■J U. o. Department of Agrncultun
Office of Experiment Stations
Bulletin 359 Ubrmy^ ^f^^ February, 1934 ll ^
?^^ r
TOBACCO SUBSTATION AT W^INDSOR
REPORT FOR 1933
p. J. ANDERSON, T. R. SWANBACK
AND O. E. STREET
Qlnnnprttmt
.-\
no3S"i
CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
BOARD OF CONTROL
His Excellency, Governor Wilbur L. Cross, cx-officio, President
Elijah Rogers, J'icc-Prcsident Southington
William L. Slate, Director and Treasurer New Haven
Edward C. Schneider, Secretary Middletown
1 oseph W. Alsop Avon
Charles G. Morris Newtown
Albert E. Plant Branford
Olcott F. King South Windsor
STAFF
Administration. William L. Slate, B.Sc, Director and Treasurer.
Miss L. M. Brautlecht, Bookkeeper and Librarian.
Miss Dorothy Amrine, B.Litt., Editor.
G. E. Graham, In Charge of Buildings and Grounds.
Analytical
Assistant Chemists.
E. M. Bailey, Ph.D., Chemist in Charge.
C. E. Shepard '^
Owen L. Nolan
Harry J. Fisher, Ph.D.
W. T. Mathis
David C. Walden, B.S.
Frank C. Sheldon, Laboratory Assistant.
v. L. Churchill, Sampling Agent.
Mrs. a. B. Vosburgh, Secretary.
Chemistry. H. B. A'ickery, Ph.D., Biochemist in Cliarge.
Biochemistry. Lafayette B. Mendel, Ph.D., Research Associate (Yale University).
George W. Pucher, Ph.D., Assistant Biochemist.
Botany. G. P. Clinton, Sc.D., Botanist in Charge.
E. M. Stoddard, B.S., Pomologist.
i\Iiss Florence A. McCormick, Ph.D., Pathologist.
A. A. DuNLAP, Ph.D., Assistant Mycologist.
A. D. INIcDoNNELL, General Assistant.
Mrs. W. W. Kelsey, Secretary.
Entomology. W. E. Britton, Ph.D., D.Sc, Entomologist in Charge, State Entomologist.
B. H. Walden. B.Agr. ^
M. P. Zappe, B.S.
Philip Garman, Ph.D. V Assistant Entomologists.
Roger B. Friend, Ph.D. i
Neely Turner, ISl.A. J
John T. Ashworth, Deputy in Charge of Gipsy Moth Control.
R. C. BoTSFORD, Deputy in Charge of Mosquito Elimination.
J. P. Johnson, B.S., Deputy in Charge of Japanese Beetle Quarantine.
Miss Helen A. Hulse \ _ ^ .
Miss Betty, Scoville / Secretaries.
Forestry.
Walter O. Filley, Forester in Charge.
H. W. HicocK, M.F., Assistant Forester.
J. E. Riley, Jr., M.F., In Charge of Blister Rust Control.
Miss Pauline A. Merchant, Secretary.
Plant Breeding. Donald F. Jones, Sc.D., Geneticist in Charge.
W. Ralph Singleton, Sc.D., Assistant Geneticist.
Lawrence C. Curtis, B.S., Assistant.
Miss Genevieve Booth, A.B., Secretary.
Soils.
^L F. Morgan, M.S., Agronomist in Charge.
H. G. 'M. Jacobson, M.S., Assistant Agronomist.
Herbert A. Lunt, Ph.D., Assistant in Forest Soils.
Dwight B. Downs, General Assistant.
Mrs. Oran B. Stanley, A.B., Secretary.
Tobacco Substation Paul J. Anderson, Ph.D., Pathologist in Charge.
at Windsor. T. R. Swanback, :^LS.. Agronomist.
O. E, Street, Ph.D., Plant Physiologist.
Miss Dorothy Lenard, Secretary.
Printing by Quinnipiack Press, Inc., New Haven, Conn.
CONTENTS
PAGE
Pythium Damping-Off and Rootrot in the Seed Bed 336
Symptoms 336
Cause 338
Distribution of the disease 341
Influence of environmental conditions 342
Control 345
Summary 352
How TO Prevent "Green Mold" or "AIoss" in the Seed Bed 354
Use of Sulfate of Ammonia in Fertilizer Mixtures 355
Nitrophoska Fertilizer Tests 361
Comparative Studies of Fuels for Curing 362
l^ Shade Curing Experiments 367
Experimental procedure 367
Vertical position in shed 368
Horizontal position in shed 369
Picking in relation to rains 370
Type of soil 371
Humidification 371
Summary 372
Preservative Treatment of Shade Tent Poles ZTi
The experiments ZIZ
Condition of poles after five years 374
Conclusions 376
Tobacco Insects in 1933 377
Prevalence of various species Zll
Tobacco thrips 378
Flea beetle control 380
Wireworm control 380
Distribution of wireworm larvae in tobacco soils 381
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TOBACCO SUBSTATION AT WINDSOR
REPORT FOR 1933
P. J. Anderson, T. R. Swanback and O. E. Street
Most of the experiments conducted at the tobacco substation at Wind-
sor are parts of long time projects continued over a number of years.
This report includes a discussion of progress during the 1933 season
on some of the projects but reports on others are reserved until they
are more nearly complete. More time has been devoted this year to
investigations of tobacco diseases than heretofore. Therefore more space
in this bulletin is given to these and rather less than usual to fertilizer
experiments. Although there still are, and always will be, fertilizer
problems, and the work on them will be continued, it is felt that many
of the most urgent ones have been answered by previous experiments.
The most pertinent results obtained from intensive work on one disease,
begun by the senior author in 1933, are reported here. This will be fol-
lowed by the investigations of other diseases as quickly as time and
resources will permit.
Another new project in 1933 was in the initiation of experiments in
growing potatoes on old tobacco land. These have to do with fertilizers
primarily, but also include spraying for control of insects and diseases.
This work has been undertaken because many tobacco growers, during
the years of depression and contraction of tobacco acreage, have turned
a considerable part of their tobacco land over to potatoes. Years of heavy
fertilization for tobacco have accumulated large reserves of some food
elements, phosphorous, for example, and have made other changes in the
soil, so that the fertilization of potatoes on tobacco land is a different
problem from that on other types of land in the state. The potato experi-
ments are being carried on in cooperation with the departments of Botany,
Entomology and Soils of this Station and the department of Agronomy
at the Storrs station. The results for 1933 are published in the Director's
Report, Bulletin Zo7.
The season at Windsor in general was too dry for best growth of the
tobacco crop, especially during the later half of June and all of July and
August. It was necessary to irrigate several of the fields twice during this
period. Rainfall records for the season of 1932 and 1933 are given in
Table 1. The crop, however, was above the average in weight and of good
quality. There was no damage by hail or wind.
336
Connecticut Experiment Station
Bulletin 359
Table 1.
Distribution of Rainfall in Inches at the Tobacco Substation,
Windsor. 1932-1933.
By 10-day periods
Year
May 1 June | July | August
1-10 I 11-20 121-31 I 1-10 I 11-20 I 21-30 | 1-10 | 11-20 | 21-31 | 1-10 | 11-20
1932 .87
1933 .58
.02
.76
.26
2.38
.22
1.08
.7?>
2.18
1.39
1.00
1.49
.39
.08
.33
1.34
.76
.89
2.34
.58
By months
Year
May
June
July
August (total)
1932
1933
Alean*
1.65
1.58
3.60
2.86
1.96
3.08
3.99
2.43
4.37
5.72
3.42
4.29
*Average from the Hartford Weather Bureau records for the past 74 years.
PYTHIUM DAMPING-OFF AND ROOTROT IN THE SEED BED
P. J. Anderson
A damping-off and rootrot disease of seedlings became so prevalent
and widespread in the early seed-bed period of 1933 that it appeared to
be an epidemic and gave rise to apprehension that a new disease had
invaded the state. Closer investigation, however, showed that it was not
a new but an old disease that is present to some extent every year. Ordi-
narily it is not considered of serious importance. The reason for its de-
structive increase and epidemic prevalence in 1933 is not apparent. Since
it became a source of considerable expense to growers who lost a part or
all of their beds and were obliged to purchase plants elsewhere, an inves-
tigation was undertaken with the object of discovering some method of
controlling its ravages.
This section presents in a preliminary way some of the practical find-
ings. More technical phases are reserved for publication elsewhere.
Symptoms
It will first be necessary to describe the symptoms or "ear marks" by
which one may distinguish this from various other seed-bed troubles.
The symptom that the grower usually notices first shows shortly after
the germinating seedlings become visible. At this time the plants have
developed the first pair of tiny green leaves (cotyledons). The plants
begin to disappear. Every day when the grower examines the beds he
finds that there are not so many plants as he thought were there the
previous day. The "stand" becomes thinner and thinner. In many cases
this continues until there are not enough plants left to pay for further
care and the beds are abandoned, or until the stand is so reduced that there
are not enough plants to set the intended acreage.
The cause of such continuous disappearance of plants can be determined
by a close examination of the beds at this early stage. Looking carefully.
Pythiuin Damping-off and Rootrot
337
one finds that many of the httle seeclhngs are unable to stand upright and
have fallen over to lie prostrate on the soil surface, (Fig. 64 and Fig. 65,
A). It will be observed that the stems (hypocotyls) of such prostrate
plants are withered and lifeless. This dead part of the hypocotyl may be
only a short portion just at the surface of the ground or the shrivelling
may extend well up, even to the base of the cotyledons, in which case it
gives the appearance of a white or straw-colored string connecting the first
leaves with the soil. Depending on the moisture conditions, the cotyledons
may remain green for several days or may rot and disappear very quickly.
Another symptom that is characteristic is the presence of small plants
Figure 64. Damping-off of j-oung seedlings. Note shrivelled hypocotyl of
prostrate plants. Enlarged 3 diameters.
with sound stems but not attached to the soil at all. They are either lying
prostrate or entirely inverted, with the naked blunt stubs, where the roots
should have been, standing upright. In this case, the hypocotyls are still
sound but the roots have been completely rotted away. The little plants,
therefore, have no anchorage and when splashed by- water from sprinkler,
hose, or rain, they topple over and either recline on their sides or are
completely upside down with the root stubs standing up in the air. The
338 Coiiiiccticiit Experiment Station Bulletin 359
disease is the same as the damping-off described above but in this latter
case the roots only are affected while in the former, it is the stem which
dies first — although microscopic examination shows that also in damping-
off the roots are diseased.
Another symptom of the same disease may appear at a somewhat later
stage. After the plants have developed 4 to 6 leaves, one notices patches
in the bed where the plants stop growing and the leaves fade out to a pale
yellow. Then, beginning with the lower, the leaves turn almost white and
finally die. This causes the death of many of the smaller plants. The
above-ground appearance of such affected plants is' not different from
that of plants affected with the black rootrot. No amount of watering or
fertilizing will start the plants in these spots growing. Examination of
the roots under a hand-lens or dissecting microscope shows that sonle or
all of the rootlets are withered. Unlike the other rootrots of tobacco, this
disease does not cause the roots to turn brown or black. They remain white
or very light in color as long as they are beneath the soil. If the plants
are pulled the flimsy rotted roots remain below and are not noticed, but
if the soil is carefully removed by gentle washing in water, they may be
found readily. Their collapsed condition can be determined by teasing
them apart under a dissecting microscope when it will be found that they
have no turgor or coherence and the rotted outer cortex slips easily from
the central strand.
Microscopic examination of the tissues characterized by any of the
above symptoms shows abundant oospores and mycelium of the fungus
described below.
The condition of the older plants described above could not properly
be called damping-off. The term "damping-off" is applied to a disease
characterized by collapse of infected tissue at the base or ground level of
the stem — although it is now generally recognized that when damping-off
occurs the roots are also affected. When, however, only the roots are
affected while the stem remains healthy, we can properly refer to the dis-
ease only as a rootrot. For the sake of clarity it seems advisable to call
this disease the Pythiitm damping-off and rootrot.
This disease should not be confused with "bed-rot," a wet, brown, slimy
rotting of the stalks at a later stage — usually when the plants are about
large enough for transplanting. Bed-rot in all cases observed here is
caused by other fungi and its control is a problem quite different from that
of the disease under discussion here.
Cause
Damping-off is not caused by too much water or too little ventilation
or overcrowding, although these conditions may favor it. The primary
cause is invasion and destruction of the hypocotyl or roots by a parasitic
fungus (Pythimn deharyaniim Hesse)*. This fungus is not usually visible
to the naked eye except that sometimes under very damp conditions it may
be seen as a white felt of fine threads like spider w^ebs or cotton fibres
*Dr. Charles Drechsler of the U. S. Department of Agriculture has kindly con-
firmed the writer's identification of this fungus.
Pythium Damping-off and Rootrot 339
spreading over the surface of the wet soil around the dying plants. These
fine threads are continuous but branching tubes which in the young grow-
ing condition are filled with living protoplasm. This weft of tubes, called
the mycelium, makes up the body of the fungus. The mycelium continues
to branch and grow for an indefinite period beneath the soil and is prob-
ably present in all of our soils. It is not necessary that the tobacco plants
be present; it may live for an indefinitely long time on the organic
materials in the soil or in water and grows very rapidly. The writer has
found that on artificial media, in pure culture, the mycelium will spread as
much as % of an inch in one day. It produces several kinds of spores
(Fig. 65, D to J) which serve the same purpose as the seeds of higher
plants. Some of these spores have heavy walls (Fig. 65, F19 and H) and
serve to keep the fungus alive under adverse conditions of drying out or
freezing; others are thin-walled and short-lived (Fig. 65, D, E) and
probably serve more for rapid distribution. Such spores may be carried
about by wind* or by water. Its rapid growth, omnipresence and many
methods of rapid dissemination explain why the disease is so difficult to
control.
In germination, the tobacco seed swells and then bursts open at one end
from which emerges a white, rapidly elongating "shoot," the tip of which
is the primary root and the upper end of which is the hypocotyl. The
cotyledons (Fig. 65, A) or first leaves, above the hypocotyl come out
of the seed coat last. Just as soon as the tip of the primary root emerges,
it is susceptible to attack by any branch of the mycelium which may come
in contact with it. No part of the root or hypocotyl is resistant at this
stage, but the point of attack is usually close to the point of union between
root and hypocotyl, therefore near the surface of the soil. When a hypha
(branch of the mycelium) comes in contact with the epidermis of the plant,
it swells into a knob at the tip, from which it passes as a narrowed much
constricted tube, through the wall and into the interior of the cell (Fig. 65,
C). Once inside the cells of the host plant, it lives upon and destroys the
living cell contents, branches freely and spreads between and through the
cells of all the parts of the hypocotyl or roots (Fig. 65, B). This causes the
cells to fall apart and collapse, and soon the little plant topples over and
dies. All this happens with extreme rapidity. In inoculation experiments
in pure culture, the tissues were found to be thoroughly permeated with
the threads of the parasite in less than 24 hours after the fungus came in
contact with the plants. After killing the tissues, the fungus produces
spores inside the plant and at the same time some of the hyphae grow out
into the surrounding air or soil, passing through the outer wall of the
epidermis as a much constricted neck with enlargements of the hypha on
either side.
