Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-04
ROT CONTROL
WORK SHOULD
BEGIN EARLY

Now that planting time is here
again 1t might be advisable for
growers TO inform themselves on
black rot of cabbage and its con-
~. according to Henry Alsmeyer,
e kSleron county agricultural agent.
growers are not contain whether
th{ir seed has been treated for con-
trolling the rot they should ask their
dealers, he said.
He quotes circular No. 81 OF the
Texas Agricultural Experiment Sta
ton on treatment of seed and other
methods of control.
The circular says that rot may
appear Don after the seed has ger
minated and may result in total COL
lapse Of affected seedlings. IL may
also appear at any stage OF growth
IN the field and may continue 10
spread in storage OF In transit.
Treatment of seed and other con-
troll methods as quoted from the
bulletin follow:
Methods OF Control.
Black-rot may be held in check
by d~isinfection OF the seed ana
bichloride OF mercury solution. The
distinction process Is simple ana
applies TO ali c-ucife-ous seed. in
GLIDING cauliflower. broccoli, and
turnips. as we'll as cabbage. The pro-
cess requires Only q short time and
has been found effective and profit
able in large cabbagc-p-oducing Sec
tions. The treatment, however. IS
only effective aga4f.yt pathogenic or
ganisms which cling to the outer
sRec coat. The treatment. If properly
ckried out, will not reduce the
termination OF the seed. The method
consists Of immersing the seed for
80 minutes in a solution consisting
OF 1 part OF bichloride OF mercury 10
1000 parts Of water. One tablet dis
solved in a pin. of water gives a
solution Of the strength OF ! to 1000.
One ounce OF the crystal dissolved in
seven and one-half gallons OF water
will give a solution Of the same
strength. The bichlo ~ Of mercury
should be dissolved and held IN
either wooden or earthenware con-
tanners. The solution corrodes metal
containers and thereby loses some
OF its strength.
In treating. the seed are first
placed in q cloth bag. which should
be twice as large as the space &C.
cupied by the seed, its top securely
tied. and the whole submerged IN
the bichloride solution. During the
time that the bag Is immersed, u
should be moved around with a stick
in order TO insure the removal 81
air bubbles so that the diSintectant
will come in contact with all the
seed. After the seed have been IN
the solution the required period OF
time they should be removed and
rinsed in several changes Of clear
water. They should then be spread
out in the shade TO dry, after which
they are ready TO plant.
Bichloride Of mercury is a deadly
poison when taken internally. Care
full precautions should be taken 70
prevent children or farm animals
from drinking the solution BY mis-
take. II NAV be purchased from COM
panies handling fungacides or from
local or wholesale drug stores and
car be obtained in crystals or tablets.
ascent work at the Wisconsin
horticultural Experiment Station in
dicates that in rare cases the BAG
terra which cause black-rOt may
reach the interior OF the seed. In
such cases the seed should be i'm
mersed in hot water. as the surface
disinfection with the bichloride OF
mercury solution will not be ade-
quate ~. Since cases OF internal in
lection are rare, the writer's do not
consider the hot water treatment
advisable as vet in preference to the
bichloride or mercury treatment.
Crop Rotation.
Crop rotation is very important
in the control Of black-rOt, especially
in the South. since the organism
is known TO live e in the soil and
on plant refuse from one season 70
another. It IS not advisable TO plant
cabbage in the same field year after
year. Cabbage. cauliflower. turnips
mustard. radish. or other cultivated
crucifers or cruel erous weeds should
not be allowed TO grow on the ground
for two or three years.
Care is necessary in the cultural
operations in the seed bed and IN
the field. The presence OF moisture
on the plants makes conditions
favorable for the spread Of the dis
ease. For this reason, the plants
should be dry when the field is be-
ing worked. Irrigation water should
not be allowed to come in contact
with the plants. Over-irrigation
should be avoided. as excessive mois-
ture Is conducive to the rapid spread
ofkhe disease. The seed beds should
no4 Be planted flat and plants set
in10e field should be placed on the
edge Of ridges. With flat planting,
Il is impossible to irrigate without
flooding the plants. Ridge planting
also affords a natural drainage IN
case OF heavy aims. Plants should
not be oyer-crowed in the seed bed,
as such planting tends 10 hold the
moisture. to prevent proper aerat.or,
and to furnish conditions that are
conducive 10 black-rot. Ground
should be used for the seed bed that
Is known 70 be free from the dis
ease. as 1t Is very easily carried from
the seed bed to the field.
Insect pests. both sucking and Bit
ing. should be carefully controlled IN
the field and in the seed bed. since
II Is very probable that they carry
the black--ot organism from diseased
to healthy plants.