COMBATING TOMATO WILT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 218, 3 December 1927, Page 26 (Supplement)

COMBATING TOMATO WILT

A HINT WELL WORTH TRYING Many theories have been advanced from time to time respecting the cure or suppression of tomato wilt, but unfortunately they have not all been accompanied with the favourable results forecasted by their well-meaning compounders. Charcoal, wood-ash, formalin, lime and even rusty nails are but a few of the remedies advocated, and although hundreds of experimental stations and private gardeners throughout the world have concentrated their time, money and efforts on attempts to solve this most serious and vexatious problem, their combined investigations have borne but little result. Many amateurs claim to have checked the spread for one season only, but wq are compelled to admit that the results achieved were something questionable. Again growers have assured us that the self-sown plants are less susceptible to disease than, the transplanted

or brought in seedlings. Possibly this may bo accounted for by their extra sturdiness and freedom from root damage caused by careless handling or transplanting. Then, again, certain varieties have proved themselves to be almost immune from the dreaded disease, but our experience unfortunately does not endorse such remarks. Some, perhaps, are less susceptible, but none to our knowledge is wholly immune. Several so-called remedies have been brought under our notice, but their practical application has proved to be little avail, often futile. Late plantings, however, are as a rule, fairly free from wilt, which would suggest that climate conditions are in some measure accountable. From a most authoritative source we have gleaned the following, which somewhat compares with other advices from prominent and reliable growers received u;

us from time to time. We strongly advise all interested to try it out, and would appreciate the opinions of our various readers on the subject:—lngredients: lib Bordeaux Powder, 51b Flowers of Sulphur. Method of application: Mix the above ingredients thoroughly together, place a small proportion in a piece of hessian, and thoroughly dust it over the plant. Commence treating your plants while they are quite small, and repeat throughout the entire growing season.