It is doubtful whether any seedling attacked in the h3'pocotyl at this
stage ever recovers. Later, at about the stage when the true leaves (above
the cotyledons) develop, the stalk becomes resistant and there is little
danger of further loss from hypocotyl infection. If infection is in the
roots, however, the attack is not so sure to be fatal. On the other hand
resistance does not seem to develop at such an early stage. When some
*Hoffman (17) found the spores in air currents 30 feet above the ground.
340
Connecticut Experiment Station
Bulletin 359
..i^^^i^=^-^
Figure 65. Stages in the development of the damping-off fungus,
Pyt Ilium dcbaryaniim.
Pyfhimn Damping-off and Rootrot 341
EXPLAXATION OF FiGURE 65.
A Tobacco seedlings 10 days old (x4)
1. Healthy seedling. Hyp., hypocotyl. Coty., cotyledon
2, .3. Diseased seedlings with shrivelled hypocotyls.
B Highly magnified (x 160) longisection of hypocotyl at point marked X in A, 2.
Shows cellular structure and invasion of the cells by the fungus mycelium.
4. Intercellular mycelium
5. Intracellular mycelium
6. Point of entrance of mycelium into the epidermis.
C Entrance and penetration of cells (x 320)
7. Epidermal cell of hypocotyl
8. Mycelium, constricted at the cell walls.
D Conidia (Asexual spores) (x30O)
9. Young stages of development
10. Mature ccnidia
E Chlamydospores (x 300)
F Oospores (Sexual). Stages of development (.x300). Anth.. antheridum. Oog.,
oogonium.
11. Youngest stage
12 - 18. Later stages
19. Mature oospore.
G Antheridium and oogonium (x500)
H Cross section of mature oospore (x560) showing empty antheridium above,
oogonial wall, heavy oospore wall and central drop of reserve substance.
I Stages in germination of conidia (x300) with 1, 2, or 3 germ tubes.
J Zoosporangia (x330)
24. Cluster of zoospores at mouth of exit tube.
25, 26, 27. Empty zoosporangia after contents have passed out through e.xit
tubes to form zoospores.
28, 29. Germinating zoospores.
of the rootlets are killed, others are developed from the root or hypocotyl
above. These may be attacked in turn and there results a struggle between
the host and the parasite which causes dwarfing and etiolation but not
always death of the plant.
This later infection resulting in dwarfing of older plants was not so
common or serious in 1933 as the infection in earlier stages. Rootrot of
younger seedlings resulting in coinplete loss of the root system before four
leaves were developed was very prevalent this year.
Distribution of the Disease
Damping-off diseases of seedlings produced by species of Pythium have
been described from most countries and on a great variety of cultivated
plants, including beets, tomatoes, cress, celery, peppers, cabbage, corn,
sugar cane, coniferous seedlings and others too numerous to mention here
specifically. Some of these diseases are caused by the same species of
P3'thium described here, others by different species of this genus, but the
symptoms and course of the diseases are quite similar. Also many damp-
ing-off diseases are caused by other genera of fungi.
On tobacco, this disease, or a similar one caused by species of Pythium,
has been found in widely separated regions. Descriptions given in pub-
lished articles or notes are for the most part not in sufficient detail for one
342 Connecticut Ilxperhnent Station Bulletin 359
to be sure that the writer had under observation the same disease, caused
by the same organism, that we have here.
In 1900 Raciborski (24)* found Pythium vexans'-^-* attacking over-
crowded or weak tobacco plants in Java.
In 1912 Serbinov (26) found a damping-ofif disease of tobacco seed-
lings very destructive to tobacco beds in southern Russia (Crimea). He
described and figured the disease and the causal organism in considerable
detail giving to the organism a new name, Pythium perniciosum. The
disease as described by him has all the symptoms that we have observed
here and one might judge the two to be identical. However, the causal
fungus he found has somewhat different morphological characters.
In 1919 Subramanium (28) in India described what appears to be the
same disease on tobacco and gave to the fungus the new name Pythium
butleri.
Drechsler (9) has recently found P. aphanidermatum in diseased to-
bacco seedlings from Sumatra.
Pythium deharyanum as a cause of damping-ofif of tobacco seedlings
has been reported by Johnson (19) in Wisconsin in 1914, Reinking (25)
in the Philippines in 1919, Doran (8) in Massachusetts in 1928, and NoUa
(22) in Porto Rico in 1932.
In local lists of parasitic fungi, Pythium deharyanum. has also been
reported on tobacco in Germany, Turkey, Rhodesia, and Sumatra (21).
In Connecticut, Clinton (7) first reported a damping-ofif of tobacco (in
greenhouse in 1906) caused by a species of Pythium. In recent correspon-
dence Clinton states, "In 1920-21, when we made a disease survey on
tobacco in this state, we found Pythium deharyanum as a common trouble
in seed beds. I have a list of from 15 to 20 seed beds where we found it
each of those years and I have known it occurring before and after those
years."
The writer has at various times during the last 10 years found a Pythium
in diseased seedlings which he has referred to P. deharyanum. He
reported successful treatment for its control with acetic acid in 1928 (3).
Probably tobacco in most or all of the tobacco growing regions of the
world sufifers from Pythium damping-ofif and rootrot to a greater or less
degree but it appears that the disease is not always produced by the same
species of Pythium. The observations of Clinton, Doran and the writer,
previously mentioned, show that it is a wide-spread disease of long stand-
ing in the Connecticut Valley. It is probably responsible for a larger
proportion of poor stands and failures in seed beds than has been
suspected.
Influence of Environmental Conditions
It is well known that certain conditions of the environment may modify
considerably the severity of damping-ofif diseases caused by Pythium.
Most important of these are temperature of the surrounding air and soil,
humidity of the air or percentage of moisture in the soil, percentage of
*Numbers in parenthesis refer to Literature Cited on p. 353.
**Bi]tler (6) later presented reasons for doubt as to the correct identity of this
species since P. vc.vans is not known to be parasitic.
Pythium Damping-off and Rootrot 343
organic matter, and degree of acidity of the soil. Atkinson (4) says "The
trouble is favored by damp soil, comparatively high temperatures, and
humid atmosphere."
Temperature. In the literature of Pythium debaryanum and of closely
related species of Pythium one finds numerous references to the effect of
different temperatures on the growth of the fungus and on incidence of
the disease. Some are based only on observation, others supported by
controlled experiments.
Johnson (19) found 33° C. to be the optimum temperature for growth
of Pythuim debaryajfiim and its growth very slow below 16° C. He. there-
fore, recommended keeping the temperature of the seed bed low as a
means of checking the disease.
Flor (10) found the rate of growth of the cane rootrot Pythium, as
tested in pure culture, increased regularly with rise in temperature up to
30° C. but diminished above that point. When, however, he investigated
the influence of soil temperatures (ranging from 15° to 35° C. ) on infec-
tion and injury to roots he found that the amount of injury increased as
the temperature decreased, being most severe at 15° C.
Johann et al (18) also found the Pythium causing rootrot of corn more
injurious at low temperatures.
Hawkins (15), working with Pyfliium dcbaryanuui which causes "leak"
of potatoes, found the minimum temperature for growth of the fungus to
be 5° C, the optimum 30° to 35 ° C, and the maximum 35° to 40 ° C.
Harter and Zaumeyer (11) found the wilt disease of beans (caused
by P. hutleri) w^as dependent on a high temperature (30° C. or above)
and that it caused no damage at low temperatures. They considered tem-
perature a more important factor than humidity in the incidence of this
disease.
Alexander. Young and Kiger (1) found the Pvthium disease of tomato
seedlings most destructive at 18° to 24° C ( 65° 'to 75° F).
The most exact and complete experiments on the relation of temperature
to Pythium debaryanum were conducted by Hemmi (16) in soil tanks
with thermostatically controlled temperatures. He found the damping-ofif
of cress seedlings most severe between 22° and 27° C. However, even
with a temperature as low as 15° C. he considered the fungus still a dan-
gerous parasite. When, in other experiments, he controlled the tempera-
ture of both soil and air, 80 per cent of the plants were diseased at
temperatures between 20° and 30°, decreasing below 20°. but even at 10°
there was an infection of 24 per cent of the plants. At temperatures
higher than 30°, seed germination was inhibited, therefore there was no
chance of control by keeping the temperatures high.
All the investigators agree that these fungi grow best at a relatively
high temperature, around 30° C. (86° F.), but some have found infec-
tion of the plants more severe at lower temperatures. The range of
greatest infection found by Hemmi, 68° to 86° F., corresponds fairly
well with the temperatures for best germination of tobacco seed. Even at
10° C. (which is below the point where tobacco seed will germinate)
infection was severe. It is obvious then that the disease cannot be
controlled by regulation of temperature. It is possible that it might be
344 Coiiiiccliciif Experinietil Station Bulletin 359
less severe at low temperatures but this matter requires further experi-
mentation before any recommendations for tobacco beds can be made.
Moisture. The name "damping-ojff" was applied to the disease because
it was usually found to be most severe in damp places. DeBary (5)
considered moisture the most important environmental condition favor-
ing the disease.
Johann et al (18) found the Pythium causing rootrot of corn more
pathogenic in wet than in dry soils.
Flor (10) also found that the injury caused by the Pythiums parasitic
on corn increased with the increase in moisture content of the soil, and
was severe only in those soils which contained over 50 per cent of their
moisture-holding capacity.
Harter and Zaumeyer (11) emphasized the importance of the air mois-
ture as contrasted with soil moisture. The bean wilt caused by P. hutleri
was severe even in an extremely dry soil when the relative humidity of
the air was high.
Johnson (19) found both high air moisture and high soil moisture
favorable to damping-off, pointing out that air humidity permits aerial
spread of the fungus from plant to plant. Growth through the air is more
rapid than through the soil. He attributes the greater prevalence of
damping-off in thick sowings to increased humidity thus produced.
As a means of combatting damping-off it is often recommended that
the moisture of soil and air be kept at a low level. Such advice for
germinating tobacco seed (the stage of infection) is of little practical
benefit. Tobacco seed are sowed very close to the surface of the soil ; in
fact many of them lie on top of the soil. If the soil becomes dry during
the germination stage, the seedlings die. Since constant moisture at this
time is essential, the conditions favorable to infection cannot be avoided.
Composition of the soil. Several writers have stated that the disease
is favored by increased organic matter in the soil. This conclusion is
apparently based only on observations. No published experiments to
substantiate it have come to the notice of the writer. The fact that the
saprophytic existence of Pythium in the soil is dependent on the presence
of dead organic matter supports such a conclusion. Tobacco growers find,
however, that a soil with considerable organic matter is more favorable
for the production of good plants than one without much vegetable
matter, as, for example, pure sand. It is quite unlikely that they would
wish to forego this advantage for the sake of any benefit that might come
from a possible reduction in damping-off.
Reaction of the soil. Like other fungi, Pythium requires for its best
development that the medium in which it grows be within a certain range
of acidity. At more acid reactions its growth is inhibited and finally stops.
There is also a degree of alkalinity at which it will not grow.
Flor (10) found that the sugar cane Pythiums grow best in a neutral
or somewhat alkaline medium. The optimum growth was at 8.3 pH.
At the other extreme, growth was inhibited by increasing acidity until it
ceased entirely at 4.6.
The writer found that when the tobacco Pythium was grown in pure
culture media ranging from 7.0 down to 3.0 pH, growth was not inhibited
Pyfhinm Dampiiig-off and Rootrot 345
by acidity until 5.0 pH was reached. Below this point, growth became
progressively less until it stopped completely at about 4.0 pH.
In soil tests to determine the effect of different degrees of acidity on
germination of tobacco seed, it was found that in soils testing 4.0 pH or
lower" the germinating seedlings failed to establish themselves. Appar-
ently these very acid soils contain some soluble substance which is toxic
to the roots. If, therefore, a degree of acidity can be found which permits
the plants to grow normally but at the same time checks the development
of the fungus it must be in the range between 4.0 and 5.0 pH. Soils above
5.0 showed considerable damping-off; from 4.85 downward there was
decreasing severity of infection. The range of safety, however, is so
narrow that it seems doubtful whether a method of control based on
adjustment of the soil reaction could be practical for the average grower.
In the present state of our knowledge of the influence of environmental
conditions, it seems doubtful whether any changes the grower can eff'ect
in natural conditions in the seed bed at this early stage of development
can be depended on to control damping-off.
Control
Since the causal fungus lives in the soil and infection occurs for the
most part below or just at the surface of the ground, it is obvious that
any contemplated method of control, to be successful, must be aimed at
elimination or checking of the fungus in the soil. Covering the above
ground parts of the plants with a protective spray is of no benefit. John-
son (19) found that spraying with Bordeaux mixture after the plants
were started gave negative results. The writer also, during the course of
the experiments described below, sprayed infected flats at intervals of
two or three days with Bordeaux mixture. This treatment was started
just as soon as the first seeds began to crack. The plants damped oflF
badly, however, and at the end of the experiment there were just as many
living plants in the unsprayed as in the sprayed flats.
In the experiments discussed below, the soil used was a sandy black
loam taken from the seed beds of a grower in Hockanum where the dis-
ease was so serious in 1933 that the beds were a total failure. Flats meas-
uring 18 by 10 by 4 inches were filled with this naturally infested soil and
kept in the greenhouse at temperatures of 60° F. at night and about
70° during the day with occasional bright days when the temperature rose
during the middle of the day to 80° F. The experiments were made during
October, November and December of 1933 and January of 1934. The
Cuban Shade Variety of seed was used throughout. A measured equal
quantity of seed was sowed in each flat. In order to keep an optimum
humidity of the air and surface of the soil for germination, the flats were
started under a hot bed sash which was hinged to the side of the green-
house bench, thus approximating the conditions of an ordinary seed bed.
After the seed had germinated and most of the cotyledons had spread —
about 10 days — the flats were removed to the open benches of the green-
house. Observations -on the amount of damping-off in each flat were
recorded at frequent intervals. When the plants had developed about six
346 Connecticut lixpcr'nncni St'jtion Bulletin 359
leaves and were judged to he beyond the susceptible stage, all were
pulled and counted. The "check" or control flats contained untreated soil
and were seeded at the same time as the treated flats and kept under the
same conditions.
