The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-07-04
TOMATO BLIGHT AND
ROT IN IDAHO

ROT IN IDAHO
Tomatoes are susceptible to various
diseases. but blights and rots are re-
sponsible for the greatest losses of
tomatoes.
Leaf Blight
Leaf blight usually appears in July.
after the plants are we'll started The
lower leaves are the first to show the
presence of the disease in the form of
small, dark, angular or circular spots.
having centers somewhat lighter in
color. The leaves turn yellow, curl.
dry and fall. The disease also attacks
the stem, causing more or less elon-
gated spots. The disease always
starts with the lower leaves and grad
ually travels up the plant. leaving at
the end of the season nothing but a
long stem with small fruits and a tuft
of yellow leaves at the tip. The de-
struction of the foliage causes a re-
duced yield and an early ripening of
the remaining fruits.
This disease is best held in check
by spraying with Bordeaux soap mix
ture $3.50. The method for pre-
pairing Bordeaux soap mixture is given
later
Late Blight and Rot.
Potatoes suffer from attacks of
this disease as badly if not worse
than tomatoes. On tomatoes this
disease appears little later than leaf
blight. The leaves near the base OF
the plant are the first to show infec-
ton by suddenly turning black as il
blighted by frost. If the lower sur
face of the leaf is examined a white
hairy layer of fungus is seen. No def
mite spots on the leaves are found
as is the cast with leaf blight. The
disease spreads rapidly in warm. hui
mid weather. The stems turn black
and the infected portion dies, The
fruits begin to show the effects of the
fungus shortly after the infection APP
pears on the leaves and stem The
portion of the fruit near the stem turn.
black and shrivels somewhat. appear.
ing as dry rot. When the attack
of this fungus is extensive the entire
crop of fruit NAV be rendered unmar,
ketable.
Bordeaux soap mixture 5-5-3-50 ha.
proven effective in controlling thi.
disease. Three anolications about two
weeks apart will suffice in an ordi
nary season.
Preparation of Bordeaux Soap Mixtur,
To make so gallons of spray hav
ing a $3.50 formula it will take
copper sulphate, pounds; unslakec
lime, pounds; resin fish-oil soal
(preferred) or yellow laundry soap,
pounds. To make smaller quantitie!
of spray use the same proportions.
When extensive spraying is neces
sary it is we'll to keep stock solutions
on hand. These are prepared as fol
lows
(a) Copper sulphate stock solution
Using a wooden barrel, since meta
would be corroded, suspend the cop
per sulphate in a cloth or burlap bag
so that it is just beneath the surfac,
of the water. Use as many gallon,
of water as there are pounds of coppe
sulphate. If the copper sulphate il
suspended at night it will be dissolved
by morning. The solution should b,
we'll stirred with a wooden stick be
fore using.
(b) Milk of lime stock solution 4
metal or wooden container can b,
used for this stock solution. Us,
the very best grade of quicklime, no
air-slaked lime. Stake by adding
small quantities of water at intervals
until the lime is thoroughly crumbled
Add water to make as many gallons a
there were pounds of lime. Stir thor
oughly, both when making up to vol
umc land each time before using.
(c)t Resin fish-oil soap suspension
Dissolve soap in hot water, Ad,
(preferably hot) to make as many gal
Ions as there are pounds of soap
Resin fish-oil soap is recommended
but any, cheap yellow laundry soal
which is of a resinous nature can b
used.
For mixing have two barrels wit
spigots in the bottom on platform o
such height that their contents cal
be run into the spray tank.
To make $3.50 mixture meas
ure 5 gallons of copper sulphate stoc
solution into one barrel and 5 gallon
of milk of lime stock solution int
the other, Add 1917 gallons of waite
to each barrel and stir thorough,
Open the spigots and allow the tw
preparations to run together into tn
spray tank through strainer. TIL
/ flow from the two barrels should b
as nearly equal as possible. All
gallons of the stock soap suspensio
to spray tank, stirring thoroughly,
If the above mixing platform is nc
available put gallons of copper SUI
phate stock solution in the spray tanl
add 81 gallons of water. then throug
strainer add 5 gallons of milk {
lime stock solution slowly. stirrin
constantly. Then add gallons {
soap stock solution, mix thorough
| About 100 to $50 gallons of ii
spray mixture should cover an acl
Of tomatoes. The spray should
applied at pressure of at least /:
pounds. Spray the whole plant tho