The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-11-02

ent.
Smut.
The disease commonly known as
onion smut" is exceedingly trouble
some on many soils that have been
continuously planted to onions for
number of years. When this disease
once becomes established in the soil
it is very difficult to eradicate. Cases
have been observed where land infest-
ed with smut was not planted, to on
ions for ten years, and wher the smut
reappeared in destructive quantities
the first year that the land was agian
planted. Onion smut is a disease that
can be carried with the seed or by Gull
tivators and implements generally, or
! the spores may be carried by the
wind.
This disease first makes its appear
ance in the form of a swelling or hard
| ening of the leaves, usually just above
| where they unite with the plant. At
ter time these places burst open and
a powderly black dust, the spores of
| the fungus, emerge and are scattered
| broadcast. The disease attacks the en-
| tire plant, and few. if any, good bulbs
| will be produced by affected plants.
Several remedies are offered for
proved entirely satisfactory. Soaking
| the seed for about twenty minutes In
| a solution consisting of 1 ounce of
formalin in l gallon of water is recon-
mended for destroying the spores that
may adhere to the seeds. This pro-
cess must be done but a short time
| before planting, and the seed dried
| by means, of plaster; however. the
soaking of the seed will render it diff
fcult to plant evenly. Another method
| is to fit the seed drill with small
| tank and allow a small stream Of the
| above solution to flow into the row
| just behind the seed dropper and be-
fore the seed is covered.
A method frequently used by grow
| ers is to provide the seed drills with
| fertilizer attachments and apply a mi
| ture consisting of 100 pounds of sui
| phur and SO pounds Of powdered lime
in rows with the seed.
| On land that Is free from smut, pre-
cautions should be taken to prevent
its introduction. The danger of the
spores being present with the seed is
not great. The introduction is more
often made by throwing diseased bulbs
or tops in the manure pile and then
hauling the manure on to clean land
or by dragging of infested soil from
one field to another with cultivators
and other implements,
Downy MiIdew.
This causes a blighting Of the leaves
and is characterized in the earlier
stages by a down violet covering of
the fungus spores. which in the later
stages are less easily, detected.
Onions grown for seed are quite
subject to attacks of mildew on both
| leaves and stalks.
| Timely and thorough spraying with
i Bordeaux mixture will prevent the
spread Of down mildew. If begun
when the first signs appear the dis
ease can be checked. It is better, how
ever, to begin spraying before the
mildew is due to appear. 1t is gen
orally caused by damp, muggy wealth
| er. A good Bordeaux mixture for on
ionsi made from 3 pounds of copper
sulphate, 8 pounds of fresh lime and
so gallons Of water.
Spraying Outfit.
A suitable outfit is essential for sue
cess in onion spraying. A barrel
spayer operated by hand and with two
| leads of hose will fill most needs.
Hand sprayers and the usual type of
geared Sprayers are ineffective be-
cause not thorough. The spray must
| be delivered under high pressure to
break up fine enough to adhere to the
onion foliage, and the entire foliage
| should be covered. Repeat the spray
ing at intervals of about ten days, de-
pending on the weather and growth of
the crop. To lessen the danger from
disease all onion tops from blighted
fields should be burned and a rota-
ton of crops practiced.' In fact, land
should not be planted to onions year
after year, as there is danger Of the
land becoming infested with disease
and insects. A leguminous crop should
be planted and turned in as green ma
nure.
| Insects.
The onion maggot is often very de-
structive in fields that are just plant
ed. 1t works at the roots of the young
seedlings, and there is no entirely sat
isfactory means of combating it.
Crop rotation is one of the remedies
recommended for it's control, the land
not being planted to onions oftener
than once in three years.
Thrip belongs to the class of minute
sucking insects, attacking the leaves,
| causing them first to assume a dull
gray or dirty appearance and after
wards turn brown and die. Onion
thrips are very destructive In the
south and are quite a serious pest in
Spraying with kerosene emulsion is
one of the most efficient remedies. but
thrips, it is claimed, may be repealed
by spraying with q standard solution
of Bordeaux mixture. 1t is noticeable
that insects of this character general
ly attack crops that are grown on
poor soil, that are late planted, or that
are neglected as regards cultivation.
According to observations, thrips do
not gain firm hold on a strong, Wig
orous crop, but they will practically
destroy a crop that is inferior
Cut worms frequently do great dam
age in an onion field by cutting off the
seedlings after they appear above
ground. They can be killed off and
checked in the usual manner. The fol-
lowing formula is used in the southern
states:
Pounds.
Nitrate of soda, II to 16 per cent
nitrogen 80. .............. 200
Cotton seed meal ............ $50
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