Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-03-11
An Alleged Remedy for Potatoe
Disease.

In phamphlet of Danish Pro
fessor J. l.. Jenson, Director Of
Bureau Ceres, in Copenhagen, he
says:
The potato disease first appears in
tho foliage of the plant. and then
spreads to the the tubers. The dis
ease consists Of fungus the spores
of which propagate at an sxtraordi-
narily rapid rate, and are blown by
tho wind from field to field as well
as from plant to plant. BY q great
number of experiments carried out
very carefully all over Denmark it
WAS found that the disease spread
from the foliage down to the tubers
in about seven days after the foliage
WAS attacked. The way it spread
was by the spores falling from the
leaves and stem of tho plant on the
soil aud being then washed down to
the tubers by the rains. On taking
up the potatoes in layers, the top
layer, consisting Of those nserest the
surface and nearest the stem WAS
diseased to the extent of about 80
per cent, the middle layer to the OK
tent of 80 per cent, while the lowest
layer WAS only diseased to the extent
of 3 per cent.
Those potatoes nearest the stem Of
the plant were also always found
worse diseased than those further
away. This also went to prove that
the spores came from the surface,
and In this case came down .the op-
ening in the soil made by the stem.
This gave the idea that the spores
could not reach the tubers If the soil
was dense enough, and a great mum
ber Of experiments were tried all ov-
er the country to prove OF disprove
this idea. The result was startling,
and MAJ be roundly put rs follows:
Where no moulding" or sarthing up
was done the percentage of deceased
potatoes was "a, where the moulding
was imperfect II. and where the
moulding was perfect l only!
Some $50 farmers were engaged
in these experiments, and the results
| were all carefully tabulated, aud the
experimental fields visited and care
fully inspected. The knowledge
thus obtained proves that to entirely
prevent the spores of the diseas.
reaching the potatoes, it is necessary
1st. To plant the seeds about IL in
ches apart, and have the rows about
80 inches apart. 2nd. To mould uE
into broad ridge 3 sr A inches higf
and 10 to II inches wide, after the
first wee ding. Sd. To mould W
again when the disease first appears
in the leaves of the plant or withir
seven days of its appearance. Th'
and moulding up to be as nigh n
possible and So arranged as to benc
over the tops of the plant, SO thstth'
spores when mature may fall into tn
space between the rows and not OIL
the ridges. This can be done b.
earthing up on one side only. Thsr
would not be less than 81 inches 0
; soil on top of the uppermest layer Q
tubers. 1t was found that on
. moulding up would not do. II tn
: ridges were moulded up high enoug
to repel the disease at the beginnin
8 the crop of potatoes was less, in cor
/ sequence of the young plant bein
a to much covered up. The firs
e moulding or sarthing up should b
= when the usual wedding takes plac'
D and should be fat and broad. TIL
o second moulding should not be don
Y till the disease shows itself in tt
o plant.
A small special experiment. We
# made in one field where the dises:
Y was very prevalent In the . sscon
IS "high moulding up" the soil ws
3, beaten close with the spade as the Of
g orator went along, and this 80 effec
d ually kept out the disease that tt
le percentage fell from GAO to Har'