The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1919-11-01
new DISEASE PERHS
SUGAR CANE CROP
OF LOUISIANA
The Department of Agriculture
Urges all Grower to Unite
in Stamping Out Menace
BULLETIN TELLS HOW TO
IDENTIFY THE DISEASE
Now in Sugar Growing Regions
of State, II Threatens Fu-
ture of Great Industry

Washington, D. c. Oct. Is
The Mosaic disease of sugar cane,
the presence of which has recently
been discovered in Louisiana and
other Southern states, presents
menace which calls for immediate
concerted action on the part of the
cane growers, according to the bu-
reau Of plant industry of the United
States department of agriculture,
which has just completed an extensive
survey of infected areas and has in
vestigated the various methods of
controlling the disease.
/ Cuttings taken from diseased
stalks invariably produce diseased
plants and careless importation of
diseased seed cane is practically sure
to increase the spread of the disease,
investigations show Consequently,
indifference in the matter of seed
cane selection, the department scien-
fists declare, may result in very Sc
we're losses to sugar cane growers.
/ The greatest Importance, there
fore, is attached to the recommends
tons of the department with regard
to securing proper seed cane. The
first and essential step at this time is
the complete elimination of diseased
plants. In the spring Of the year the
malady frequently can be checked by
roguing in fields where It has not OBJ
tanned strong foothold Roguing
consists of pulling out infected plants,
root, stem and branch. These dis
eased plants usually wilt, and so are
no longer a source of infection. But
in wet weather they should be burned
or otherwise destroyed, else they may
sprout. Where the disease is very
abundant, roguing is out of the ques-
ton, and all plants, therefore, should
be allowed to mature, after which
they should be ground and the stub
bic plowed up and killed.
Such treatment means that seed
for replanting must be imported.
Here the growers are urged to exer-
else the greatest care. Fortunately,
there is still an abundance of healthy
stock in Louisiana and other cane
sections of the United States. The
United States department of agricul-
ture vii furnish information as to the
nearest and most accessible source OF
clean seed for any region. Data
i has also been secured on the preva.
lence of other diseases and insect
pests so that reasonable security
against the spread of other maIadies
! is assured.
The immediate problem confront
] ing the scientists in this fight is how
! to help the cane growers identify ths
1 disease. While the generalFappear
ance Of diseased plants suggests I
! nothing of the leaves resembling to
bacco mosaic, it is difficult to indi
cate verbally the characteristics
which distinguish this disease from
i others attacking the cane. As sooI
+ as the liGhographing of series o.
colored illustrations is completed
the United States department of agri
: culture will distribute in the affect
y ed regions an Illustrated bulletin
q with the aid of which one can readiI.
4 ascertain whether or not an unnatu
4 raj appearance of plants indicates tn,
4 presence Of the mosaic disease. Thi
: bulletin, which will be ready within I
: few days, tells in detail how to checl
Il the spread of mosaic disease.
Diseases Characteristics
The following description will b.
of assistance in supplementing tn
q colored illustrations, and viii enabl
those who do not have access to tn
) latter to more definitely diagnos'
: suspected cases. Upon walking be
e tween rows of cane in an affecte,
J field, numbers of plants are conspic
! uous on account of a general pallo
j of the leaves, discernible at distanc
5 of many rods. Closer examination
reveals that this pallor is due to II
! regular Eght-colored streaks or spot
f on the leaves. The affected lea
!, areas, in so far as color is concerned
!, are Of two distinct types the mos
I common type presenting merely
second type the yellow is predomi
nant and the affected areas have
: decidedly yellowish-green appeal
anee. The normal and affected area
are sharply contrasted.