The Opelousas courier., 1901-03-09
SALE or ViOLETS.
Flowers Valued at 1000, 900 Disposed
of Annually.

Flowers Valued at 1000, 900 Disposed
of Annually.
The annual sales of violets through
out the United States is estimated ut
not less than 81, 900, 900, a Y a bulle-
tin that is being prepared by the ag-
ricultural department. One of the
most widespread and destructive NAL
aides known to attack the violet is
the spot disease. This disease has
been discussed in the florists journals
under a variety of names, but is COM
monty known as the ."violet disease"
growers not generally recognizing the
fact that there is more than one NAL
ady attacking the violet.
Owing to the ravages Of this d.
seaSe the cultivation of the violet has
been abandoned in many sections of
the country, and in others it has be-
come necessary to adopt new methods
of handling the plants during the
growing season.
In view of the general interest in
violet culture and the Importance of
the knowledge of a means of prevent
ing the disease, a bulletin has been
prepared by Mr.. P. H. Dorset of the
division of vegetable physiology and
pathology Of the United States de-
partment Of agriculture, and will
Vol be issued as Bulletin No. 20, of
that division, entitled spot Disease
Of the Violet"
The bulletin says the disease at
tacks the plants at any stage of their
growth, from the small unrooted cut
ting in the cutting bed to the mature
plant in full flower. Plants making
a vigorous, rapid, but soft or succu-
lent growth are most subject to the
disease. Its first appearance is char
acterized by small, definite, usually
circular, greenish or %yellowish white
spots, resembling the bite or sting of
an insect. They vary In size from dots
scarcely ~perceptible to the unaided
eye to spots a thirty-second of an inch
or more in diameter. The point of in
lection Is surrounded by a narrow
ring Of discolored tissue, usually
black or very dark brown, but changes
to a lighter shade as the spots grow
older. AS the spot develops, the GEN.
trail portion remains unchanged in ap-
p%earnace, while the tissues immedi-
ately surrounding 1t, either to one
side or more frequently in a circle,
become diseased by the ramifying
growth Of the mycelium of the fungus
through this portion of the leaf.
Various opinions have been ''ex-
pressed as to the cause of the disease,
and suggestions as to the possible
course Of treatment are numerous.
Weakness of the plants, improper
soil conditions, growing them in TIE
open fields where they are exposed to
drought, rains, dews and direct rays
of the summer sum-, and lack of atten-
ton to properly heating, ventilating
and fumigating the houses, are among
the explanations advanced.
1t Is believed there is at present no
effective remedy for the disease when
1t has gained a foothold. The princl-
pal fungicides in common use for the
prevention and check of plant diseases
frequently been tried for this
thouble, but with varying results.
1t seems that the solution of the
problem Of controlling the disease
lies in preventing it by giving careful
attention to the production of vigorous, |
healthy, plant growth rather than in
attempting to check the trouble after
has once gained a foothold.-Wash-
Star.