Sclerotium rolfaii Secc. is a fungus that is prevalent throughout the southern states, and at times causes very serious losses to farm crops and ornamental plants. It causes a disease known as Sclerotium Wilt, Southern Wilt, or Southern Blight. The Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station has received many complaints of Sclerotium Wilt on ornamental plants in the last few years, but has been unable to give any definite recommendations because no satisfactory method of control has been developed. the object of this investigation was to study the characteristics of the fungus and to discover, if possible, some method or methods of checking the disease when established. / Master of Science