Sterilizing the Soil with Steam. The object of this method is to raise
the temperature of the top soil sufficiently to kill the mycelium and spores
of the causal fungus ; then to grow the seedlings before the fungus threads
grow back to the surface. This is the method in common practice here
and in other cigar leaf sections of the country. The inverted pan system
is used almost universally for this purpose. It kills not only this fungus
but also other pathogenic fungi and bacteria, insects and weed seeds. Yet
most of the serious cases of damping-off found in 1933 were in .beds
which had been steamed. It is apparent that steaming has not controlled
this disease. The fault, however, lies not in failure of the treatment to
kill the fungus, but in the ability of the fungus to rapidly reinfect the soil
after sterilization. Steaming sterilizes only the top four to six inches of
soil. The fungus remains alive in the soil below that depth and starts
growing back up just as soon as the soil begins to cool off. We have
previously mentioned the extreme rapidity of growth of Pythium —
three-fourths of an inch in a day. The rate of growth is also favored by
lack of competition in a sterile soil. By the time the seeds are germinat-
ing, the fungus is again in position to infect, or the fungus may be intro-
duced by water, air currents, tools, or by other means.
In order to see whether infection is prevented by steaming, one flat
was steamed for 20 minutes at 100 pounds pressure under the pan and as
soon as cooled was immediately seeded along with an unsteamed flat.
Both were kept in the greenhouse under conditions which would offer
little opportunity for reinfection.
Soon after germination, damping-off appeared on the check flat but
not on the steamed flat. Germination, however, was not good on the
steamed flat and many of the plants remained yellow and stunted with
poorly developed roots. This condition often develops in beds which have
been seeded too soon after steaming and is probably due to accumulation
of ammonia in a freshly steamed soil. Analyses showed more than twice
as much ammonia in the steamed soil as in the check soil. The stand on
the check flat became thinner throughout the experiment due to damping-
off. At the end of 5 weeks there were 1087 plants alive on the steamed
soil and only 184 on the check flat.
This experiment shows that the disease can be controlled by steaming
if one guards sufficiently against reinfection. As a practical method of
control in the seed beds, however, it cannot be depended on because rein-
fection is too difficult to prevent. This fact is not an argument against
the general practice of steaming the soil, but it indicates that in places
where damping-off and early rootrot is a serious factor some other
method of control must be used.
Drenching the Soil w^ith Formaldehyde. Drenching the soil with
formaldehyde, and thus killing damping-off fungi before seeding, is a
method used for many years, not only in tobacco beds but for many
other seedlings and cuttings. As commonly practiced, formaldehyde is
Pythium Damping-off and Rootrot 347
diluted with water at a ratio of 1 to 50 and sprinkled on the soil at the
rate of one-half gallon to the square foot. This completely saturates the
soil and reduces it to mud. As soon as it is somewhat dried out, the soil
must be stirred several times until the fumes of formaldehyde have gone
off. If seeded too soon, many of the plants will die. This method involves
a delay of about 10 days or even longer in rainy weather, and therein
lies a serious objection.
Johnson (19) conducted extensive experiments with the formaldehyde
drench method and found it effective in controlling damping-off.
The present writer made a test in which one flat was treated at the
above mentioned rate. After stirring the soil at intervals several times,
the seed was sowed a week after treatment of the soil. This interval was
found to be too short since it resulted in delayed germination and some
injury. Damping-off", however, did not develop in this flat at any time.
Although the plants in the untreated check flat were more numerous at
first, damping-off began as soon as they germinated and continued until,
at the end of 4 weeks, there were 285 plants alive as compared with 755
in the treated flat.
It is apparent that the disease can be controlled by this method, but in
order to avoid chemical injury it is best to wait longer than a week to
allow the fumes to escape. No attempt was made to determine how long
the sterilizing effect of formaldehyde continues. Thus the question of
how soon the fungus may reinfect remains to be answered.
Formaldehyde Dust as a Soil Disinfectant. The previously men-
tioned objection to the formaldehyde drench method may be eliminated
by substituting formaldehyde dust. This method was recently developed
by Alexander, Young and Kiger ( 1 ) in Ohio for controlling damping-off"
of tomato seedlings. Commercial 40 per cent formaldehyde is sprayed or
sprinkled on some absorptive dust at the rate of 15 parts by weight of
formaldehyde to 85 parts of the dust. This treated dust is then distributed
over the surface of the soil and thoroughly mixed into the upper 2 or 3
inches of soil with a rake. The seed is sowed immediately, thus eliminat-
ing the delay which the drench method requires. The gas passes out into
the soil at a rate which produces a concentration sufficient to inhibit
growth of the fungus but not strong enough to injure the germinating
seedlings. Various absorptive materials such as finely ground charcoal,
diatomaceous earth, kaolin, swamp soil or other soils containing a high
percentage of organic matter have been used.
Since no tests of this material against damping-off" of tobacco have been
published, the writer ran three series of experiments in flats in the green-
house with the infested soil previously mentioned.
In the first experiment, finely ground charcoal was used as a carrier.
Since it was feared that tobacco seedlings, on account of their very small
size, might be injured by seeding immediately after treating the soil, flats
were treated one and two days previous to sowing the seed and compared
with those in which the seed was sowed just after treating. The rate of
application was one and a half ounces of dust to the square foot of soil.
To a fourth flat no dust was applied. All were watered heavily at the time
of sowing. Just as soon as the cotyledons appeared, damping-off became
348
Connecticut Experiment Station
Bulletin 359
?Lp.K'%K^'i^.
Figure 66. Control of damping-off and rootrot by treating seedbed soil with formal-
dehyde dust. Plants 4 weeks old. Bed shown above treated at rate of
ll4 07.. to square foot. Bed below, not treated.
Pythiiiui Daniping-off and Rootrot
349
prevalent in the untreated flat and caused great damage thereafter. A
small number damped-off on the treated flats but the disease never be-
came serious. After 35 days all plants were pulled and counted. The
results presented in Table 2 show that the control was good in all of the
flats but best in the flat that was seeded the same day as treated (Fig. 66).
No injury from the formaldehyde appeared. Therefore, in all subsequent
experiments the seed was sowed just as soon as the soil was treated.
The second experiment was to test different rates of application of the
dust. Four flats were treated respectively with 0, ^4, 1^, and 2^ ounces
of dust to the square foot. As in the previous test, damping-off appeared
early and caused serious loss in the untreated flat. None whatever ap-
peared in any of the treated flats. The results presented in Table 2 show
that any of these rates are satisfactory.
The object of the third experiment was to see whether a swamp soil
(mostly decayed vegetable matter) would give as good results as the char-
Table 2. Formaldehyde Dust Experiments
a. Testing effectiveness of charcoal dust used at different times
Time of application
Amount to
square foot
Severity of
disease
No. of live plants
at end of test
Two days before sowing
V/2OZ.
Trace
1086
One day before sowing
VAoz.
Trace
1112
At time of sowing
VAoz.
Trace
1416
Check
No treatment
Severe
178
b Testing effectiveness of different amounts of charcoal dust
At time of sowing
34 oz.
None
1434
At time of sowing
VAoz.
None
1830
At time of sowing
2Aoz.
None
1908
Check
No treatment
Severe
553
c. Testing effectiveness of different amounts of humus dust
At time of sowing
l^oz.
None
2071
At time of sowing
23^ oz.
One small spot
2056
Check
No treatment
Very bad
369
coal dust. The soil was dried thoroughly, sifted and then mixed with the
formaldehyde at the same rate as in the previous experiment. Two flats
were treated and one left untreated. No damping-off appeared in the
treated flat except on one small spot an inch in diameter. The check flat
damped-off badl3^ The results, as indicated in Table 2, were just as good
as where charcoal dust was used.
Considering the formaldehyde dust experiments as a whole, it is appar-
ent that this method gave the best' control of any of the various methods
tried. Under the conditions of these experiments it was entirely satis-
factory. Experiments on a larger scale in seed beds, however, are neces-
sary before a recommendation for its general use can be made. •
350 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 359
Formaldehyde dust is now offered for sale by several commercial con-
cerns and distributed by farmers' supply houses. In this form, however,
the cost is considerably higher than for the home-made material. Because
the escaping fumes of formaldehyde irritate the nose and eyes it is best to
make the mixture of formaldehyde and dust in a closed container such
as a tight barrel or iron drum. After the ingredients are put together the
barrel may be rolled about until the mixture is uniform. If the mixture
is still "lumpy" it may be necessary to pass it through a sieve. After
preparation, it should be stored in air-tight containers until used.
Sterilizing the Soil with Acetic Acid. This method is the same as
the formaldehyde drench except that a 1 per cent solution of acetic acid
is substituted for the 1 to 50 formaldehyde solution. Doran (8) found
this method effective against damping-ofif of tobacco. The writer also
published experiments (3) which corroborated Doran's results.
During the present investigation another test was made in which one
flat was treated with 1 per cent acetic acid solution at the rate of 2 quarts
to the square foot of soil while a second flat was left untreated as a con-
trol. The seed was sowed 1 week after the soil was treated. Damping-ofT
developed early on the control fiat. When the number of living plants
was counted at the end of 6 weeks there were 302 plants in the control
flat and 1013 in the treated. No damping-ofif was observed at any time in
the treated flat.
Experiments to determine the minimum time between treatment and
seeding showed injury on all flats sowed within a week after treatment.
Some injury was evident even when sowed seven days after treatment.
The delay in sowing the beds constitutes an objection to the acetic acid
method.
This treatment, however, prevented completely the appearance of damp-
ing-off under the conditions of the experiment. There appears to be no
reason why it should not be satisfactory in the beds if the grower does not
object to the delay.
Soil Treatment with Sulfuric Acid. This method has been used suc-
cessfully in preventing damping-off of coniferous seedlings in forest
nurseries (12, 13, 14, 27, 29).
One flat was treated with 1 per cent solution of sulfuric acid at the
rate of 1 quart to a square foot of soil. The seed was sowed 1 week
later. The seed started to germinate but the plants were never able to
develop roots and establish themselves. At the end of 4 weeks, not a
single plant was alive. The soil before treatment tested 5.15 pH. Three
weeks after treatment it was 3.30. Since in other tests it was found that
the plants would not start in a soil as acid as 4.0 pH it is assumed that
the injury was due to the extreme acidity.
No weaker solutions were tested because this preliminarv test indicated
that this method under any conditions would probably not be safe to
recommend. It also involves considerable delay between time of treating
and sowing and thus presents the same disadvantage as drenching with
formaldehyde or acetic acid.
Treating the Soil with Copper Carbonate. Nolla (22) was able to
control damping-ofif in tobacco beds in Puerto Rico by application of
Pythium Damping-off and Rootrot 351
copper carbonate to the soil at the rate of 4 grams to the square foot
mixed thoroughly with the soil before sowing the seed. Another applica-
tion at the same rate was made a week after germination by dusting the
material over the surface and watering heavily. Under some conditions,
however, he found that this treatment injured the plants.
In our own experiments at Windsor, two flats were treated at the
same rate and in the same way as recommended by Nolla. One flat was
seeded at the same time without treatment. It was planned to repeat the
application a week after germination in one of the treated flats, but so
much injury resulted from the first treatment that no second application
was tried. The seed in all the flats germinated but those in the treated
flats much more slowly than the check. Most of the seedlings failed to
establish any root system. Our observations confirm in every particular the
statement of Nolla that "the injury in the copper carbonate treated beds
was manifested in much delayed germination and the few seedlings that
developed were stunted and yellow."
This experiment shows that, at least in this soil, copper carbonate is
quite toxic. Copper salts are known to be toxic to green plants when
present even in weak concentration in the soil solution. No further ex-
periments were tried with this or other copper salts because it seemed
doubtful whether it could ever be safe to recommend generally the mixing
of a copper salt in the soil even though it was found to be safe in some
cases.
Treating the Soil with Bayer Dust. Bayer dust was selected as an ex-
ample of the organic mercury compounds which have been widely recom-
mended for seed and soil disinfection. Nolla (22) tried Bayer Dust at
rates of 1 to 4 grams to the square foot and found that none of the appli-
cations caused injury to the tobacco seedlings, but that, on the other hand,
they did not control damping-off. Major (20), experimenting on control
of black rootrot of tobacco in Canada, found that when he treated the
soil with 12 or more grams to the square foot the plants were stunted.
In the one experiment which was made at Windsor the soil was treated
with three grams of Bayer Dust to the square foot and thoroughly mixed
with the top inch of soil. After heavy watering, the seed was sowed,
covered with a very thin layer of soil and then watered again. Although
there was some germination, the seedlings died and at the end of four
weeks there was not a plant left. Even at this weak concentration this
material appears to be very toxic to the plants.
Treating the Seed with Bayer Dust. The seed was shaken with a
small quantity of Bayer Dust in a flask until all the seeds appeared covered
with dust. One flat was seeded in the usual way. Germination appeared
normal but most of the plants failed to establish a root system and fell over
flat on the surface of the ground when watered. Many of the hypocotyls
shrivelled with infection. In other cases where the roots were lacking it
was not always possible to tell whether the roots had been killed by
Pythium or were prevented from growing on account of the toxic salt.
In either case, the treatment was a failure and cannot be recommended
against damping-off.
352 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 359
Seed Treatment with Cuprous Oxide. Treatment with cuprous oxide
which was used successfully by Pirone (23) in 1932 to combat damping-
off of spinach on Long Island, has recently been adopted and widely
recommended for the control of damping-off of a variety of crops. It
has not been tried previously for tobacco. The aim of the treatment is
to cover the seed with a fungicidal substance which will prevent entrance
of any infecting fungus before germination. Also it is assumed the
fungicide will sterilize a narrow zone of soil immediately surrounding
the seed.
In our experiments, seed was mixed with the red copper oxide at the
rate of one part of fungicide to 15 parts of seed and thoroughly shaken in
a flask until all seeds were coA'ered with a uniform dust layer. The flats
were then sowed with the treated seed in the usual way. The treatment
apparently stimulated germination since the treated flats were up two
days before the checks. During the first week after cotyledons appeared
there was no damping-off in the treated flats but considerable in the con-
trol flats. After that, however, damping-ofif, and more especially the
Pythium rootrot type, became prevalent in the treated flats. At the end
of five weeks there were 838 plants in a treated flat as compared with 542
in the check. In a second experiment the corresponding figures were 1161
and 655. It appears from these experiments that cuprous oxide gives
some control in the early stages of damping-off but that as soon as the
growing shoot or root has left the seed a little way, it is beyond the pro-
tecting influence of the dust and infection occurs as usual. Treated in this
way, the "stand" is somewhat better than in the check flats, but control is
not as complete as by other methods such as disinfecting the soil with
formaldehyde dust. The cuprous oxide treatment involves the least
amount of labor or expense of any of the methods tried. No injury to
the seedlings was observed.
Summary
A damping-off and rootrot disease caused by the parasitic fungus
Pythium deboryanum Hesse, is often responsible for complete or partial
failure of seed beds.
. The damage is most severe when the seeds are just germinating and
shortly afterward. This is not the same as "bed rot," a disease which
affects the plants in the bed when they are older.
It is not practical to control the disease by regulation of such environ-
mental conditions as moisture, temperature and soil reaction, because the
same conditions which are most favorable for its spread are also the best
for germination of the seed and early growth of the seedlings.
