The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-03

cultural department IN Washington, stat
ing the facts in the case. together with
some observations made by himself, and
requested the department to send a spe-
cialist down to Investigate the matter The
government responded "a once, sending
down DR.. Erwin f. Smith, who is the
director ofvegetable physiology and path
ology in the department of agriculture
DR.. Smith arrived in Charleston last
week. and went at once over to James
Island. He has his headquarters at Mr.
Hinsons place, across the Ashley, and
has already made some valuable discov-
cries regarding the new diseases.
In company with Mr. Sloan and Mr.
James L. Watkins Of the cotton statistics
bureau of the agricultural department, n
reporter for the News and Courier called
upon Dr. Smith on Monday. DIR. Smith was
found IN the impromptu Office which he
has rugged up for himself IN the third
story Of Mr.. Hinsons handsome residence.
He had before him high power micro
scope and other apparatus OF a 10 boratOry
and he was surrounded knee deep with
dead plants which he had collected from
various parts of the island.
Specialists are always interesting when
speaking Of their specially. DR.. Smith was
! especially so yesterday, as he spoke at
some length regarding certain diseases
with which crops in this section have been
affected. No detective hot on the trail Of
human criminal could have engaged
more eagerly in the pursuit of his man
than DR.. Smith has followed the traces
of this hitherto unknown agent that IS
now playing havoc with the sea island cot
| ton plants. 1t did not take him long to
| find a clew and now he is following IL up
step by step, and hopes ultimately to ex-
! plain the whole case ard if possible to DIS
| cover a preventative.
| DIR. Smith says that the disease IS one
I w.Hsn aa.NaN l. 49, -
I watermelon vines and that il consists Of
the DEVELOPMENT OF a fungus grow tn in the
water ducts of the plants When aska I
/ what he meant by fungus he said that it
was not bug, but germ that was ac-
| quired from the soil, while the plant grew,
| and that the malady was consequently in
| ternal and not external With the as
sistance of his powerful microscope and n
| section of watermelon vine he then pro-
| ceeded to show the visitors Just what
/ killed the plantes He drew diagrams show
| ing how each plant is perforated by Il
| complete miniature water works, begin
| ming withthe fne hair like roots and de-
Veloping into great ducts which supply
the stem CT the vine or plant No plant
he said, could live without a fresh supply
| of water for twenty-four hours. and az
soon as the canals which he had point ID
| out became clogged the plant would die
The germs of this disease were taken
| from the soil by the roots and imported
| 10 the stem of the plant. Under certain
! conditions these germs propagated and
| brought forth fungus growth. The fungi
wave, as II were travels across the ducts
| and no sooner was this done than the
! water supply was either retarded or cut
! Off altogether, and then the death of the
! plant followed at once. All Of this DR.
Smith explained in great detail and in a
most interesting manner, illustrating as
| he went along with sections of plants in
which the fungi had developed and could
| be plainly seen under the microscope. DR.
| Smith said that he hopes to make new
/ discoveries along these same lines before
! leaving Charleston. He seems already ia
be confident that the disease from which
! the sea island cotton has suffered is the
| same as that by which the watermelon
| vines had been attacked. He proposes ia
| spend week or more over on James
Island and then he will visit other parts
| OF the south, TO see If he can find traces
! of the new disease elsewhere.
Mr. Ellis of James Island, said that the
! disease was steadily Increasing. At first
back in 1891 only a few stalks of cotton
| died from it, but now in some places as
much as three acres had been cut off In
a place where one stalk died last season
! several square yards of cotton would die
| this season.
| Mr. Earle Sloan has taken a great deal
! of interest in the subject, and he is rem
| dering valuable assistance to DR. Smith
If farmers who have discovered any symp-
| toms of the disease in their crops will
| communicate the fact to Mr.. Sloan he will
transmit the intelligence to the agricul-
| tural department and the matter will re-
| ceive the proper attention.