Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-11-05
POTATO scAs.
The Causes Accountable for the Blemishe1
Appearance Of the Tubers

The Causes Accountable for the Blemishs1
| Appearance Of the Tubers
A good deal of discussion has beer
elected by this subject and various
theories have been presented to account
for the blemished appearance of the
tubers. l have expressed my belief
that the potatoe was gnawed by worms.
had been so informed by many potato
growers, and casual glance at the
tdbers seemed to support their views.
But began to doubt this theory. and
on close inspection arrived at the con-
cluslon that it was not correct SUBJ
jected a section of the potato to a high
magnifying power. and found that the
| liquid portion was swarming with liv-
ing organisms. A section of a perfect
" smooth skinned potato. taken as q
| test, showed none of these. The scabby
potato was then d seaSed. 1t was af-
fiicted with microbes. ether as a cause
or effect, point not yet determined.
OF the appearance presented BY the
tuber thus diseased l presume all are
deeply indented with broken pits. and
sometimes the surface is entirely COW
cred. If we take growing tubers we
can with little search find all stages
of development, and thus be able to
trace the disease from the beginning OF
its cause. At first minute diScOlOra-
ton is seen beneath the cuticle which
rapidly extends. by the Reorganization
of the substance of the root. The cuti-
Gle at length cracks. draws apart, and
a pit is fOkned surrounded by erOded
walls, and partially filled with the
products OF the decayed part. If the dis
case extended to the whole tuber it would
be called the rot, and the diffe ence
between the two diseases is of intensity
rather than of kind. 1t will be found
that the tuber affected by the scab will
have discolOred spots in its interior
which are really points of decay and
swarm with microbes l began the in
vestigation with the substance of the
root Immediately in contact with the
diseased surface. which l found teem-
ing with N mute organisms. | then ex-
amined the juice taken from an appar-
emily healthy port on and found the
same microbes though less in number
| then examined the juice of the ne
from the same hill and discovered that
it was scarcely less teeming with mi
crobes than It's roots. With magnify.
ing power of sixty thousand the fluid
was tremulous with the incessant vibra.
tons of those forms OF life. As in all
forms of disease the vitality of the po-
tato plant is first injured by applied
manures or climatic conditions. The
applications of green manures is almost
certain to niure if not ruin the crop. 1t
has been found that salt is a preventive,
and we'll rewards the grower for his
labor in its application. Clover sod
usually produces perfect tubers. but not
always. The commercial fertilizers are
not protective. In general terms it may
be stated that the soil. fertilizers and
culture which give the most vigorous
health and growth. are 10 be relied on
to give, not only the largest yield but
also the mo t perfect tubers. The po-
tato plant like all other forms of life, is
environed by countless swarms of mi
crobes. ready the moment its vitality
weakens to take advantage and multi
ply in its juices. Hence only by pre-
serving vitality at its most v gorou:
point can diseased action be avoided
Cor. WeSiern Rural.