The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-08-31
DISEASE or COTTON.

Prof. B. nj. Digger, a skilled gov
eminent cotton expert, who was on his
way to Texas, was prevailed to stop
of at Monroe last week and exam
inc the cotton plant 10 Ouachita parish,
and the Daily Star OF Monday last has
the following editorial on the subject;
The numerous complaints OF the
planters regarding the ravages OF
.wilt, crust" and other and varied
forms OF disease OF the cotton plant,
has induced the government to send an
expert through the south to make a
careful examination OF the disorders
for the department OF Agriculture.
Mr.. B. Nj. Digger. recent Professor OF
Botany in Cornell University, but now
connected with the Physiological Divis-
ion OF Plan, Pathology. Department of
Agriculture Of the United States, has
recently been deputized to examine in-
to and report to his department as to
the extent of the ravages OF the ''root
rotn in Texas. At the request OF ex-
Senator Ivy Davis. of this parish. Prof.
Digger stopped at this place en- route
to Texas, and made careful examina-
ton OF the affected plants taken from
several of The plantations of this sec.
ton. After a thorough inspection OF
the specimens selected from the various
fields, Prof Digger reports as follows:
.The organism causing this disease is
not, as Is generally supposed, an in
sect, but plant or fungus growth
called neocosmospora yasinfecta. The
injury varies from few per cent to AS
much as ninety per cent in badly IL.
fected fields; that is. ninety per cent Of
the stalks are diseased. or may be dis
eased. This does not necessarily mean
that ninety per cent of the cotton vii
be lost, because all the cotton hollis OF
the diseased stalks that are maturec
will open. but where the cotton Dol
has not matured, 1t will wither ant
drop.
During wet weather, this diseas
manifests itself by the willing OF the en-
tire plant. and during the dry weather
the leaves soon become parched an
droop. In this region, u is sometime
called "wilt" and sometimes "rust.
according TO whether the location
the ground be high or low. Its ap
pearance is general throughout th
Southern and particularly the Sonth
eastern States. This disease is cause
by miscropic plant parasite, known u
fungus, closely related to what wa
commonly known as "moles.n Fiji
fungus gains entrance into the plan
through the soil. entering by the roots
The woody part Ut the stem. betwee
the bark and the pifh, becomes di'
eased, which takes from the plant neal
ly all of the water derived from I'll
soil, thus smoiherng il. and causing
to wilt. This fungus will persist j
the soil for several years. and in
sense, the soil may be termed diseased
and cotton planted on such land wi
show re-appearance Of the diseas
every year. No remedy could be al
piled to the soil without great ou
Law OF money, and the only feasibl
method of combating the malady Is b
means of progressed selection
1t has been found BY he department
that by selecting seed from the health
or resistant plants in'the diseased tieis
that strain of resistant or immun
cotton may be obtained; that is. til
plants having withs,ood the affectio
one season. it is reasonable TO suppos
they will prove immune the next.
has been demonstrated by tests. 1t
not enough that seed be secured froi
distance. since it may not prove n
sistant."
Prof. Digger viii leave this eyenln
to spend six or seven weeks in the co
tom district Of Texas investigatin
what IL termed root rot In speakin
~ the distinction between the wilt
and aroot roat." Prof Digger SAYS
r. differs from .swiltn IN that il mere
.tfacfs the roots, which in many case
canses the plant to rot and fall, but u
nlant II never affected through, rs 1t
The case with nwilt What IS know
as ..wilt rust" ard to certain exte'
.sroot rot.n is merely the nianIfcstasis
Of the same disease under different co
ditions ,,a
1882 by Prof. Atkinson OF Corneh' .
ance that time, the Government D.
gwen considerable attention "
study. .aan, n. !
sr Of this section, says that u ne ~