The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-10-02
Cane
THREATENEDBY
MOSAIC DISEAS
SYMPTOMS ARE NOTIFIED LEAF
DISEASE DWARFS CANE AND
CAUSES REDUCED TONNAGE.


OF the state plant board are very much
concerned over the recent discovery,
at several points in Florida, of the
Mosaic or nothing disease of sugar
cane This disease, which has caused
a marked reduction of the sugar crop
in Porto Rico during the past two
seasons was found in Louisiana a
few months ago by experts of the
bureau of plant industry. U. S. de-
partment of agriculture. The inves-
LEGATIONS also revealed that small lots
of cane for propagation purposes had
been sent to points in Georgia and
Florida. Recent inspections Of the
farms, where these paintings were
made. have been made by agents of
the bureau of plant industry and in
spectors of the state plant board. with
the result that an aggregate of about
$50 acres of cane in Florida have been
found infected.
The disease is indicated by a yellow
nothing or splashing of cane leaves.
During the first year of infection the
tonnage is not materially reduced and
SAAO A'ASSbAOli may CFell pass ulluOllCeu
by the grower. All infected canes
which are planted. however, produce
nothing but infected canes and those
canes are in all cases severely dwarfed ;
are SO small in fact, that hey are
useless for grinding purposes.
The disease attacks all common
varieties OF cane grown in Florida
for syrup and sugar making, with the
exception OF Japanese cane and a few
rare varieties of similar type which
seem to be resistant to the disease.
experts of the department of agri-
culture who have closely studied the
disease in both Porto Rico and this
country, express the opinion that it
is easily capable of reducing the cane
crop by at least 40 per cent.
The plant board at it's September
meeting adopted rule, under the pro-
visions of tn Florida plant act, pro-
hibiting the shipment of sugar cane
into Florida, except upon special per-
mits issued by the plant commissioner
after he has been furnished with sat-
isfactory evidence as to point of shin
ment Of such cane and such other in
formation as may be necessary to es-
tablish its freedom from danger of
infection. This course is necessary TO
prevent further extensive fntroduc-
lions of this cane disease in Florida
and all common carriers have already
been notified regarding the provisions
OF this quarantine
The Mosaic disease is one which
should undoubtedly be eradicated at
once. and there is no good reason for
believing that it cannot be eradica ted
by prompt action upon a sufficiently
extensive scale. However. the pla MT
board is, unfortunately, without any
adequate fund which can be used for
THIS undertaking, as the last session
OF the legislature prescribed infinitely
how each item of the plant board 5
appropriation should be used and no
FUNDS Were provided for use in case
or unforeseen emergencies.
Citizens interested in syrup and
sugar production in Florida should
exercise the greatest care in the pur-
chase OF cane for planting purposes,
regardless of whether this cane is
secured within or without the state.
Where a grower contemplates pur-
chasing seed cane outside of his own
immediate neighborhood he should first
It. IL.
plant commissioner, at Gainesville, for
the purpose of ascertaining whether
the locality where he contemplates
making his purchase is known to have
the disease and also for the purpose
OF securing permits for importation
when cane is wanted from other states.
No permits will be issued for the
vicinity OF New Orleans. from points
along the Mississippi river or from any
point in Texas or Louisiana known to
be infested by the Argentine ant, the
latter a most serious agricultural pest
which the plant board has thus far
been able to keep out of the state and
which would, il introduced, cause
serious damage to various crops, in
Guiding cane and citrus