Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1917-11-30

I
worms increase sufficiently to cause
damage, when another rotation is nee
| essary.
The following crops are largely or
entirely immune to root-knot:
Barley Grasses (nearly ally
Bean, velvet Ka1r
Beggarweed, Flor Mlllets (nearly alD
ida Milo
Chufas Oats, winter
Corn Peanut
Cowpea, Brabham Rye
Cowpea, Iron Sorghum
Cowpea, Monetta Wheat
Grass, crab
Root-Knot Increased by Most Varieties
Of cowpeas.
Such varieties of cowpeas as the
Whiproorwill, Clay, Black, Unknown,
Red Ripper, New Era, and others are
so susceptible to root-knot that not
only are they seriously injured, but
the growing of them on nematode-in-
Tested fields greatly increases the num-
Der of worms in the soil, and conse-
quently the damage to subsequent cot
ton or other susceptible crops. It is
a common complaint Of farmers in wilt
sections that the wilt is noticeably
more severe after a crop Of cowpeas
of a variety which Is susceptible to
root-knot This Is due to the fact that
the nematodes make points Of en-
trance for the wilt fungus, which then
kills or further Injuries the plants. A
few varieties Of cowpeas are highly re-
sistant to nematodes, including the
Iron, Brabham, and Monetta. These
should be the only cowpeas planted on
land infested with root-knot.
How to Recognize Cotton Root-Knot.
The detection Of cotton plants affect
ed by root-knOt, except by an exam
ination Of the roots Is much more diff
ficult than In the case Of wilt. Badly
diseased plants are distinctly stunted
but not appreciably deformed, as In
wilt, and both leaves and stem have q
peculiar sickly yellowish green color.
Measures for the Control of Root-kn
The rotation and diversiication of
crops are Of fundamental Importance
to southern agriculture everywhere
and become absolutely necessary
where the root-knot nematode is pres
ent.
1t has been repeatedly demonstrated
by many farmers that root-knot can be
controlled by the use Of proper crop
rotations. The principles on which
such rotations are based are a. the usa
OF crops immune to nematode attacks
until the nematodes are sufficiently re-
duced so that susceptible crops may be
proftably grown and (2) the eradica-
ton of all weeds subject to root-knot.
The use of crops that will return a
profit and the building up Of the fer
tility of the soil are also important con.
siderations. Every farmer must work
out for himself the particular rotations
suited to his farm and his type Of
farming.
If land is very badly infested with
nematodes as well as wilt, two-year
or three-year rotation with immune
crops is recommended before susceptf.
BILE crops, including cotton, are grown,
and they should not be grown for more
than one or two years thereafter be.
fore the rotation with immune crops
should be repeated. When the infes.
tation is less severe, q one year or two
year rotation will do much to put the
land in condition to grow the crops de-
sired
In planning rotations for land i'm
tested with root-knot, susceptible
crops, such as tobacco, sweet potatoes,
cotton. cantaloupes, okra, and toma-
toes should never follow one another.
The damage increases each year so
long as susceptible crops are planted.
If the first crop should escape serious
injury, the nematodes win increase in
the soil to such an extent that the sec
ond crop win be almost sure to show
a decided loss. Immune crops should
always be alternated with susceptible
ones and the nematode injury theruhz
reduced to a minimum.