Steaming the soil has not controlled it because the fungus grows so
rapidly and reinfects so easily. Neither can it be controlled by spraying
with Bordeaux Mixture.
Seed treatment with red oxide of copper or with Baver Dust has not
given satisfactory control.
Drenching the soil with formaldehyde solution or acetic acid is subject
to the objection of too long a delay before the seed may be sowed.
Pythium Damping-off and Rootrot 353
Excellent control in greenhouse tests has been obtained by mixing
formaldehyde dust at the rate of 1^ ounces to the square foot with the
top soil just before seeding.
This formaldehyde dust may be made at home by mixing 15 parts by
weight of formaldehyde with 85 parts of ground charcoal or dry swamp
soil or other soil containing a high percentage of organic matter.
The cost of the formaldehyde is about two cents for each pound of
dust. Since one pound will treat 10 square feet, the actual cash outlay
is less than four cents a sash (three by six feet). The computation assumes
that the grower mixes his own dust.
Literature Cited
1. Alexander, L. J., Young, H. C. and Kiger, C. M. The causes and control of
damping-off of tomato seedlings. Ohio Bui. 496: 1-38. 1931.
2. Alexander. L. J., Young, H. C. and Kiger, C. M. Cause and control of damp-
ing-ofi' of tomato seedlings. Phytopath. 22 : 3. 1932.
3.. Anderson, P. J., Swanback, T. R. and Street, O. E. Report of the tobacco
substation at Windsor for 1929. Conn. Agr. Expt. Sta., Bui. 311: 269-270.
1930.
4. Atkinson, George F. Damping-off. N. Y. (Cornell) Bull. 94: 301-346. 1895.
5. Bary, Anton de. Zur Kenntniss der Peronosporecn. Bot. Zeit. 39: 521-530.
1881.
6. Butler, E. J. An account of the genus Pythium and some Chytridiaceae. Mem.
Dept. Agr. India. Bot. Ser. Vol. 1, No. 5: 1-160. 1907.
7. Clinton, G. P. Dampening-off. Conn. Agr. Expt. Sta. Rpt. 30 (1906) : 326.
1907.
8. DoRAN, W. L. Acetic acid as a soil disinfectant. Jour. Agr. Res. 36: 269-280.
1928.
9. Drechsler, Chas. Pvthium butleri and Pvthium aphanidermatum. Phvtopath.
24: 7. 1934.
10. Flor, H. H. Relation of environmental factors to growth and pathogenicity of
Pythium isolated from roots of sugar cane. Phytopath. 20: 319-328. 1930.
11. Harter, L. L. and Zaumeyer, W. J. Pvthium butleri — the cause of a bean
wilt. Phytopath. 21 : 991-994. 1931.
12. Hartley, Carl. The control of damping-off of coniferous seedlings. U. S.
Dept. of -A-gr. Bui. 453. 1917.
13. Hartley, Carl and Merrill, T. C. Preliminary tests of disinfectants in con-
trolling damping-off in various nursery soils. Phytopath. 4: 89-92. 1914.
14. Hartley. C.\rl. Damping-off in forest nurseries. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 934:
1-99. 1921.
15. Hawkins, L. A. The disease of potatoes known as "leak." Jour Agr. Res. 6:
627-640. 1916.
16. Hemmi, T. On the relation of temperature to the damping-off of garden-cress
seedlings by Pvthium debarvanum and Corticium vagum. Phytopath. 13:
273-282. 1923.
17. Hoffmann, T. V. Aerial isolation and inoculation with Pythium debaryanum
Phytopath 2 : 273. 1912.
18. JoHANN, Helen, Holbert, J. R. and Dickson, J. G. A Pythium seedling
blight and rootrot of dent corn. Jour. Agr. Res. 37 : 443-464. 1928.
19. Johnson, J. J. The control of damping-off in plant beds. Wis. Res. Bui. 31 :
29-61. 1914.
20. Major, T. G. Soil treatments with various disinfectants. Preliminary report
Sci. Agr. 6: 283-285. 1926.
21. Matthews, Velma Dare. Studies on the genus Pj^thium. 134 pages. Univer-
sity of North Carolina Press. Chapel Hill 1931.
22. NoLLA, J. A. B. The damping-off of tobacco and its control in Puerto Rico
Jour. Dept. Agr. Puerto Rico 16: 285-324. 1932.
354 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 359
23. PiRONE, P. P. Combatting spinach damping-off by seed treatment Phytopath.
23: 28. 1933.
24. Raciborski, M. Parasitische Algen und Pilze Javas. Batavia. 1900.
25. Reinking, Otto. Philippine plant diseases — tobacco. Phytopath. 9: 129. 1919.
26. Serbinov, Ivan L. Zur morphologic und biologic von Pythium perniciosum nov.
spec, eines pilz-parasiten der tabaksamHnge. Scripta Bot. Horti. Univ.
Imp. Petrogr. 28: 1-58. 1912.
27. Spaulding, Perley. The damping-off of coniferous seedlings. Phytopath. 4 :
73-87. 1914.
28. SuBRAMANiuM, L. S. A Pvthium disease of ginger, tobacco and papaya.
Mem. Dept. Agr. India Bot. Ser. 10: 181-194. 1919.
29. WiANT, J. Stewart. Soil treatments for the control of damping-off in conifer-
ous seed beds. Phytopath. 17: 51. 1927.
HOW TO PREVENT "GREEN MOLD' OR "MOSS"
IN THE SEED BEDS
P. J. Anderson
In the early seed bed period while the soil must be kept constantly moist
to insure good germination, many grovv^ers are troubled with a surface
growth of a bright green scum which has received the popular name of
"moss" or "green mold." Both of these names are unfortunate because
this is neither a moss nor a mold but consists of a surface growth of one
or more species of green algae. None of these algae are parasitic on
tobacco seedlings but their dense growth may smother the sprouting seeds.
There is considerable difference of opinion as to the extent of the damage,
but at least such a condition is not desirable.
It is a common practice to sprinkle a thin coat of sharp dry sand over
the ground to check the green growth. The benefit derived, however, is
probably more imagined than real. Applications of Bordeaux Mixture at
intervals of two or three days give much better control, but there may be
some injury to the germinating seeds if this treatment is started before
the cotyledons appear.
A completely satisfactory method of control for "green mold" was
discovered during the course of the experiments on Pythium damping-off
and rootrot previously described. When the soil at time of seeding was
mixed with the formaldehyde dust (as described on p. 347), not a trace
of "green mold" appeared at any time on these beds. On the untreated
flats sowed at the same time, the surface became completely covered with
green growth of algae. Apparently formaldehyde is quite toxic to these
organisms.
Sulfate of Ammonia in Fertiliser Mixtures 355
THE USE OF SULFATE OF AMMONIA IN TOBACCO
FERTILIZER MIXTURES
T. R. SwANBACK and P. J. Anderson
Sulfate of ammonia, containing about 20 to 21 per cent of nitrogen,
has for many years been one of the cheapest sources of nitrogen and is
widely used on many crops. Naturally it has found its way into many
commercial fertilizer mixtures for use on tobacco fields.
It is well known that different nitrogen- furnishing materials may have
different effects on the yield and quality of the tobacco crop. Such differ-
ences arise from variation in rates of availability of the nitrogen, presence
of other beneficial or detrimental elements in the material, or physical and
chemical changes induced in the soil. The suitability of sulfate of ammonia
for tobacco mixtures depends, therefore, not so much on its cost as on its
effect on yield and quality of leaf as compared with the effect of other
nitrogenous materials.
The first field plots laid out after the establishment of the tobacco sub-
station at Windsor were devoted to a comparison of different nitrogen
sources, of which sulfate of ammonia was one. During the following 12
years this was supplemented by two other long-time field experiments and
by laboratory analyses. Progress reports on these various tests have
been included at times in our annual reports. Since we have now reached
some quite definite conclusions, it seems proper to summarize all the
experiments dealing with sulfate of ammonia and to present the conclu-
sions.
In the first field tests, which were concluded in 1926, there were included
(1) plots on which the mixture contained one-fifth of the nitrogen of
the formula from sulfate of ammonia and (2) plots on which one-half of
the nitrogen was in sulfate of ammonia. After careful analysis of the
results obtained from the crops of 1925 and 1926, the following statements
were published in our report for 1926, page 32, concerning the plots on
which one-fifth of the nitrogen was from sulfate of ammonia: "The
grade index was lower, indicating that the quality was not quite so good.
Notes taken at the time of sorting and burn tests also confirm this state-
ment." Concerning the plots where one-half of the nitrogen was from
sulfate of ammonia : "It will be noticed that the grade index for the sul-
fate of ammonia was the next lowest of all the plots. The percentage of
dark leaves was higher on these plots than for any other treatment. The
quality at time of sorting was rated as low as any. There was considerable
white and prominent vein. When burn tests were made, these plots rated
the lowest of any in fire holding capacity and color of ash. Sulfate of
ammonia keeps up the yield (for two years) but produces tobacco of poor
quality and poor burn."
In order to study more accurately the effect of this and other nitro-
genous materials, another set of four plots was laid out in 1926 in which
there was only a single source of nitrogen in each plot. Sulfate of am-
monia alone was applied to one plot year after year, nitrate of soda to
another, cottonseed meal to a third and urea to the fourth. The other
fertilizer elements, potash, phosphorus, lime and magnesia, were applied
356
Connecticut Ji.vp.eriment Station
Bulletin 359
in optimal quantities and in equal amounts to all plots. This has now been
continued for eight years. The yields and grade index for these plots are
presented in Tables 3 and 4.
During the first six years, the growth of tobacco on the sulfate of
ammonia plot was luxuriant. The leaves were dark green and never
showed any signs of nitrogen starvation such as was apparent during
most of the time on the nitrate of soda plots and, during some years,
on the cottonseed meal plots. During wet years, however, there was
some magnesia-hunger chlorosis which always appeared first and
most severely on the sulfate of ammonia plots. During later years, how-
ever, this was corrected by increasing the magnesia applications on all
Table 3. Single Sources of Nitrogen. Summary of Yields 1926-1933
Source of
Acre yield by years
nitrogen
1926
1927
1928
1930
1931
1932
1933
Ave.
Sulfate of ammonia
Nitrate of soda
Cottonseed meal
Urea
1482
1440
1228
1350
1386
688
1131
1166
933
585
696
876
1436
802
1374
1510
1678
728
1582
1761
1731
1682
1703
1734
7i6
1762
1812
1813
1340
1098
1361
1460
Table 4. Single Sources of Nitrogen. Summary of Grade Indices 1926-1933
Sources ot
Grade index by years
nitrogen
1926
1927
1928
1930
1931
1932
1933
Ave.
Sulfate of ammonia
Nitrate of soda
Cottonseed meal
Urea
.370
.353
.288
.375
.130
.297
.350
.357
.158
.299
.443
.366
.186
.411
.415
.352
.100
.380
.449
.334
.412
.377
• .375
.100
.459
.436
.424
.316
.257
.355
.404
plots. By 1932 the growth was becoming uneven ; patches appeared on
which the plants were short and the leaves very dark. The next year, this
condition had spread over the entire plot. Many of the plants died in the
field, the others were stunted and very dark green. When some of the
plants were dug and the roots examined, a considerable part of the root
system w^as found to be dead and brown, symptoms much hke those of
brown rootrot. The plot as a whole was so poor that it was not worth
harvesting. Appearance of this plot in the field is showni in Fig. 67.
With respect to the quality of the tobacco grown on the sulfate of am-
monia plot during the years of this experiment the following undesirable
features were noted : ( 1 ) The cured leaves are always darker in color
than those from the other plots. The percentage put into the grade "darks"
is invariably highest on this plot. (2) It has been noted at time of sort-
ing each year that the veins tend to be more prominent. (3) The leaves
are thicker and coarser. These observations are in accord with those of
the first experiment and with those of the third field test mentioned below.
(4) Also the combustion characters were the same as in the first experi-
ment, i.e., the fire holding capacity was low, the color of ash dark, coal
Sulfate of Auiinonia in Fertilizer Mixtures
357
band broad, the taste and aroma inferior to that of tobacco from the other
plots.
This whole combination of undesirable characters of the crop has so
consistently followed the use of sulfate of ammonia on different fields
Figure 67. Sulfate of ammonia plot — l^etween tht Vvs.. >ii4ii r..iards
Julj' 1933. Note uneven stand and stunted growth.
through a long series of years, that we are fully warranted in concluding
that they are direct effects of the use of this material.
An adequate explanation of each of these effects is not yet at hand.
Some of the links in the complicated chain of cause and effect have been
358
Connecticut Experiment Station
Bulletin 359
revealed, however, by laboratory tests and analyses. One naturally turns
first to the changes induced in a soil through application of sulfate of
ammonia. That this treatment makes the soil constantly more acid is a
knov^^n fact fully established by many investigators. Soil reaction tests
on these plots made at monthly intervals during the experiments have
shown that the soil on the sulfate of ammonia plot has become very acid.
At the start of the experiment in May, 1926, it tested 5.2 pH ; May, 1927,
5.0; July, 1928, 4.66; July, 1929, 4.41; July, 1930, 4.0; July, 1931, 4.20;
July, 1932, 3.91 ; July, 1933, 3.61. There are seasonal and monthly fluc-
tuations but always this plot is more acid than any of the others and the
general trend is constantly toward greater acidity. At reactions as low as
4.0 or lower, tobacco does not grow normally and this factor alorje is
sufficient to account for the stunted and unhealthy condition of the plants
in the last years of the experiment.
The effect of the treatment on the supply of some nutrient elements in
the soil was determined by M. F. Morgan of the Soils Department. His
analyses, presented in Table 5, show that in June, 1933, seven years after
starting the experiment, the amount of nitrate nitrogen was less than in
Table S. Analyses of Soil from the Single Soitrce of Nitrogen Plots
June IS, 1933. Pounds per Acre
Source of fertilizer nitrogen
c. s.
Nitr.
Sulf.
meal
Soda
ammonia
Urea
Nitrate nitrogen
50
100
50
80
Ammonia nitrogen (Available)
20
8
40
12
Phosphorus (Available)
120
80
60
140
Potassium (Replaceable)
320
320
160
240
Calcium
600
600
150
200
Magnesium "
80
160
30
40
Aluminum "
8
2
10
12
Manganese "
20
10
30
40
the soil of other plots but the ammonia nitrogen was higher ; the phosphor-
ous was lower ; the three bases, calcium, magnesium and potassium, were
much lower ; and the manganese was high.
Previous investigations here have shown the injurious effect of increased
manganese on tobacco. Manganese toxicity may be expected in any soil
when it becomes sufficiently acid.
