The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-11-17

There have come to the Department
Of Agriculture this rear an unusual
number Of reports and complaints of
losses to cucumber growers from
flights Of foliage or fruit. particular
Nv Ia certain north-central States
where pickle growing IS an import
ont industry.
These injuries have proved upon in
~sestixation to be due to one or an
gther Of several distinct troubles:
glightng OF the foliage by downy
mildew or anthracnOse, diseases which
Save already proved controllable by
spraying with Bordeaux mixture; to
,ne bacterial wilt, a disease the cause
Of which Is known and for which a
remedy Is being sought; to the pickle
spot, q disease Of sporadic occur
renee and not yet remediable; or in
known nature called white pickle.
Those troubles not already worked
out are being investigated by the State
experiment stations in Wisconsin,
Michigan and New York, or by the
United States Department of Agri-
culture, and a plan is being formu-
lated Jointly by these institutions to
carry aid to h growers in case Of
Of q recurrence Of the disease next
year.
1t will have to be proved by expert
rnepts whether or not spraying will
be generally profitable. The Depart
ment Of Agriculture points out to the
farmers that a long rotation Of crops
is an important precaution, which
should be practiced by all. There is
no evidence that these diseases are
spread through the seed.
Further details regarding these dis
eases follow:
Downy Mildcw.-This is a fungus
disease affecting the cucumber plant
principally through the leaves. 1t at
tacks the old leaves in the center Of
the plant first. and from there pro-
crosses outward, the young leaves at
the tips of the branches living longest.
1t causes first a yellowing of the
leaves and family defined angular
spots, bordered by veins. These be-
come more distinct as the disease
progresses, and if the weather is
moist the underside of the spots may
be tinged with purple. The disease
spreads slowly in bright weather, but
IN cloudy, humid weather often de-
velops with the greatest rapidity, SO
that gelds quickly become as If scorch-
ed by fire. The fungus lives through
the winter in Florida and probably
spreads northward each summer
There is also evidence that it lives over
in greenhouses, which may later be
come centers Of local epidemics. The
cucumbers which develop after the
disease has attacked the vines are
usually Of inferior quality. 1t is ex'
ceptional for this disease to be severe
so far North as Michigan, and it may
not recur again for some time. OF
the other hand, it is possible that i
weather conditions favor it, it may b.
equally severe another season.
AnthracnOse.-This disease appear
as a circular brown spot from one
fourth to One-half inch in diamete'
on the leaves of cucumbers and mel
ons. These spots at first have whit
%eenters. but in the later stages be
come dead and often tear, leavin'
holes in the leaves. They are distin
guishabie from the angular spots o
the downy mildew except when tn
latter have grown very slowly. vi
The stems anthracnoSe causes elong
sted discolored and shrunken areas
which finally lead to the death OF tn
plant. The fruit also is often spotted
There is evidence that this diseas
lives over winter in the dead vines o
elsewhere in old fields, and the de
struction of such vines, together wit
rotation of crops is recommended a
3 means of prevention.
Spraying the Kemedy-BOth down
"HNVW III dntIlTdCilOSe CAL pc Coi
uolled by thorough spraying wit
bordeaux mixture, made up of
pounds copper sulphate, s pound
stone lime, and SO gallons Of waite
The copper sulphate should be dis
solved in 25 gallons of water by su.
pending it near the surface of tn
hquid in a burlap sack or other COZ
ainer. The stone lime should /
saked thoroughly and then dilute
with he other 25 gallons Of waite
me two solutions should then I
poured together into a third barr
ahd thoroughly stirred. 1t is essei
usl' however, to begin early, befol
the disease makes it's appearance.
spray thoroughly, so that the leav'
Vi the plants will at all times be CO
rred with n thin film of the BOrdeau
ahd 10 spray at close enough interva
10 mat h new growth will not
SUBJECT to fungus attack.
"ht-When a cucumber or mel'
VINE suddenly willis fhro1ohont