Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-10-29
POTATO soAs.


The Causes Accountable Tor the Blenhishcd
Appearances OF the Tabcra.
A good deal Of discussion has boen
ELECTED by this subject and various
theories have been presented to account
for the blemshed appearance of the
tubers. have expressed my belief
that the potatoe was gnawed by worms.
/ had been so informed by many potato
growers, and casual glance at tho
tdbcrs seemed TO support their views.
But began to doubt this theory, and
on close inspection arrived at the con-
cluson that 1t was not correct sub
jected n section OF the potato to high
magnifying power. and found that the
liquid potion was swarming with liv-
ing organisms. A section OF a perfect
ly smooth skinned potato, taken as a
test, showed none OF these. The scabby
potato was then d seased. IL was af.
ilcted with microbes. ther as cause
or effect, u point not yet determined.
OF the appearance presented by the
tuber thus diseased | presume all are
familiar. The surface is more or less
deeply indonted with broken pits, and
sometimes the surface is entirely Gov
cred. II 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-
tion 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
n pit Is formed surrounded by eroded
walls, and partially filled with the
products OF the decayed part II the dis
ease extended to the whole tuber IL would
be called the rot, and the difference
between the two diseases is of intensity
rather than OF kind. IL viii 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. began the in
vestigation with the substance Of tho
root Immediately in contact with the
diseased surface, which | found teem-
ing with minute 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 vine
from the same hill and discovered that
IL was scarcely less teeming with mi
crobes than hs roots. With a magnify
ing power Of sixty thou.and the fluid
was tremulous with the incessant vibra.
tiOns 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 lure il not ruin the crop 1t
has been found that salt is a preventive.
and well rewards the grower for his
labor in its application. Clover sod
usually produc perfect tubers, but moi
always. The commercial fertilizers arc
not protective. In general terms il may
be stated that tho soil. fertilizers and
culture " h give the most vigorous
health anG growth. are to be relied on
to give, rot only the largest yield but
also the mo perfect iubers. The po-
tato plant like all other forms of life, l.
environcd by countless swarms of mi.
crobes, ready the moment its vitality
weakens to take advanti 2 and multi
ply in its Juices Hence only by pre-
serving vitality at its most vigorous
point can diseased action be avoided. -
Cor. WestcrH Rural