Sulfate of ammonia exhausts the mineral bases of the soil more rapidly
than the other nitrogenous materials considered here, because, (1) it con-
tains in itself no mineral base; (2) its ammonium base is changed in the
soil to nitric acid; and (3) thus it introduces two acid radicals (sulfate
and nitrate) which must combine with bases in the soil. The bases are
thus either leached away or, in the first crops of the series, may be taken
into the plant in larger amounts. Ultimately, however, the soil supply is
exhausted and the plants show a shortage. Chemical analyses of the leaves
have shown that this actually happens ; particularly is the percentage of
magnesium reduced. Here is apparently one explanation of the darker
ash. Our previous studies on magnesia have shown that a good supply
Sulfate of Ammonia in Fertiliser Mixtures
359
of this element in the leaf is necessary to insure a white ash. With a dark
ash is also associated poor aroma and taste. Analyses have also shown that
the use of sulfate of ammonia increases the sulfur content of the leaf, a
condition which is known to reduce the fire holding capacity. There is thus
at hand an explanation of the effect of sulfate of ammonia on the com-
bustion properties of the leaf.
Why sulfate of ammonia should cause the leaves to be so much darker,
heavier, and prominently veined is not so readily explained. These char-
acters are like those produced in tobacco by an over supply of nitrogen
and one might suspect that in some way this material increased the total
nitrogen, or supplied it to the plant at an unfavorable time or in an unfa-
vorable form. However, chemical analyses thus far made, fail to show
an appreciably increased quantity of total nitrogen in the leaves.
Since some of the unfavorable effects on tobacco are a result of acidity
of the soil induced by sulfate of ammonia, a possible remedy was suggested
in application of sufficient lime to neutralize the acidifying effect. In
order to test this, a third series of plots was laid out in 1932. On four of
the plots, sulfate of ammonia was the only source of nitrogen. On three
other plots, a standard formula with nitrogen from cottonseed meal, lin-
seed meal and dry ground fish was used. Two of the sulfate of ammonia
Table 6. Sulfate of Ammonia Tests of 1933. With and Without Lime
Fertilizer
Plot No.
Acre yield
Percentage of
grades
Grade index
treatment
Plot
Ave.
1953
L
5
4
4
2
14
16
15
~6
7
5
4
11
12
11
LS
35
27
32
28
24
27
27
SS
3
4
4
4
LD
40
47
DS
1
1
F
10
10
B
0
0
Plot
Ave.
Sulf. of Am.
with lime
N13-1
N13-3
1912
1994
.435
.409
.422
Sulf. of Am.
without Hme
N13-2
N13^
1896
1659
1778
41
45
2
4
11
13
13
10
11
1
0
.413
.380
.397
No sulf. of
Am. and no
Hme
N59
N59-1
N59-2
1940
2050
2036
2008
4
2
3
33
31
32
1
1
0
0
1
1
.476
.506
.495
.492
plots were limed with high calcic limestone at the rate of 1,000 pounds to
the acre in the spring of 1932. Since this did not sufficiently neutralize
the acidity, another application (this time, 1200 pounds of magnesian lime)
was made in the spring of 1933.
Despite the lime application, there was no difference in growth. All the
sulfate of ammonia plots, limed and not limed, were somewhat less lux-
uriant in growth and of a darker green color than the check plots. At time
of sorting, the leaves as compared with the check plot tobacco, were darker,
heavier and more "veiny." The sorting records of the seven plots for the
1933 crop are presented in Table 6, and the summary of the two years in
Table 7. Particularly striking in Table 6 is the difference of about 10 per
cent in the percentage of "darks" between the sulfate plots and the checks.
This tendency is the same as found in the other two experiments. The
figures in Table 7 indicate that there has been some increase in yield
from the use of lime on sulfate of ammonia plots but the grade index is
not raised.
360
Counccficnt Experiment Station
Bulletin 359
This set of plots will be continued for some years and final conclusions
must await further results. Results already at hand do not indicate that
the bad effects of sulfate of ammonia can be overcome by liming.
In this third series, no tests have been made to determine the effects
of the treatment on the burn characters. In a previous set of experiments
on this same field, however, it was fully demonstrated that sulfate of
ammonia reduced the fire holding capacity of the tobacco and that the
addition of lime did not sufficiently correct it (Tob. Sta. Bui. 10 : 27.
Kept, for 1927).
Table 7. Sulfate of Ammonia Tests, with and without lime.
Summary of 1932 and 1933
Fertilizer
Plot No.
Acre yield
Grade index
treatment
1932
1933
Ave.
1932
1933
Ave.
Sulfate of Ammonia
with lime
N13-1
N13-3
1845
1996
1912
1994
1937
.379
.404
.435
.409
.407
Sulfate of Ammonia
without lime
N13-2
N13-4
1895
1861
1896
1659
1828
.436
.457
.413
.380
.422
No sulfate of
Ammonia and
no lime
NS9
N59-1
N59-2
2035
2051
2031
1940
2050
2036
2024
.404
.420
.429
.476
.506
.495
.455
Conclusions
In all experiments of this 12 year period, there are certain effects con-
stantly associated with the use of sulfate of ammonia :
1. It makes the soil more acid and, if used in sufficient quantity
through a sufficiently long period, acidity increases until tobacco will no
longer grow,
2. Other soil changes include depletion of the mineral bases, increase
in the ammonia nitrogen with decrease in percentage of nitrate nitrogen,
decrease in available phosphorus and increase in soluble aluminum and
manganese.
3. Sulfate of ammonia makes the cured leaves darker, thicker, and
more prominently veined.
4. With respect to combustion characteristics : The fire holding capac-
ity is reduced, the ash is darker, coal band wider, taste and aroma inferior.
NitropJwska Fertiliser Tests 361
NITROPHOSKA FERTILIZER TESTS
T. R. SWANBACK
Nitrophoska (No. 3) is a commercial fertilizer mixture containing
16.3 per cent nitrogen, 16.3 per cent phosphoric acid, and 20 per cent
potash. It is claimed to be a chemical mixture rather than a mechanical
one, containing no chlorine, since the potash is present in the form of sul-
fate. If such a fertilizer, containing the three important elements in a
very concentrated form, were found to be suitable for tobacco, it is obvious
that it would mean considerable economy in cost of the material and of
handling.
It is a common belief among growers in the Connecticut Valley, how-
ever, that the bulk of a good fertilizer should be made up from organic
material, from which Nitrophoska is practically free.
In order to give this material a thorough trial and at the same time test
it in comparison with a fertilizer containing considerable organic material,
a field experiment was begun in 1929. A set of 6 plots was laid out on
Field I at the station farm. This field has always produced good
(Havana Seed) tobacco with yields probably above the average of this
district. Two plots were used as controls and were fertilized according
to the following formula:
Cottonseed meal
1765
poun
ds
per acre
Castor pomace
740
Nitrate of lime
260
Sulfate of potash
164
Carbonate of potash
123
Precipitated bone
222
Magnesium carbonate
"36
3310 " " "
These materials furnished 200 pounds of nitrogen, 160 pounds of phos-
phoric acid and 200 pounds of potash to the acre and in addition some 200
pounds of lime and 40 pounds of magnesia.
Two other plots received a fertilizer where Nitrophoska as nearly as
possible substituted for one-half of the nutrients in the formula above.
Finally the remaining two plots were fertilized with Nitrophoska and
some magnesian lime with urea added to bring the nitrogen up to 200
pounds per acre. AH the plots with their respective treatments remained
in the same location throughout the five years during which the experi-
ments have been carried on. Progress reports on these tests have been
published in Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletins 326 :
377-379; 335: 252; and 350: 478-479. Final conclusions from the five
year trial are presented herewith.
All through the growing seasons practically no difference in growth
could be observed in the field between the tobacco on the control plots
and on those fertilized with Nitrophoska. Observations on the tobacco at
time of sorting have shown that the check plots in most cases produced
tobacco satisfactory in quality, while the half and all Nitrophoska pro-
duced dark and veiny tobacco.
362
Connecticut Experiment Station
Bulle'tin 359
From the records of yield and grading for 1933 (Table 8) it appears
that a decrease in yield and grading is produced through the use of Nitro-
phoska. That this tendency is consistent is shown in Table 9 where a
summary of four years' results is given.
In view of the rather unfavorable results obtained with Nitrophoska
under the conditions of the experiment it should hardly prove worth while
to use this material as a fertilizer for tobacco in the Connecticut Valley.
Table 8. Yield and sorting records of Nitrophoska plots. Crop of 1933
Proportion of
Plot No.
Acre yield
Percentage of grades | Grade index
Nitrophoska
Plot
Ave.
L
M
LS
SS
LD
DS
F
B
Plot
Ave.
None
N28
N28-1
2039
1926
1892
11
8
11
10
32
30
2
2
32
34
1
1
10
13
1
2
.483
.445
.464
Half
Nitrophoska
N29
N29-1
1918
1839
1879
4
8
9
5
39
38
2
3
33
30
1
3
11
12
1
1
.447
.456
.451
All
Nitrophoska
N30
N30-1
1936
1683
1810
5
6
7
6
2>7
35
2
5
35
31
1
3
12
13
1
1
.440
.434
.437
Table 9. Nitrophoska series. Summary of four years'"* results,
1930, 1931, 1932 and 1933
Proportion of
Plot No.
Acre yield by years
Grade index
Nitrophoska
1930
1931
1932
1933
Ave.
1930
1931
1932
1933
Ave.
None
N28
N28-1
1884
1829
1793
1764
2070
1974
2039
1926
1910
.491
.464
.493
.481
.439
.482
.483
.445
.470
Half
Nitrophoska
N29
N29-1
1810
1934
1813
1856
2016
1866
1918
1839
1886
.457
.453
.451
.478
.455
.386
.447
.456
.448
All
Nitrophoska
N30
N30-1
1915
1875
1813
1820
1957
1839
1936
1683
1857
.435
.473
.440
.446
.437
.381
.440
.434
.436
*No sorting records are available for 1929 since a hail storm destroyed the tobacco on August 1.
COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF FUELS FOR CURING
O. E. Street
The experiments conducted in 1932 to determine the relative merits of
processed charcoals (Eastman Charkets and Ford Briquets) as compared
to lump charcoal were continued in 1933. The equipment and technique
as described in Bulletin 350 were employed with only a few changes.
Chamber No. 1, which proved to be inefficient due to location, was not
used in the present tests. The fuels were rotated in the other three com-
partments, and accurate records obtained of temperature and fuel con-
sumption.
It was found that the processed fuels could be used more efficiently if
the pits were shallow, as the volume of fuel required was not as great as
with lump charcoal. The use of a small box-like sheet iron container, 9
Fuels for Curing
363
by 11 inches and 5 inches deep, fitted with a perforated bottom for venti-
lation, was successful. The bottom ventilation, however, was unnecessary,
as the fuel burned freely with the ventilators closed. A still simpler con-
tainer, and one that was more efficient was observed in connection with
other experiments. This was a granite-ware hand wash basin of about 12
inches diameter and not over 4 inches deep. Used with Eastman Charkets,
these containers were very convenient in many respects. Shallow depres-
sions were scooped out of the shed floor in which to place the basins, and
the fires started by moistening a few lumps of the fuel with kerosene.
The loss of fuel which occurs in pits in the soil was eliminated entirely.
At the end of the firing period, the basins were turned upside down and
the fires thus smothered without dust. The heat produced by the fires
did not damage the basins.
In the present experiments, tests were made on the second, third and
fourth pickings of shade tobacco grown on the station field. Two sample
hands to a pole, taken from the general tobacco, were marked for studies
of the efifect on grading.
The fuel and temperature records for the experimentst are shown in
Table 10.
Table 10. Shade tobacco firing experiments.
Fuel and temperature records
Run
Chamber
Fuel
Fuel
consumed
pounds
Average
chamber
temp.
°F.
Average
outside
temp.
°F.
Gain
°F.
Fuel consumed
in pounds per
degree gain
Length
of
run
1
3
2
4
Lump charcoal
Ford Briquets
Eastman Charkets
147.5
117.5
118.5
91.35
91.40
91.54
82.32
9.03
9.08
9.22
16.33
12.94
12.85
48hrs.
2
4
3
2
Lump charcoal
Ford Briquets
Eastman Charkets
172.0
181.5
160.0
88.46
85.72
88.73
73.76
14.70
11.96
14.97
11.70
15.17
10.69
' 48hrs.
3
2
4
3
Lump charcoal
Ford Briquets
Eastman Charkets
170.75
178.5
159.5
86.10
85.59
87.69
67.83
18.27
17.76
19.68
9.35
10.05
8.03
48hrs.
Summary
Fuel
Fuel
consumed
pounds
Weighted averages — ]
L44 hours
Chamber
temp.
°F.
Outside
temp.
°F.
Gain
°F.
Fuel consumed
in pounds per
degree gain
Lump charcoal
Ford Briquets
Eastman Charkets
490.25
477.5
438.0
83.64
87.57
89.32
74.64
14.00
12.93
14.68
35.02
36.93
29.83
This table dififers from Table 19 in Bulletin 350 in that one column
"Fuel consumed in pounds per degree of temperature gain" is added.
The figures in this column are valuable in showing the relative efficiency
of the fuels in a sinsfle unit of measurement.
364
Connecticut Experiment Station
Bulletin 359
It will be observed that the three runs were made under widely different
outdoor temperatures. The first run was made during rather hot weather,
the second with normal seasonal temperatures, and the last in a period of
cold weather. While the total fuel consumption in the first run was low,
the efficiency as measured by the consumption in pounds per degree gain
was also rather low. This efficiency increased as the outdoor temperature
decreased, at least for the conditions of these experiments.
With the exception of the first test, Ford Briquets was the highest in
fuel consumption, and the lowest in average temperature maintained and
gain over outdoor temperature. This was due to the nature of the fuel,
which possesses a low porosity due to the use of a starch binder. Hence
the burning of this fuel is more nearly a surface reaction. In consequence
of this difference, a larger mass of fuel was needed to maintain a com-
parable temperature and the fuel consumed in pounds per degree gain
was high, especially when the outdoor temperature was low.
The most efficient fuel in each case was Eastman Charkets, with lump
charcoal second in two out of three cases. This difference over the entire
period is indicated in the summary which shows lump charcoal 5.5 per
cent and Eastman Charkets 24 per cent more efficient than Ford Briquets.
A similar trend may be noted for 1932, where Ford Briquets had the
lowest temperature gain, but was 3.9 per cent more efficient than lump
charcoal and only 5.6 per cent less efffcient than Eastman Charkets.
The grading of the samples cured in the various chambers is shown in
Table 11.
Table 11. Distribution of grades of shade tobacco cured by various fuels.
Percentage of grades
Second Picking
Fuel
LC
LCa
YL
LV
LV2
V
VL
VL2
AL2
ML
XL
XL2
S,
wv
XX
Grade
Index
Charcoal
Briquets
Charkets
.9
.3
1.6
10.6
5.2
5.S
11.5
2.3
7.3
.3
5.5
1.0
32.8
37.7
29.6
18.8
27.5
19.9
.3
.6
1.0
9.1
6.1
17.3
.3
.1
.3
1.8
2.9
2.1
8.5
6.1
6.5
. 3.6
3.2
5.0
.9
.6
1.0
.6
.6
1.3
1.6
1.425
1.499
1.372
Fuel
Charcoal
Briquets
Charkets
Third Picking
Fuel .
