 
to indicate how many lots of bulbs 
can be treated in one preparation 
of cresol solution. It might be that 
the solution would remain effective 
when used over and over, but to be 
on the safe side we recommend that 
after treating not more than three 
lots the solution be discarded. 
The bulbs should be planted on 
the same day as treated, allowing 
a half-hour or a little longer for 
draining after they are removed 
from the solution. In case of rain 
or any other circumstance prevent- 
ing their being planted the same 
day, soak the bulbs in one or two 
changes of water and spread out 
thinly to dry, being as careful as 
possible not to recontaminate the 
bulbs. For example, do not put 
them back into used trays. The 
treated bulbs should be planted as 
soon as possible thereafter. Mainly 
because of the possibility. of rein- 
festation between the time of treat- 
ing and planting, this postponement 
of planting is not to be recommend- 
ed except in cases of emergency. To 
expect best results, plant the bulbs 
while still wet on the same day as- 
treated. 
In our tests cresol solution com- 
pound (USP XI) proved to be su- 
perior to corrosive sublimate as a 
general bulb treatment. The more 
“standard” corrosive subli- 
mate treatment, which consists of 


aoe ‘solution 

























































none of ‘hese, dl effects re Ae 
same time gives much better control 
of fusarium rots. In regard to scab 
control, cresol solution compound i 
not as effective as corrosive subli 
mate, although reduction in sevel 
is effected. 
Cresol Solution Similar ao: Lyso: 
According to chemists and dru. 
gists, cresol solution compot 
(USP XI) and the proprietary co 
pound bearing the trade name 
“Lysol” are quite similar or © 
same in chemical composition. In our 
experiments thus far, we have used 
the cresol solution instead of Lyso 
mainly because it is less expensiv: 
for growers to buy. However, this 
year the two preparations will be 
compared in field tests. Some com 
mercial growers have used Lyso 
the same rate as we have recom 
mended for the use of cresol sob 
tion compound and have Teper 
good results. : 
Plant Research, Lysol used at he 
rate we recommend for the use of 
cresol solution compound (USP XI) 
gives 100% kill of gladiolus thrips 
when the bulbs are soaked for one 
hour. Since the chemical compos 
tion of Lysol is similar to that. 
cresol solution compound (USP XI . 
our cresol solution treatment should 
be an effective preplanting treat- 
ment for thrips as well as for disease 
control. 
Cresol solution compound (US 
XI), as well as Lysol, can be ob- 
tained from most drug stores in 
quantities sufficient to supply the 
needs of. most florists. In asking for 
cresol solution compound, be sure 
to specify the USP XI. (Unit 
States Pharmacopoeia, Volume X 
formula, since all cresol soluti 
compounds are not the same 
chemical composition. 
Always plant treated bulbs in Sen 
soil. Gladiolus should not be plan 
ed year after year in the same so 
After soil has become contaminatec 
with fusarium rot, fungi and o 
gladiolus-disease-producing org 
isms, healthy bulbs planted t 
will become diseased. A crop. 
tation should be worked out so th 
gladiolus are not planted in the 
plot or field oftener than once 
four years. < Bg 
