Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-01-01
The State Crops.

The Michigan crop report for December
shows that the condition or wheat IN the
southern four tiers Of counties 81 and IN the
northern counties 20, 100 representing vitality
and growth OF average years. One year ago
the condition in the southern counties was
lOi, AID n the northern counties lob Clover
seed viii average about one aud GjlOJth-
bushels per acre IN tue state The Condition
OF live stock is estimated about one per cent
below al average. The total number Of
bushels Of wheat reported marketed III Au-
gust, September, October ana November l.
1,1is $40, which IL j,54J 40 bushels more iLan
reported marketed during the same months IN
1854.
The potato rot which has this sea
son DESTROYED nearly one-th!rd OF The
potato crop in Michigan, and sun
lar-er per cent Ia New York anu
neighborlng states. is identical with that which
caused the great famine IN Ireland in ls4G
Tie important facts 10 be considered IN dcNis
ing preventive measures are lll; Inc fungus
spread, IRON one plant 10 another during the
growing season by summer spores, raln-"asi-
ed or Winu-b,uWu, and % IT depends, pfimar-
Is. for its spread the following season upon
It's perennial mycelium (thc tuue-like threads
always 10 be found in the diseased tuOeTs or
tops. IL may, also, probably grow from rest
ing spOre, found in the same situation, al
though the existence Of the latter Is not settled
be, oud dispute. The following preventive
measures viii prove valuable;
/. The parasite may often live over winter
in the tops of deCaving tubcTs lett IN the helds
after harvest. Prudence would, Therefore,
dictate the complete removal and destruction
OF such refuse. ii should be buried or burned.
1t should not be used for compost
2 Store the harvested crop in dry cellars,
and sort over several times, at short intervals,
carefully removing from the lins every tubcr
which shows the least sign OF decay Remove
also, TO a separate pile, those tubers which
have been lying IN contact with the diseased
one The sorting viii be faCihtated aud the
decay hindered by storing The tubers In casks,
barrels or small boxes Potatoes buried in
quantity IN fields will Re likely TO rot IN toto
during the coming winter II, by chance, any
infected tubers were buried Will the SOUND
ones.
8 Plant next season only tubers which are
entirely souud-outside ana inside. The black
spots contain the fungus. some tubers may
appear sound on the surface and be diseased
within. Determine tie soundDCss OF the
tubcrs b. cutting ~ planting time. To plant
diseased potatoes VIII insure continuation OF
the rot
4. Even if direction No. has been followed,
more or less of the potato fungus will piobab
IS remain over winter in the fields ready %
grow # there Is an opportunity. DO not,
therefore, plant IA the same fields a. last eeat,
nor in adjoining ones, nor near held, planted
hy ncighDOrs u some more remote LOCALITY can
g. Take advantage OF the prevailing dircc-
tiOn OF the wind our summer and az umn
winds are chiefly from points between south
ana vest There D., therefore, chance of Is.
Gaping wind-blown spores by planting ~ tue
so lthwcst Of other potato fields, or To tie
northeast of woodlands or other large uncuti
waited tracts
6. The growth Of the parasite IS favored by
moisture aud stopped by drouth. IL IL rapid ia
rainy weather and when there are heavy dcws.
[ sually the rot b. much more worse upon clay
land or other soils which retain moisture.
Choose, therefore, a light and dry soil foI
planting.
Ii mas oeen shown cXpCrinentally that, with
only moderate watering, the summer spores
will penetrate The soil To depth OF several
inches consc tucntly chilling up will not pro-
tect The Probabilities arc also. that 40 sub
stances can Doc BUSTED upon or otherwise ap
Piled TO the grow ne plants with much bcneht
II some varieties oil the 0tato are less subject
10 rot than others thing not improbable, the
present state OF our knowledge does not en
able us to say IOsitNciy which they are.