LC
LC2
YL
K
LVo
V
VL
VL2
ALo
ML
XL
XL2
TOPS
XX
Grade
Index
Charcoal
Briquets
Charkets
0.6
0.8
3.4
1.5
2.8
2.0
1.2
2.5
3.1
1.2
3.1
5.4
.4
15.9
11.8
6.2
1.1
2.3
27.1
27.0
47.1
0.3
.6
19.5
11.3
15.2
4.8
19.8
6.2
16.7
2.3
17.1
2.0
1.4
.4
2.8
9.6
3.5
.973
1.035
.986
Fourth Picking
.2
1.5
1.4
LV.
4.3
1.9
1.8
VLo
8.2
2.3
4.5
AL,
ML
17.3
13.6
16.9
XL
8.9
2.3
2.0
TOPS
69.0
76.9
71.3
XX
2.1
1.5
1.4
Grade
Index
.869
.327
.356
The tobacco used for these samples w^as obtained from a single row in
the middle of each bent, this being the only tobacco available. Soil differ-
Fuels for Curing
365
ences related to position in the field almost entirely account for the grade
index differences. Comparative grade indexes in the first run show no
difference between the grading of tobacco cured with Charkets or Bri-
quets and their corresponding checks, while charcoal was comparatively
higher. In the second run, there were no real differences between the
samples here reported and their checks, while in the last run, all lots had
very low values.
A supplementary test on Havana Seed tobacco was conducted in com-
partments 16 by 32 feet, with 12 fires to a compartment. The results are
shown in Table 12.
Table 12. Havana Seed firing EXPERniENXS, 1933.
Fuel and temperature records
Run
Chamber
Fuel
Fuel
consumed
pounds
Average
chamber
temp.
°F.
Average
outside
temp.
OF.
Gain
°F.
Fuel consumed
in pounds per
degree gain
Length
of
run
1
5
6
Ford Briquets
Lump charcoal
349
352
76.30
78.98
67.10
9.20
11.88
37.93
29.63
24 hrs.
2
5
6
Lump charcoal
Ford Briquets
244.5
167
79.73
79.40
69.69
10.04
9.71
24.35
17.20
24 hrs.
3
5
6
Lump charcoal
Eastman Charkets
518.5
366
76.46
78.14
65.82
10.64
12.32
48.73
29.71
24 hrs.
Summary of Runs 1 and 2
Fuel
Ford Briquets
Lump charcoal
Fuel
consumed
pounds
516
596.5
Chamber I
temp.
°F.
77.85
79.36
Outside
temp.
OF.
68.39
Gain
°F.
9.46
10.97
Fuel consumed
in pounds per
degree gain
54.54
54.33
In this test, compartment No. 5 was at the end of the shed and com-
partment No. 6 adjacent to it. Consequently compartment No. 5 was more
difficult to heat. In the first run, in which Ford Briquets were used in this
compartment, the gross consumption of fuel was not greatly dift'erent from
charcoal in compartment No. 6, but the net temperature gain was much
lower. When the fuels were interchanged, the charcoal still maintained the
higher temperature, but a considerably larger amount was used. If the two
runs are summarized it will be seen that their average fuel consumption per
degree gain was almost identical. The difference in porosity is again a
contributing factor in the lower temperature gain of the Briquets.
No opportunity was available to make a check test for comparison with
the third run. However, it can be compared with the second run. This last
test was made under conditions of low outdoor temperature, and the fuel
consumption under poorly insulated shed conditions was high for both
fuels.
366 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 359
Table 13. Distribution of grades of Havana Seed tobacco
Percentage of grades i Grade Index
Fuel
L
M
LS
ss
LD
DS
F
B
Charcoal
Briquets
4
8
2
4
24
28
1
1
46
36
3
4
20
18
1
.363
.410
In the second run, the consumption of charcoal per degree gain was
41.6 per cent higher than the consumption of Briquets, -while in the third
run it was 64.0 per cent higher than the Charkets. As it is apparent from
other data that charcoal and Briquets are about equally efficient, the greater
efficiency of Charkets is quite evident.
Sorting records of samples for the comparison between charcoal and
Briquets are shown in Table 13. Here again the higher grade index of
tobacco fired with Briquets is apparent.
Discussion
The results of tests conducted for two years to determine the merits of
processed charcoals as compared with lump charcoal have indicated that
Ford Briquets are not greatly different in efficiency from the unprocessed
material, while Eastman Charkets have some advantage.
Measured in fuel consumed per degree gain over the entire period of
264 hours, lump charcoal was 0.4 per cent more efficient than Ford Bri-
quets, and Eastman Charkets 12.1 per cent more efficient than charcoal.
The Ford Briquets, due to their low porosity, could not be forced and
consequently low temperature readings were more commonly found with
this fuel than either of the others. Charcoal burned the most freely of
the three fuels, to the extent that care had to be taken to avoid too high
temperatures during the day. The temperature fluctuations with charcoal
sometimes were as much as 5 degrees in an hour. Hence the average tem-
perature maintained by charcoal tended to be made up of readings which
deviated more widely from the mean than was the case with the other fuels.
The Eastman Charkets, possessing a greater density than charcoal, and
yet sufficiently porous to permit free burning, usually maintained the most
uniform temperature. It was also possible to keep the temperature more
nearly at the desired level since a smaller volume of fuel was added at any
one time, and the fires were not smothered by the large bulk of fresh ma-
terial as was usually the case with charcoal. Regulation of the total volume
of burning fuel in the pit was an effective means of regulating the tempera-
ture level.
Conclusive evidence was not obtained that any of the fuels had a con-
sistent effect on the grading of the tobacco, if due weight was given to
other factors.
The relative cost of the lump charcoal remains as its greatest attraction.
In 1933, charcoal could be obtained for approximately $14 a ton in loose
carload lots, freight paid, as compared with $28 for the processed fuels
Shade Curing Experiments 367
under like conditions. Such factors as reduced handling and haulage
charges, lower loss by breakage and pulverization, and greater cleanliness,
are in favor of the processed fuels. It is quite likely that the use of such
fuels will be confined to the curing of shade tobacco, in which case the
higher initial cost is not a prohibitive factor.
SHADE CURING EXPERIMENTS IN 1933
O. E. Street
The experiments on curing initiated in 1932 in the Gershel-Kaffenburgh
Tobacco Company sheds wxre continued in 1933 on first picking tobacco.
The object of these experiments was to determine the effect produced on
tobacco by differences in :
a. Position of leaves in the curing shed
b. Time of picking in relation to rains
c. Type of soil
d. Humidification
Experimental procedure
The studies were conducted on first picking tobacco gathered from the
field during a period from July 10 to July 14. In order to obtain a
complete record, one sample lath, strung with colored string and tagged,
was placed on every pole in 2 sheds. The tobacco for these samples was
selected at random from the entire lot of tobacco being used to fill the shed.
Each sample tag was marked with the tier, bent and pole, and record kept
of the source of the tobacco and the time of picking. Both the shed fitted
with humidifying equipment and a check shed were sampled in this fashion,
and records of temperature and humidity obtained by means of hygrother-
mographs.
Filling of the humidified shed was commenced on July 10, and about
one-third filled before night. A heavy rain during that night halted opera-
tions and filling was resumed and completed on July 12. Firing was
started the same night and continued for 54 hours at an average temper-
ature of 85° F. A very damp period of 40 hours necessitated a refiring of
37 hours at an average temperature of 86° F. The weather was very
favorable for curing and the humidifying apparatus was not turned on
until July 24, a period of 12 days from the start of the curing. During
the balance of the curing period, 17 days, the equipment was in operation
a total of 62 hours in 9 days. A relative humidity of above 80 per cent
was maintained during most of the 62 hour total period by the use of the
upper humidifying line alone.
The check shed was filled immediately after the humidified shed, on
July 13 and 14. Firing was commenced the same evening and continued
for 48 hours at an average temperature of 88° F. The tobacco cured
quite rapidly, and as dry weather followed the firing period, a second firing
was not needed.
368
Connecticut Expennient Station
Bulletin 359
The tobacco from both sheds was taken down August 22, placed in the
hxxXk August 24 and remained in the bulk until October 14. The tobacco
from the humidified shed reached a maximum temperature of 110° F.,
from the check shed a maximum of 112° F., with a final temperature of
107° F. in both bulks. The sample hands were sweated with their respec-
tive bulks, and separated out when the bulks were taken down.
All sample hands were examined and notes taken on colors and texture
before sorting. The samples were grouped according to the factors to be
studied, namely, vertical and horizontal position, time of picking and
location by fields, and sorted into commercial grades.
Vertical position in shed
The effect of vertical position was studied in the tobacco from both
sheds. The results in the humidified shed are shown in Table 14.
Table 14. Sorting Records of Shade Tobacco Cured in a Humidified Shed
a. Effect of Vertical Position
Description
Percentage of Grades
Grade Index
L I LL I LC I LC, I YL I LV | LV, |
V
XL I XL, I SI I S2 I XX I
Picked b
efore
a rain
Tier 9
0.7
18.6
29.1
12.6
8.6
4.0
8.6
2.6
2.0
10.6
1.3
1.3
2.056
8
4.7
6.1
23.5
19.7
9.4
1.4
8.4
11.3
2.3
2.3
9.4
0.5
1.0
2.106
7
7.6
13.8
15.8
11.8
2.1
10.3
18.6
6.2
4.1
4.8
2.8
2.1
1.796
6
0.8
7.3
22.8
16.7
13.1
6.5
10.2
10.5
2.0
3.2
4.1
2.4
0.4
2.083
5
3.5
6.9
27.1
16.8
10.3
4.2
6.4
6.9
3.1
0.4
11.8
1.5
1.1
2.159
4
3.3
14.9
15.3
18.2
12.7
3.6
4.4
13.8
4.7
0.7
6.9
0.4
1.1
2.207
3
3.5
9.2
17.1
20.2
14.0
5.3
7.9
10.1
1.8
2.2
4.8
3.5
0.4
2.055
2
5.4
6.3
18.3
12.9
12.5
9.6
12.5
14.2
1.7
2.1
3.7
0.4
0.4
2.218
Picked two day
5 after
a heavy rain
Tier S
10.1
11.6
11.6
4.4
5.8
10.1
31.9
2.9
1.4
2.9
4.4
2.9
1.867
7
3.2
22.5
5.7
3.5
12.4
15.2
27.6
4.4
1.3
1.9
2.2
2.019
6
4.4
7.9
6.4
3.0
10.8
25.6
36.0
2.2
2.2
0.3
0.5
0.7
1,.844
5
0.7
4.0
9.4
8.0
4.5
14.9
18.4
32.1
2.9
2.1
1.2
0.2
1.6
1.917
4
0.2
3.2
8.9
6.7
2.7
10.1
20.9
37.3
2.4
2.0
1.7
1.7
2.2
1.764
3
2.6
11.5
8.9
16.1
6.1
13.1
14.0
17.4
2.6
1.3
4.8
0.9
0.7
1.961
2
4.0
13.3
11.5
11.2
4.7
13.8
19.1
12.4
2.0
2.4
3.3
1.8
0.5
2.340
1
1.3
4.5
6.3
6.0
3.6
19.9
25.9
25.4
3.6
1.2
0.9
0.9
0.5
2.027
b. Effect of Horizontal Position in the Bottom Tier
Outside poles
Next to
•outside poles
Inside poles
0.6
2.0
6.9
4.1
12.8 12.1
4.0
3.7
4.0
3.3
5.4
1.7
3.7
15.8
19.4
23.7
4.8
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.6
23.2
30.7
21.4
2.3
1.7
1.2
1.7
0.6
20.4
26.9
29.4
3.7
1.2
0.8
0.4
0.4
2.091
1.977
*See Bull. 334, p. 178, for explanation of grade index,
grades of shade tobacco in 1933 were as follows:
L
5.00
LL
4.25
LC
3.00
LC,
1.75
YL
1.25
LV
3.00
LV,
1.75
V
1.25
XL
1.25
XL,
.75
The comparative values for the different
ML .50
Si .70
S2 .30
XX .15
It will be seen that the results varied between the tobacco picked before
and after a heavy rain. In the first case the poorest tobacco was found
Shade Curing Experiments 369
in the seventh tier, immediately above the plate line. This tobacco was
directly underneath the upper line of atomizers and was considerably
darker than any other comparable lot, as indicated by the high percentage
of Vs. The best grade index was found on the second tier. It may be
noted that the percentage of light tobacco of high quality, LL's and LC's,
tended to increase up to the sixth tier. The percentage of olive leaves of
high quality, LV's and LV^'s, did not vary regularly with position.
Spotted leaves of light color, LC.'s, and YL's, were most abundant in
the peak tier, and stained leaves were also common here. The colors were
generally very light, however, sometimes to the point of being pale yellow.
An entirely different picture is presented by the tobacco picked after the
rain. In this case, the seventh tier was among the best in grade index,
being exceeded only by the second and first tiers. The percentage of LL's
and LC's in the seventh tier, and of L's, LL's, and LC's in the second tier,
was the highest in the lot. It is apparent that these tiers had a balance
between temperature and relative humidity that somewhat retarded the
rapid cure of the thin nitrogen-loaded leaves picked after a rain, and this
retardation tended to produce lighter colors. The high grade index of
the bottom tier is due to the large percentage of leaves in the LV grade,
exceeding any other tier by one-third, with the light grades of the LC
type very low. In this lot the fourth and sixth tiers had the highest per-
centage of V's and the lowest grade indices.
The effect of vertical position in the check shed is indicated in Table 15.
(p. 370). Here the tobacco is divided according to fields, with field I picked
on Thursday and field 7 on Friday, both after the rain. In the tobacco
from field I, the better grade indices are found on the fifth tier and below.
The eighth tier is superior to both the seventh and sixth, and slightly better
than the fourth, although this last difference is not significant. The second
tier is again the best, and it is apparent that the moisture relations were
more favorable below the plate line, which in this shed nearlv coincided
with fifth tier. Above this point, all the lots had more than 30 per cent of
V's ; below it less than 30 per cent of V's, with corresponding increases
in the thinner and more valuable LV, and LV grades. This agrees rather
well with the results on the comparable lot, (picked after the rain), in
the humidified shed, where better grade indices were found in the positions
having the greatest moisture supply. The percentage of LV's on the second
tier, 27. L is significant.
The effect of vertical position on the tobacco from field 7 is not appar-
ent, as the entire lot of tobacco was rather poor.
Horizontal position
A further stud}^ on the tobacco in the humidified shed was the effect
of the horizontal position in the bottom tier (Table 14). It is to be noted
that the poles next to the outside w^all of the shed presented radically
dift'erent curing conditions from those nearer the center. This is evidenced
by the higher percentages of LC's and LCa's and the lower percentages of
LV's and LV^'s. The agents in this difference were undoubtedly the lower
temperature near the walls during firing periods, and perhaps the more
370
Connecticut [■xpcrimcnt Station
IluUctin 359
Treatment
Table 15. Sckting Rfxords of Shade Tobacco Cured in a Check Shed
a. Effect of Vertical Position
Percentage of grades
Grade Index
'I L I LL I LC I LCo I YL | LV | LV. | V | XL | XLg | Si | .S2 | XX
Field 1.
