The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1922-02-17

extent that they cannot get hold
on a person, except in particular places
such as the skin between the fing-
ers. Contrary to general belief, these
large house spiders are beneficial. in
that they catch myriads of mosqui-
toes. flies, cockroaches and other
pests.
The Black Widow is the only dam
gerous spider in Florida and one cas-
lily recognized. 1t is found over most
of both North and South America
Close relatives are found in Europe
and Asia.-Agricultura News Serv-
ice.
Red Rot of Sugar Cane
(By o. F. Burger.)
Red hot, fungus disease of sugar
cane, was reported in 1921 as seri-
ously damaging this crop in every
sugar cane growing county in Florida
The disease. identified by red discoIo-
rations in the split stalk, is best con-
trolled by planting only healthy canes.
by dipping the seed stalks just before
planting in bordeaux mixture, or by
planting the cane in fall rather than
in spring.
In the United States the disease was
first discovered in Louisiana and Flor
ida, being first reported from two
West Florida counties in March, 1910
It's spread has been rapid since its
first appearance
How to Control
In order to control rapidly spread
ing disease:
1. Plant only healthy canes. Any
canes showing even the slightest dis
coloration of the interior should be
discarded. In sections where the
! disease has become prevalent grind
all cane grown here and get seed for
planting from other localities.
2. As an extra preventive dip the
canes selected for seed into bordeaux
mixture just before planting. This
will kill any fungus that may have
gotten onto the cut ends or surfaces.
A large wooden trough is convenient
for holding the bordeaux mixture for
dipping purposes. The formula con-
sists of 5 pounds of copper sulphate.
5 pounds of lime, and so gallons of
water.
8. Whenever possible plant the
canes in the fall instead of bedding
them for spring planting. Fall plant
| ing will give an opportunity to dis
cover the disease, if present. and will
do away with the danger from con-
tahination in the bed
| f. A method of dealing with the
disease that has been practiced in the
West Indies is to plant some other
variety not subject to red rot.
5. Burn all trash in the old bed
and all diseased cane.
Description and Identification of
The Disease
The disease cannot be detected in
growing cane. 1t works on the inside
of the stalk which makes its recogni-
ton difficult. However, after the cane
has been cut and bedded the disease
develops and at planting time, when
the cane is cut in short pieces for
| seed, it is easily recognized. Last
spring cane which was being used as
seed was sent to the Florida Expert
ment Station. On examination this
cane was found badly diseased. Vari-
Gus growers from different parts of
the state had obtained seed from the
same farm which sent this cane, hence
the disease was distributed to several
counties from this one farm alone.
1t appears to be spread mostly from
infected seed; it does not spread
thru the air.
The fungus which causes red rot
is technically called Colletotrichum
falcatum. When the diseased cane
is split lengthwise the soft tissues on
the. inside show a red discoloration.
In the red areas there also occur
large spots which shade off into the
red. These white spots are especially
characteristic of red rot. As the dis
ease advances the central portion be-
comes destroyed. forming long
straight cavity in which is a whitish
mold made up of fungus threads. The
nodes and buds become first brown.
then black The hard outside of the
stalk remains apparently healthy.
During the growing season badly dis
eased cane is sAlnted The loss re-
suiting from red rot cannot be esti-
mated.