The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1919-11-01
Symptom. Of the Di.e..e


leaves are the only noticeable signs
in newly affected plants. Usually,
however, more serious effects are
seen in first ratoons of cane which
became infected the previous year, or
in planted cane originating from dis
eased cuttings. At this time quite
another distinct leaf symptom APP
pears. 1t consists of small, white
opaque spots and streaks in the light
colorea areas. These are smaller
than the light areas previously men
toned and differ from them in hav-
ing no pigment or color matter what
ever. They range from mere points
to elongated irregular streaks several
inches in length.
Infected Areas
About the same time, or during the
next year, a still more injurious sign
of the mosaic appears, namely, the
stripping or cankering. of the stalk.
This is much more marked in some
varieties than in others. Ordinarily,
it does rot become noticeable until
the cane is quite well developed. By
tearing away an enveloped leaf basis,
cankers can some times be found in
the ineipient stage, appearing as dis
colored or water-soaked patches, or
long streaks on the internodes. When
large proportion of the plants IN a
field are infected, the general aspect
resembles the effect of a severe
drOuth.
Many types of injury are common
" found on cane leaves that might
be confused with this malady by one
not familiar with it. 1t is, therefore,
important that before any cane grow
er proceeds to the wholesale destruc-
ton recommended, that he ascertain
positively whether or not the infec
ton is actually mosaic disease.
Many Varieties Susceptible
More than a thousand varieties of
cane are susceptible to this malady,
according to the department of agri-
culture. Most of these are the prog
envy of seeding canes that exist in
small variety-test rows or patches at
the various sugar cane experiment
stations, but the list includes also
practically all the commercially es-
teemed sorts grown for the mills on
a plantation scale. So far as can be
learned, none of the varieties grown
! in Java is truly immune, but high de-
gree of resistance to the disease has
been observed in the Java seeding
cane grown in Porto Rico.
There are at present time a num-
Der of large cane areas in the United
States not yet invaded by the mosaic
disease. Cane planters in these areas
should urge the enactment of stats
Legislation prohibiting the importing
of cane into them from any source
whatever until such time as it car
be accompanied by an authentic Ger
tificate of health. Such areas in
cIude the entire Bayou Teche districi
and the parishes in the north in Loui
siana, consisting of st. Mary, IBERIA
VermiIon. Lafayette, st. Martin
Acadia, St. Landry, Avoyeles anC
Rapides. This is, of course, the mos
important disease-free area. Othel
similar areas are the entire state o.
Mississippi with the exception Of Bill
oxi, the entire state of Alabama, ex
cept a small locality near the stat'
line not far from Muscogee, Florida
the entire state of Georgia, excep
Grady county, and the whole of Flori
da, save certain limited regions.
| Where the disease is present il
lsnall amount and in few well-defin
ed areas, the possibility of quick ant
complete eradication exists. The can
in these areas should be ground ant
the stubble plowed up. As q precau
tionary measure, some crop othe
than a grass should be grown on tn
land for one year, after which can
may be again grown with safety. TIL
two small infested areas in Alabam
and Mississippi offer no difficulty a
all. They can be destroyed with prae
tically no loss to the owners, and tn
assurance of healthy crops in the fu
ture more than offsets the ineonven
fence of growing some other crop O.
II the land now occupied by infecte
cane. The success Of the measure i
Florida is made possible by the pre-
ent organization Of the state plan
board, which has already met the ties
of successfully ---..unng more seriou
problems.
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