Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1915-04-23

II is described and recommendations
for its control given in the circular
enclosed herewith. We would sug.
gest that you also procure Special
Bulletin No. 68 of the Michigan Ag.
ricultural Experiment station, East
Lansing, Michigan, which contains
additional information ON this sub
iect.
Very truly yours
W. A. ORION
Pathologist in charge of Cotton
and Truck Disease Investigations"
Two Serious Bean Diseases
Two diseases of garden and field
beans have come into prominence in
the past few years because Of the
increasing losses they have OCCASION
I'd to bean growers. These troubles
are commonly known as bean an
thracnose and bean blight. In 1913
in one of the principal bean growing
states the estimated annual loss due
to these diseases wa $4,000, 900, or
about 20 per cent of the total value
of the crop. Similar condition oh.
tain in other bean growing sections.
1t is becoming an increasingly diff
cult matter to secure bean seed free
from one or both of these diseases.
In view of these facts, it is highly i'm.
poltant that the diseases be more
thoroughly recognized and the best
available methods of control be un.
derstood and put into practice.
Cause of Bean Anthracnose
Bean anthrncnose is caused by Il
fungus which attacks the stems,
leaves. pods and seeds of the plants.
On the tens and leaf veins il causes
elongated, sunken, dark red cankcrs.
sometimes killing young plants and
often producing deformed and yell
lowed leaves. Rounded or irregular
sunken spots with II slightly raised
rim nre produced on the pods. The
spots usually have pink centers sur.
rounded by darker reddish border.
In severe eases the pods may be en-
tirly covered by the sores and pro.
duce no seed. In other cases the
fungus penetrates the pods and en-
tiers the seed, causing dark. sunken
specks or spots. In these diseased
seed as well as in the refuse from
diseased plants the fungus is propo.
gated from season to season.
Cause of Bean Blight
The bean blight differs from an
thracnose in several ways. II is
caused by II bacterial organism. On
the leaves il produces irregular, dis.
eased areas which at first have n wa.
ter soaked appearance, later dry out
aud become brown and brittle. On
the pods the disease starts as slight.
~ raised and water pustule. which
later enlarge, become Of irregular
shape and amber color with yellow
center. Infected seed show yellow
diseased blotchcs or are entirely vel
lowed and shriveled.
Nature of Loss
Both diseases cause serious losses
in the snap bean trade. Diseased pods
are unmarketable and must be left
out. II but few slightly spotted
pods are packed in basket. the dis
ease may spread during shipment,
causing additional loss and necessi-
tating extra sorting before the beans
can be sold to the consumer. In the
seed bean trade all beans must be
hand picked to get out the discolored
diseased seeds. From Is to 30 per
cent Of diseased beans are frequently
sorted out, ivolving heavy loss Of
beans as well as the cost Of sorting
Diseased beans used for seed usually
give II poor stand and result in the
production of badly diseased crop.
Control Measures
II has been conclusively demon
strated that anthracnose can be
avoided by careful system of seed
selection. Save seed from perfectly
healthy pods, selected with great care
for entire absence of spotting. Care
fully keep them away from diseased
pods, shell by hand to avoid reinfec-
ton, and plant on clean land. Pull
and burn any plants showing disease.
BY planting the seed thus secured
enough disease free seed can be Sc
cured to plant the whole crop.
In absence Of such disease free
seed ~ secure for planting seed
having the least possible amount Of
disease, as shown by actual examina.
ton; (2) all seed should be hand