The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1916-08-10
TOMATO WILT A SERIOUS
DISEASE.
Widely Scattered Over Louisiana
New II May Be Identified
Methods of Control.

The appearance during the last few
years of several tomato diseases In
louisiana, resulting in considerable
loss, has caused much uneasiness
among tomato growers. Formerly,
when tomatoes were grown only on a
small scale, either for local consumr.
tion or for small shipments to the
North, there was not much chance for
the spread of diseases. But, of late
years, conditions have been much bet
ter for the development and spread of
the diseases, on account of the larger
and more numerous fields. An increase
in the acreage of crop is quite often
accompanied by outbreaks of disease
or infestations by pests that had not
been noticed before.
The Tomato Wiz
The tomato wilt, the most serious
Of the tomato diseases is widely
scattered over the state. 1t absolute
ly prevents the growing of ordinary
tomato varieties in some fields in some
sections and cuts down the yield ma
terially in many of them. The disease
is produced by fungus which lives
over from year to year in the soil, ana,
after a field is once badly infected, it
is difficult to grow tomatoes there for
a number Of years. The plant affected
by the wilt disease has a more or less
stunted and sickly appearance. The
leaves turn yellow and fall of, and,
finally, the whole plant dies. Usually
a 'ew fruits develop on the plants, but
they do not grow very large or ripen
normally.
If plant affected with the wilt dis
ease is pulled up and the stem cut
across with knife, the interior of the
stem will be seen to be dark colored,
or else there will be black areas in it.
These extend from the roots up to the
leaves and sometimes even out into
the petioles. The presence of these
dark colored areas is evidence OF the
presence Of the wilt disease. 1t is pri-
q
all of the damage is done in these
parts The leaves show the effects of
the disease only after the roots and
stems are badly diseased and are un-
able to function as they should.
The Control Of the Disease.
Tomatoes should not be grown ir
the same ground for more than one
year in three. If the tomato wilt dis
ease is present in the ground, it win
increase in severity rapidly from yeal
to year if the field is kept in toma
toes. However, IL tomatoes are plant
ed only every third year, much of thc
disease win die out duSing the two in
tervening years. -
Transplanting from SEED Jeds tina
have become infected is a very com
mon method of spreading the wilt d'S
ease. In many cases truckers use
their seed beds or cold frames year al
ter year without changing the soil.
at least all of it. Or they may be
filed with infected dirt. Care should
be exercised to keep the seed beds ano
cold frames free of infection.
The growing of wilt-resistant varIe-
ties or strains of tomatoes is perhaps
the most satisfactory way of control
ing this disease. Tomato plants ever
in the same field 90 not show all t.
same susceptibility to the wilt, and oy
saving seed from fruits on healthy
plants a wilt-resistant variety may h
evolved. This method has been sue
cessfully Dracticsd at the Louisiana
Experiment Station. -.