Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1917-11-23
prepared by the United States Depart
anent OF Agriculture

Throughout the sandy sections o.
the cotton belt, where cotton wilt ant
root-knot occur every year to an in
creasing extent, there is urgent need
for a fuller understanding Of these dis
eases and the important relation they
bear to each other and to the farm
er's margin Of profit. Wilt occurring
alone causes serious loss to the cot
ton crop, not only by killing large
numbers Of plants, but, further, by
stunning very many others and thus
greatly reducing the yield. Cotton
root-knot by itself causes dwarfine
Of the plants and a consequent de-
crease in yield over large areas. Often
the farmer does not notice this or at
tributes 1t to an unfavorable season,
poor soil, lack Of proper fertilization,
or some local condition. Where these
two diseases occur together, which Is
frequently the case, the loss Is often
so great that 1t becomes well-nigh i'm
possible by the usual method Of cult
walton to grow the principal money
crop Of this section without an actual
loss. In other words, wilt and root
knot then become the most important
limiting factors In the production of
cotton To remedy this condition, the
whole scheme Of farming must often
be changed and planned with special
reference to the control of these high
" important enemies Of the cotton
crop.
Rotation of crops for the control Of
root-knot and the use Of varieties Of
cotton resistant to wilt are more es-
sential to the profitable growing Of
crop In badly diseased areas than fer
tilization or cultivation, although
these are of great Importance.
Cotton wilt and root-knot occur to
greater or less extent In every cot
ton-producing state from North Caro-
lima to Texas. The areas where wilt
Is of most general and serious occur
renee are southeastern and eastern
South Carolina, southwestern Georgia
and southeastern Alabama.
On the sandy and alluvial soils OF
the coastal plain, wilt and root-knot
are most prevalent, while on the clay
soils Of the Piedmont plateau, the oc-
currence Of these diseases Is rare.
Estimate Of Damage.
Though 1t is difficult to form very
accurate estimate of the damage
caused by these diseases, an estimate
based on a farm-to-farm survey OF a
typical county indicates that root-knot
of cotton alone causes loss of $780,
100000 a year. The loss Is occasioned
not only by the death or dwarfing OF
affected plants, but by the lowering Of
the market value of infested land, by
the increased cost Of cultivation OF
such land due to the growth Of weeds
where the cotton has died, and by the
fact thet badly diseased fields must
often be used for crops less profitable
than cotton. This situation is the
more unfortunate because 1t Is for the
most part unnecessary. These dis
eases can be almost entirely controlled
by the methods described in this bull
letin.
In times of drought affected plants
are the first to show the lack Of water
and may wilt slightly in the middle Of
the day.
When root-knot occurs with wilt,
which is often the case, the symptoms
of both diseases are present. The
plants usually all die or are so badly
dwarfted that little or no cotton Is
produced.
wilt is caused by a fungus, a minute
plant growth, which enters the roots
from. the soil. It grows vigorously IN
the water-carrying vessels of the roots
and stems, causing them to turn black.
It shuts off wholly or In part the water
supply of the plant and eventually
brings about the death of those badly
affected. This fungus produces in
great numbers several types Of frGit-
ing bodies, by which it is propagated.
Closely related fungi of the same
genus cause serious willis of okra, cof-
feeweed, cowpea, tomato, watermelon,
potato and other plants.
Wilt Spread by Numerous Agencies.
wilt is spread by the direct growth
of the fungus through the soil and by
any agency which win transfer spores
or disease-infected soil from one field
to another, such as tools, the feet Of
men or animals, wind and drainage
water. To prevent spread by drainage
water, terraces often may be built adj
to turn the water into
bitches. stable manure and the COM
post heap may be infected by soil from
the feet Of mules used In diseased
field, and thus the wilt may be car
ried to new areas, The disease is often
spread most noticeably along frequent
y Travelled farm roads pr paths. Tests