Tier
s
4.3
7.3
2.0
2.3
1.5
13.9
20.5
35.3
3.1
1.2
3.5
3.1
2.0
1.939
7
0.8
1.6
3.9
5.5
0.8
15.7
26.4
32.6
1.8
3.6
4.9
0.8
1.6
1.760
6
0.4
1.4
6.0
3.5
2.1
14.1
25.4
34.5
1.4
5.6
3.2
1.4
1.0
1.73.'?
5
2.9
5.3
6.0
7.4
0.7
19.3
27.8
21.4
2.9
0.7
3.2
2.1
0.3
2.092
4
3.2
2.2
5.0
6.9
2.6
14.1
28.5
29.6
1.1
2.9
2.5
1.4
1.906
3
2.0
4.1
8.2
6.2
2.0
20.5
24.6
21.5
4.1
0.7
2.7
2.0
1.4
2.051
2
4.5
3.1
3.8
5.6
1.4
27.1
21.2
21.5
3.1
2.1
3.1
2.8
0.7
2.12.-)
Field 7.
Tier 6
0.9
3.6
10.7
4.5
5.3
39.3
*20.5
4.5
5.3
4.5
0.9
1.560
5
5.2
2.6
3.5
13.0
44.4
*20.0
2.6
6.1
1.7
0.9
1.694
4
0.8
8.2
15.6
4.1
9.8
32.0
*21.3
3.3
1.7
2.4
0.8
1.437
3
0.9
1.4
1.8
0.9
0.5
14.8
34.1
*38.3
1.8
3.2
1.4
0.9
1.640
9
0.5
0.9
0.9
22.2
32.9
*33.3
3.5
3.5
0.5
0.5
1.3
1.684
1
1.9
4.6
7.0
6.5
12.5
17.9
*41.2
2.2
4.1
0.6
0.6
0.9
1.568
b. Effect of Type of Soil
Field 1
2.6
3.0
5.8
5.9
1.8
19.1
25.6
25.7
2.5
2.4
3.0
2.0
0.7
1.995
2
1.6
3.3
4.3
6.9
5.3
11.2
22.2
23.1
2.8
3.7
12.2
2.5
0.9
1.700
7
0.2
0.7
3.2
4.7
1.9
14.6
35.8
*29.1
3.0
3.8
1.8
0.1
1.0
1.6f3
c. Effect of Humidification
Humidified
Check
Humidified —
Monday
Humidified —
Wednesday
Check-
Thursday
Check —
Friday
2.2
7.4
13.5
12.8
7.1
10.3
15.1
20.8
2.8
1.8
4.0
1.2
1.0
1.6
2.7
4.7
5.8
2.9
16.0
24.8
29.3
2.8
3.1
3.8
1.4
1.1
3.2
8.4
20.0
17.2
12.0
4.9
8.4
11.8
3.0
2.0
6.7
1.5
0.9
1.4
7.1
11.0
9.4
4.2
12.4
18.6
26.9
2.7
1.9
2.2
1.0
1.3
2.6
3.0
5.8
5.9
1.8
19.1
25.5
25.7
2.5
2.4
3.0
2.0
0.7
0.2
0.7
3.2
4.7
1.9
14.6
35.8
*29.1
3.0
3.8
1.8
0.1
1.0
2.057
1.744
2.115
2.018
1.995
1.663
*40% of V's very dark, properly belong in ML's.
rapid moistening by natural means at other times. From the notes taken
before sorting, similar conditions, but to a less marked degree, were found
to prevail up to the sixth tier. It was noted that the tobacco on the poles
next to the center of the shed was almost always more olive in color than
that nearer the walls of the shed. It seems evident that the open space up
through the center of the shed, varying from one to three feet in width,
serves as a flue during the firing periods, while the walls are relatively
cool.
Picking in relation to rains
The effect of picking before and after a rain may be seen from the
summarized data in the last part of Table 15, under the entries "Humidi-
fied-Monday" and "Humidified-Wednesday." The entire humidified shed
was filled with tobacco from a uniform field rather above the average in
the quality of tobacco produced, the only variable between the two lots
being a rain of about 1.25 inches which intervened between the pickings.
Shade Curing Experiments 371
The tobacco picked before the rain had from 80 per cent to 180 per cent
more of the light brown grades, except LL's, than that picked after the
rain, and averaged 89 per cent more of all grades from L's to YL's. With
respect to the olive grades LV's to V's, the tobacco picked after the rain
averaged 130 per cent more. These lots varied in one other respect, the
percentage of stained tobacco being greater in the tobacco picked before
the rain. The difference in grade index was not great as the light olive
grades are as valuable as the light brown grades. The most significant
difference beside the marked one of darkness of color, was the more uni-
form color distribution on the tobacco picked after the rain and the rela-
tive absence of stained leaves.
Type of soil
A summary of the effect of soil and other environmental factors on the
grade distribution is also shown in Table 15. The tobacco from these 3 lots
was all cured in the check shed, with no one lot favored by position. Field
I was characterized by favorable topography and good drainage, the soil
being a sandy loam. Field 2 included some sandy knolls, and tended to be
too light. The area of field 7 included in this comparison was characterized
by a heavy soil with poor drainage, on which the growth was slow. The
fields were picked in the order mentioned, only field 7 being picked on the
second day of filling the shed.
Despite the fact that it was picked only three days after a rain, field 2
illustrates the characteristics of shade tobacco grown on light sand knolls.
While light grades of high value are not abundant, the YL grade is nearly
three times as abundant as in field 1, and the SI grade over four times.
The YL grade consists of leaves that have light spots or mottlings, while
the Si's are leaves of light yellow color with reddish staining from the
midrib and secondary veins. These symptoms are the same as is found in
tobacco that has been underfertilized.
The tobacco from the low area in field 7, although it had one more day
to recover from the effects of the rain, was still the darkest of all the lots
studied. Included in the V's was a grade known as ML, a thin leaf but
one almost or completely black. The prevalence of a grade as dark as
ML's in the first picking indicates poor growth and an oversupply of
unassimilated nitrogen in the leaf.
Humidification
The effect of humidification, summarized in Table 15, cannot be evalu-
ated by comparing the entire sheds and disregarding the component fac-
tors that influenced the behavior of the tobacco. Neither can the tobacco
picked Monday and placed in the humidified shed be used in the compari-
son, as it was dry-weather tobacco and all the other lots were picked after
a rain, or the tobacco picked Friday from field 7 and placed in the check
shed, as it was an inferior lot.
372 Cniinccficiif Ilxpcriincnt Statinn Bulletin 359
If the comparison is narrowed clown to the tobacco picked on consecu-
tive days, and placed in the two sheds, it will be seen that almost no dif-
ference in grade index is to be found between the humidified and the
check lot. The curing season was naturally quite favorable, periods of
high humidity being rather common during the first two weeks the tobacco
was in the sheds. The fact that the tobacco below the plate line in the
check shed was better than that above would indicate that moisture
conditions were quite favorable for the main body of the shed. Consider-
ing the multiplicity of factors that enter into the final product, the graded
tobacco, it does not seem possible to attribute any particular benefit to the
humidifying system under the conditions of these experiments.
Summary
With references to vertical position, the better tobacco was usually
found below the plate line of the shed. This was particularly true with
tobacco picked after a heavy rain and was correlated with a more adequate
moisture supply, which retarded the curing of the thin leaves and thus
produced lighter leaves. The second tier from the bottom had the highest
grade index in all cases. .With dry-weather tobacco the same general trend
was present but was less marked. Tobacco in the peak tier was often too
yellow and mottled.
Horizontal position was significant in the bottom tier, and produced
some difiference up to the sixth tier. The tobacco nearest to the outside
walls of the shed had a greater percentage of light brown grades, while
that in the interior of the shed showed more olive leaves. This eiTect was
due to the temperature dififerences during firing, the center of the shed
acting as a flue.
The effect of time of picking in relation to rains was very clearly shown.
Tobacco picked during a dry period was predominantly light brown in
color, with some mottling and staining. Tobacco picked after a heavy
rain was characterized by olive shades, but the distribution of color on the
leaves was more uniform.
Soil t3'pe was shown to be very important. Tobacco from light sandy
knolls had a "starved" appearance and was rather badly stained and
mottled. Tobacco from heavy, water-logged soils was very dark and
inferior.
Additional humidification by mechanical means failed to show any
advantage during the past season.
Treatment of Shade Tent Poles 373
THE PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT OF SHADE TENT POLES
Henry W. Hicock *
A considerable part of the cost of shade tents is for poles to support
the wire and cloth. These poles should be light, reasonably strong, should
hold staples well, be durable in contact with the soil and inexpensive.
In the past, poles of native chestnut have admirably fulfilled all these
requirements. Some poles of this formerly valuable species can still be
obtained but most of them were killed by blight and have been dead many
years and give poor results in service. Moreover, it will be only a few
years before no native chestnut poles can be obtained. Of other native
species, the heartwood of red cedar, black locust and white oak only are
equal to chestnut in natural durability in contact with the soil. Red cedar
and locust are not sufficiently abundant to satisfy all demands for posts
and poles while white oak is satisfactory only if sawed to exclude
sapwood.
In anticipation of the need in the near future of a substitute for chest-
nut, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, in 1928, began a
series of experiments with the wood of several native species to determine
whether any of them could be satisfactorily used in place of chestnut if
given preservative treatment.
The Experiments
In June, 1928, forty seasoned poles <^^ each of white pine, pitch pine,
gray birch, red maple and popple were treated^^^ as follows:
(1) Fifty poles (10 of each species) were given a full pressure treat-
ment for their entire length by the American Creosoting Company in the
same manner as for railroad cross ties^^^ A heavy impregnation of the
sapwood throughout the post was secured by pressure treatment.
(2) The butts of 50 poles were given an Open Tank treatment with
creosote'^'*^ In this process, the butts of the poles to a height 6 to 12 inches
above the ground level are immersed in hot creosote maintained at .a
temperature of 220° F. for three hours. They are then kept for an equal
length of time in cool creosote (not over 100° F.) and then transferred
to an empty tank to drain (see Fig. 68). By this process the sapwood of
the butt is wholly or partly impregnated for a distance equal to the depth
of the liquid in the tanks. The tops of 25 of these poles (five of each
species) were further treated by dipping for 10 minutes in hot creosote.
The tops of the balance were left untreated.
(3a) Twenty-five poles (five of each species) were painted with a
brush for their entire length with two coats of hot creosote ^^' applied 24
hours apart.
*Assistant forester in Forestry Department.
(1) Since these poles were to be used for experimental purposes onh-, the tops
were cut off to facilitate handling.
(2) For a detailed discussion of preservative treatments see '"The Preservation
of Structural Timbers" by Howard F. Weiss, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1915.
(3) The preservative used was a mixture of 70 per cent coal tar creosote and
30 per cent coal tar.
(4) See next page.
374
Connecticut Experiment Station
Bulletin 359
(3b) The butts only of 25 poles (five of each species) were brushed
with two coats of hot creosote ^^^ applied 24 hours apart. The tops were
left untreated.
(4) Thirty poles (six of each species) received no treatment.
(5) Twenty poles (four of each species) were treated by inserting
two rings of "Treater Dust" (a highly poisonous arsenious compound
produced in copper smelting) in the hole when the poles were set. The
tops received no treatment.
Figure 68. Simple equipment for treating poles by the open tank method.
Creosote in barrel on left is heated to 220° F. by charcoal fire in pit under end
of 2 inch pipe return coil. Cold creosote bath in second barrel. Third barrel
is for draining excess creosote. Tops of poles cut ofif in this experiment.
Immediately after treatment all posts were set to the usual depth for
tent poles in a moderately heavy soil at the Tobacco- Sub-station in
Windsor.
Condition of poles after five years
Treatments
Full Pressure Treatment. All poles treated by this process were
sound throughout after 5 years service. Unquestionably, pressure treat-
ment will give the best results as far as length of service is concerned.
However, either very expensive equipment must be installed or the timber
taken to some central plant with consequent heavy transportation costs.
Moreover, in pressure processes the tops and butts of poles received equal
(4) Coal Tar Creosote, grade 1, A. W. P. A.
Treatment of Shade Tent Poles 375
treatment. This means that the tops are more heavily and consequently
more expensively treated than is justifiable for a small pole.
Open Tank (hot and cold bath) Treatment. The butts of all but two
poles treated by this method were sound after five years service in the soil.
The equipment for open tank treatment can be assembled quite cheaply by
anyone and is therefore well suited to the small user. The operation of
the plant is quite simple. Native species which, untreated, are serviceable
for only two years in the soil, have an estimated life of eight years or more
after receiving open tank treatment.
Brush Treatment. Brush treatment is entirely superficial and little
or no impregnation of the wood results. Dipping may be classed with
brushing but is probably slightly more effective because the preservative
flows into season checks and other openings which are impossible to reach
with a brush. Brushing is the least expensive method of applying preserva-
tive. The butts of pitch pine poles treated by brushing were sound after
five years in the soil. The butts of poles of all other species showed indica-
tions of interior rot at the end of three years and had become entirely un-
serviceable in five years. The process is not recommended for butt treat-
ments if an impregnation method can be used. With most native species
it will probably increase the natural life in the soil one to two years.
"Treater Dust." The butts of all poles set with this material in the
hole were sound after five years service in the soil. While the cost of this
material is quite low and while the results compare favorably with impreg-
nation treatments after five years, this compound cannot be recommended
on account of its extremely poisonous nature.
No Treatment. With the exception of pitch pine, the butts of all poles
which were set untreated had become entirely unserviceable at the end of
three years. The butts of untreated pitch pine poles were sound at the
ead of three years but had become unserviceable in five years.
Treated versus untreated tops. With few exceptions the untreated
tops of popple, gray birch and red maple poles had become unserviceable
at the end of five years. The untreated tops of white and pitch pine
poles showed very little indication of decay after five years. The tops of
all poles which had either an impregnation treatment (full pressure) or a
superficial treatment by brushing or dipping were, with very few excep-
tions, sound and serviceable at the end of five years.
The above results indicate that the tops of poles need some kind of
preservative treatment to maintain a balance of life between top and butt.
Heavy impregnation of tops such as is secured by pressure treatment
probably involves an unjustified expense. Moreover, pressure treated
poles are likely to "bleed" in warm weather, especially if tar is used, and
this may prove injurious to tobacco. A superficial treatment of tops by
dipping or brushing and an open tank treatment of butts has maintained
a satisfactory balance of life between top and butt for a period of five
years. Poles treated superficially do not "bleed" unduly but whether or
not even a small amount of "bleeding" will injure tobacco remains to
be determined. If injury does result it may be necessary to treat tops with
an inorganic salt solution instead of creosote.
