Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-08-13

clearer idea of the scurf fungus. At
q Is represented potato partly coated
over with the scurf. and at those
places where the mold is worst the
root has taken on wrinkled appear
ance, due to the drying out of some
of the juice in the cells near the sur
face, or its absorption by the fla
ments of the fungus that has been
feeding upon them. This tendency
to shrink of the affected potatoes, to-
gether with the less attractive color
are the two chief disadvantages Of
the scurf. 1t is, however, true, that
scurfy potato, having, as 1T has, the
skin more or less roughened and dis
organized, is more subject to the at
tack of other forms of mold, some of
which are very rapid in their work of
destruction. Thus the soft rot
fungus may get a foothold in
the skin of scurfv potato,
while smooth, healthy skinned one
might 60 free. At b is shown a
highly -magnified view of the sur
face of scurfy potato. and several
projecting fllaments of the mold are
represented. The branching, finer
threads of the fungus beneath She
skin are seen as indistinct and ir-
regular lines One of the free, up
right, dark chains of cells is shown
highly magnitied at e, with two
younger fllaments arising from the
same base. At d is another chain.
with less regular cells than at c, and
q larger portion of the branched
threads, from below the surface,
shown at e. This scurf is upon the
roofs above the potatoes, extending
sometimes to the surface OF the
ground.
From the fungus nature Of the
scurf it is natural to suppose that
the trouble may spread from the
affected root to the sprouts, should a
scurfy potato be used in the hotbed.
1t would be wise precaution to ex-
clude all but roots that are free from
the mold. As seems to be true with
the scab of Irish potatoes, so here the
chief inducing condition is the pres
ence in the soil of large quantities of
rotting manure. Sweet potatoes, as
has been abundantly demonstrated,
can be grown protitably without so
much manure, and, in fact, without
any. Commercial fertilizers may be
used much more extensively than
generally supposed, to the special adj
vantage of reducing the amount of
the various forms of rot, decay, and
iblights of various sorts. In time it
ts hoped that some method Of treat
ing the hotbed, or the srouts as they
arc set, or possibly the field plants,
may be found that will materially
diminish the scurf. the soil rot, and
the black rot while at the same time
angmenting the profits from the crop
Fungus troubles that are located BE-
Low ground are among the most din.
cult 20 reach with positive remedy.
and precautionary measures are, thus
far, most to be depended upon.
Farm Machinery.
So far as possible avoid leaving ma
ehinery standing out in the hot sun
when not 10 use. One of the best
paying investments on the farm is a
good shed, under which machinery
that Is used more or less through the
season can be kept when not needed IN
the field. The failure to give proper
care 70 the machinery needed to carry
on the work costs the farmer good
deas Of money that could readily b
Aaved. A few days exposure to
.l1os sun is nearly or quite as injurious
as one or two hard storms, and In
many cases it would save time ia
bring it to the house and store under
shelter rather than let IL stand out.
Q more or less time Is required to Cd