The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-06-17
Destruction of Disease in Potatoes.

Philadelphia Record.
The potato is subject to diseases OF the
stalks, leaves and bulbs. These diseases are
due to destructive bacilli, which in some
cases may be traced to the planting of IN
healthy bulbs. The Danish method, as men,
toned in the Tribune and Farmer, is to de-
stroy the germs by heating the bulbs. In
some cases Of disease the mold on the bulbs
grows up in the stalk, where the mold seed
Lpens aud spreads from stalk to leaves. As
the disease starts from comparatively few
spots, it spreads slowly st first and then rap
io ly, except when interfered with by long
continued drought. In some cases where
unhealth bulbs have been used
the plants appear to thrive, but the bulbs do
not grow or produce largely. IL healthy bulbs
are used the majority of diseases may be
avoided. To guard against all possible con-
tsgion the potatoes should be heated up to
1O4 degrees Fahrenheit. and 50 kept for four
hours, g slight sprouting of the bulbs being
an advantage before heating. These precau.
Tiops are esps cislIy recommended for what is
termed in Europe the plague, but in this
country we have no contagious diseases ex'
cept the rat
1t has long been known that the best and
healthiest crops are secured only by the use
of sound, healthy bulbs, that are free from
all appearances of injury, either by disease
or frost. The seed being the first considera-
ton, The conditions Of the soil should
be such as to promote a healthy
growth. The common practice OF hauling
large quantities of fresh manure to the potato
fields and spreading it in the rows has
done more to induce disease than any other
cause. Manure may be used upon potatoes
with advantage but ii should be thoroughly
dscomposed and fine. Compost is better
tnan manure, as tits usually composed OF
absorbent materials that have been we'll
mingled with the manure. The safest
method, however. is to manure heavily on
wheat land, following with grass, and using
the sod land, after the grass has been cut,
for potatoes. With the aid of 400 pounds
surerphosphste per acre the potatoes viii
yield well and be free from disease, II healthy
seed be planted; bat.under no circumstances
will potatoes be entirely exempt from dis
ease II any of the seed is unsound.
Two very important fertilizers for potatoes
are potash and lime. Experiments are said
to snow that potash causes the crop to be
wateTy, while lime causes them % be hard
when cooked. 1t may be that such concu-
sions are erroneous, as the difficulties may
perhaps be due to other causes; but the use
of lime on SGD land in the fall, before the
potatoes are planted, will certainly
assist in preventing disease, as welt
as largely increasing the yield. Something
0ClCANc upOA tAC NoAACtJ olGOs LS1Ag pSta
toes should be planted early, while those in
tended for winter use should go in late An
other cause Of disease is the deterioration Of
some varieties, which run outn without the
farmer being aware of the fact before it is
too late to make a change. The new varie-
ties should always be tested on every farm,
In order to procure that best suited for the
particular soil to which it belongs If this
were pTacticed there would be fewer dis
eases. ss some varieties will not exist in csr.
tain localities but q short time. It is well to
change seed occasionally also, even If suit
able variety is secured, but it should be Of
the same kind. We have been somewhat
exempt from potato epidemics in this coun-
try, and the difficulties that sometimes hap.
pen in particular sections may be greatly
1essened by care in the selection of seed and
the use of only well fermented manure.