376 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 359
Species
Of the five species for which five year service records are available,
pitch pine seems to satisfy best the requirements for tobacco poles. The
wood is naturally quite durable, is reasonably strong and tough and can
be readily treated. Moreover, it is locally abundant in the tobacco region.
White pine is not recommended because its wood is low in all strength
properties and does not treat readily. Of the three broadleaved species,
gray birch will probably not be used to any extent because it seldom grows
large enough or straight enough for a tobacco pole. Popple and red
maple should both make good tobacco poles with preference going to the
latter because of its greater strength and toughness, its abundance and
the fact that it can be treated more effectively.
An immense amount of small pole material of red and scotch pine,
especially of the latter, will become available within the next 10 years as
thinnings from forest plantations. The wood of these two species is inter-
mediate between white pine and pitch pine in strength properties and can
be treated with extreme ease. It was found that the several species of oak
could be treated effectively with a relatively small quantity of preserva-
tive. Objection may be raised to oak for tobacco poles on account of its
hardness and weight. The hardness of oak would render stapling some-
what difficult although it is believed that this would not be a serious draw-
back as workmen became accustomed to stapling in a hard wood. As far
as weight is concerned it is believed that oak poles could be used in con-
siderably smaller diameters than are at present specified for chestnut and
still be sufficiently strong because oak is from 30 to 100 per cent stronger
than chestnut in all requisite strength properties. For comparison of
strength properties of various woods see Table 16.
Seasoning. All poles which are to be treated should be peeled and
thoroughly seasoned. The procedure recommended is to cut and peel the
poles in the spring when the bark is "slipping" and pile them "log cabin
style" in the woods where they will season slowly without severe checking,
and to treat them the following winter.
Conclusions
The results of experiments covering a period of five years demonstrate
that poles of several native species will, if given preservative treatment,
prove satisfactory substitutes for chestnut.
At the present time, pressure treated poles are not recommended be-
cause of the high cost and because the tops "bleed" in warm weather.
An impregnation treatment of butts with creosote by the open tank
(hot and cold bath) process together with a superficial treatment of tops
by dipping for a few minutes in hot creosote seems to result in a reason-
able balance between life of butt and life of top.
Injury to tobacco from superficial treatment of pole tops with creosote
remains to be tested. Should injury result, experiments with an inorganic
salt as a substitute for creosote will be needed.
From the standpoint of physical properties, abundance, adaptability to
treatment and demonstrated results, pitch pine and red maple seem to best
Tobacco Insects in ipjj
377
fulfill the requirements for tobacco poles. However, from more recent
experiments, for which there are at present no service records available,
it would seem that the several species of oak and red and Scotch pine may
also be sources of pole material.
Table 16. Comparative Strength Properties of Wood
Species
White or gray birch
Butternut
Aspen (popple)
Red cedar
Chestnut
Sassafras
Tulip
Pitch pine
Red pine
American elm
Red maple
Pin oak
Black oak
Red oak
White oak
Yellow birch
White ash
Scarlet oak
Black birch
Pignut hickory
Black locust
Bending strength
Hardness
90
108
94
80
97
76
98
162
100
100
104
120
104
80
118
112
125
92
125
132
137
158
141
222
144
208
146
206
150
216
156
172
166
214
169
240
172
208
212
232
322
These index figures are based on Table I, Technical Bulletin 158, U. S. D. A., converted on
the basis of chestnut equal to 100.
TOBACCO INSECTS IN 1933
Donald S. Lacroix
Prevalence of Various Species
The eastern field wireworm, Pheleies ccfypus Say, was present in its
usual abundance during the early part of the season.
The potato flea beetle, Epitrix cucumeris Harr., appeared in unusual
abundance during June, but the increase in population during July was
slow in reaching its peak. All types of tobacco were infested with this
insect, Shade Grown and Havana Seed suffering more than Broadleaf.
A few specimens of the tobacco flea beetle, Epitrix parvula Fabr., were
taken on Shade Grown tobacco in Windsor.
Tobacco horn worms, Phlegethontiiis qtiinquemaculata Haw., and P.
sexta Johan., were more prevalent on sun grown tobacco this season than
last. Injury from these was considerably greater in the Housatonic Valley
district.
The tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca Hinds, caused a large amount
of damage (Fig. 6) to Shade Grown and Havana Seed tobacco throughout
378
Connecticut Experiment Station
Bulletin 359
the Connecticut Valley, but was not found on the Housatonic Valley
tobacco.
Only two small infestations of the stalk borer, Papaipenia nitela Guen.,
came to our attention.
The tarnished plant bug, Lygus pratcnsis Linn., caused but little trouble
generally.
The tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens Fabr., was found on but one
plantation in Windsor.
Various species of grasshoppers were present in small numbers.
Aphids were very numerous on Havana Seed in the Housatonic Valley.
Tobacco Thrips*
Because of the unusually heavy infestation of this insect this season
every effort was employed to find a satisfactory method of control.
Table 17. Insecticides tested for Tobacco Thrips Control
Insecticides
Number
of Thri
3S on 10
leaves
July 7,
1933
July 14, 1933
July 21, 1933
Dead
Alive
Dead
Alive
Dead
Alive
Dusts
Cubor dust
0
42
0
31
1
56
Nicotine (4%) dust
1
21
1
24
0
19
Activated Pyrethrum "A"
2
33
1
24
0
41
Activated Pyrethrum "C"
2
26
0
33
0
39
Rotenone dust
1
37
1
27
0
24
Check-
0
59
0
42
0
67
Sprays
Cubor spray (1-200)
29
12
13
6
21
18
Jap soap (1-100)
25
3
10
4
15
27
Nicotine sulfate and soap (1-400)
21
13
17
13
23
21
Nicotine sulfate and penetrol (1-400)
17
15
24
17
19
19
Pyrethrol (1-200)
26
11
29
14
31
11
Check
0
54
0
29
0
49
It became quite apparent that there was a correlation between moisture
and thrips population. During hot dry seasons, the insect is quite serious,
but during rainy seasons or even years having normal rainfall, little is seen
of it. June, July and early August in 1933 were extremely dry, so that in
many cases tobacco was irrigated. On the irrigated portions, thrips caused
less injury than on those not irrigated.
The response of tobacco thrips to moisture was observed by spraying
infested leaves (in the field) with water. The insects immediately began
to run around nervously, and when one came in contact with a droplet of
water, it would change its course and run in another direction. It was
noticed during and after a rain, that the thrips were less numerous on
tobacco foliage, and often were entirely absent.
*Frankliniella fusca Hinds.
Tobacco Insects in ipsj
379
There seemed to be no correlation between temperature and thrips
abundance. Several times during the summer, population counts were
made on 10 marked leaves to determine this. Thrips damage as it appears
on the cured leaf is shown in Fig. 69.
Figure 69 : Thrips damage. White veins on a cured leaf due to thrips
infestation during the growth of the plant.
Because many growers are equipped to apply insecticides as dusts, sev-
eral dusting materials were tested. All dusts tried in 1933 were found to
be ineffective, acting only mildly as repellents. This may be due to the
fact that the tobacco foliage is covered with glandular hairs which catch
380 Connecticut Experiment Station Bulletin 359
the dust particles and hold them above the leaf surface, so that the thrips
can run along depressions next to the midrib and major leaf veins with-
out actually coming in contact vi'ith the dust. On the other hand, sprays
containing pyrethrum, or nicotine sulphate gave much better results, as
can be seen from Table 17. Dates of application were June 27 and July 6,
14 and 20.
The sprays and dusts were applied at weekly intervals throughout July,
the latter at rates of from 8 to 12 pounds to the acre, depending upon the
size of the plants.
None of the materials applied caused any injury to the leaf. However,
it was observed that sprays of any kind applied when the weather was hot
(and when the tobacco was badly wilted) did have a tendency to injure
leaf tissue.
Flea Beetle Control
The use of barium fiuosilicate dust for controlling the potato flea
beetle on tobacco was continued this season. There was abundant oppor-
tunity to observe the effect of this material when used commercially. A
tobacco by-product known as Richmond Filter dust proved to be a very
satisfactory carrier for this insecticide, and left little or no visible residue.
Several observations on the plots dusted and sprayed for thrips shewed
that the pyrethrum dusts killed flea beetles, as also did the- sprays, but the
dusts were more effective for controlling them. This is possibly due to the
fact that the sprays are of little value after they have evaporated and the
dusts remain effective for some time after they are applied.
Wirev^rorm Control
The past season's work in wireworm control, centered on fhree materials,
namely; calcium cyanide, carbon disulfide emulsion, and chlor-picrin.
In preliminary tests, these materials were used side by side on the same
plot. In later tests they were used on separate plantations. In the first
mentioned, the calcium cyanide was placed in furrows 4 inches deep and
immediately covered with soil, (used at a rate of 100 pounds per acre) :
the carbon disulfide emulsion was diluted 1 to 200 with water and applied
in furrows 3 inches deep at the rate of 1 quart to 2 linear feet of furrow ;
the chlor-picrin was poured into holes 3 inches deep and 18 inches apart; 1
ounce of the liquid to each hole. All of these treatments were on in-
fested tobacco soil, and each placed in infested rows of plants.
Three days later the soil was examined for a distance of three linear
feet in each row. In the case of the cyanide plot, dead worms were found
on both sides within six inches of the center of the row ; on the carbon
disulfide emulsion plot, a few living worms were found, and no dead ones ;
on the chlor-picrin plot many dead larvae were found within a seven inch
radius of each hole treated and no living ones. The weather was hot dur-
ing these tests.
On another plantation, 1 acre of infested tobacco soil was treated with
100 pounds of calcium cyanide applied with a corn planter directly to
each row of young tobacco plants and at a depth of from 2^ to 3 5^
Tobacco Insects in igs3 -2^1
inches. (Seventy-five per cent of the larvae were in the top 3 inches of
soil at that time). Four days later, an examination of the soil indicated
approximately a 66 per cent kill. The weather during these operations
was cold and there were intermittent rains. Had the soil been warmer, the
percentage of kill undpubtedly would have been greater.
Thus far, calcium c5^anide drilled into the infested rows, has proved to
be the most economical method of wireworm control. This is substantiated
further by tests conducted by Anderson and Britton in 1925.
Many experiments with chlor-picrin were carried on during the summer
of 1933. This material is a heavy, clear liquid, very volatile, non-explosive
and terribly p,ungent. It is extremely toxic to insects, but not so toxic to
man, as the fumes drive persons to search for fresh air. i
After many trials, it was found that this material could be emulsified
with fish-oil soap, diluted with w-ater and applied to the soil in any desired
quantity.
In actual tests for toxicity, five wireworms were placed in containers
(the latter being salve-boxes covered with 50 mesh screen). These were
buried (on edge) at 3-, 6-, 9-. 12-inch levels in the field*, 1 row being
treated and the other left for a check. The chlor-picrin emulsion was
poured into a 3-inch furrow and covered with soil. Examinations were
made 48 hours after application. Treatments started with 100 milliliters
of the emulsion to 5 liters of water down to 12 milliliters to 5 liters of
water with the material applied at the rate of 1 liter per linear foot of
row. One hundred per cent kill was observed in every case except .the
last (12 milliliters chlor-picrin emulsion to 5 liters of water). It did not
penetrate to the 12-inch level, as the larvae were alive there.
Several tests on tolerance of tobacco plants to chlor-picrin showed that
the material is extremely toxic to young plants even at the greatest dilu-
tions mentioned above. Plants may be set in the field seven days after the
chlor-picrin has been applied full strength, and about five days after it has
been used at the weaker dilutions, but do not seem to grow as fast as
tobacco planted in untreated soil.
Since the fumes from chlor-picrin are so irritating to the eyes and
nose, it is absolutely necessary to use a gas mask when handling it.
Distribution of Wireworm Larvae in Tobacco Soil
During the season of 1932. soil on an infested plantation was examined
at intervals, to determine the distribution of wireworm larvae at dififerent
times of the year and to observe any other activities of this pest.
Similar observations were made cluring 1933 and the results are included
in Table 18. As was true in 1932, the larvae were concentrated in greater
number in the tobacco rows. Continued feeding throughout the summer
was noticed also this year. Alost of the larvae remain below the 3-inch
level except during a short period at about the end of May, when a large
percentage of them are near the surface. i
*Merrimac coarse sandy loam.
382
Connecticut Experiment Station
Bulletin 359
TabLK 18. DlSTKIBUTION OF WiREWORM LaRVAE IX SOIL OF ToBACCO PLANTATION,
Windsor. Conn. Season of 1933
Number of larvae in soil
Soil Tem-
perature
Date
Depth
In row
Between rows
Total
Per cent
°F
Remarks
May 29
0"- 3"
3"- 6"
6"- 9"
9"-12"
12"-24"
7
4
1
0
0
4
1
0
0
0
11
5
1
0
0
64.7
29.4
5.8
0.0
0.0
77
70
66
66
66
12 70.5%
5 29.5%
17
June 27
0"- 3"
3"- 6"
6"- 9"
9"-12"
12"-24"
0
4
15
5
3
2
3
8
3
0
2
7
23
8
3
4.4
16.2
53.4
18.3
6.9
78
72
71
68
68
'
27 62.7%
16 37.3%
43
July 10
0"- 3"
3"- 6"
6"- 9"
9"-12"
12"-24"
0
5
7
2
0
1
1
3
1
0
1
6
10
3
0
5.0
30.0
50.0
15.0
0.0
64
68
68
68
68
Plantation irrigated
24 hrs. previous to
these investigations
14 70%
6 30%
20
July 29
0"- 3"
3"- 6"
6"- 9"
9"-12"
12"-24"
0
1
7 (IPupa)
7
8
0
0
1
1 (Pupa)
0
0
1
8
8
8
0.0
4.0
32.0
32.0
32.0
68
68
68
68
68
First 4 inches
soil
extremely dry
23 92%
2 8%
25
Aug. 25
0"- 3"
3"- 6"
6"- 9"
9"-12"
12"-24"
1
1
9 (IPupa)
5
4
0
1
1
6
n
0
1
2
10
11
/
3.2
6.4
32.2
35.4
22.5
70
69
69
69
69
20 64.5%
11 35.5%
31
Sept. 30
0"- 3"
3"- 6"
6"- 9"
9"-12"
12"-24"
1
2
2
7(1 Adult)
5
0
2
3
3
0
1
4
5
10
5
4.0
16.0
20.0
40.0
20.0
54
58
60
66
66
17 68%
8 32%
25
Oct. 28
0"- 3"
3"- 6"
6"- 9"
9"-12"
12"-24"
0
0
3 (1 Adult)
6
3
0
2
0
2
2
0
2
3
8
5
0.0
11.1
16.6
44.4
27.7
48
46
46
46
46
Cold rain for 12
hrs. just previous to
these investigations
12 66%
6 33%
18
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