Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-08-18
MORE ABOUT POTATO BLIGHT.
State Botanist Jones Tells Farmers How
They May Protect Their Tubers.

State Botanist Jones Tells Farmers How
They May Protect Their Tubers.
STATE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT
STATION, BURLINGTON, W.,
August II, 1892. }
The true blight or rust has appeared
on the potato leaves, and the weather is
favorable for the rapid and destructive
spread of the disease. Unless preventive
measures are taken at once there will be
much loss from the rot. Those who in
tend to use the Bordeaux mixture should
not delay an hour longer than is neces-
sary. Since sending you my former
letter two weeks ago large number OF
letters Of inquiry have been received
which emphasize the need of further in
formation by the farmer as to the So
called "new disease" Of the potatoes.
This disease has attacked early pc tatoes
very generally throughout the state. 1t
is an entirely different and distinct dis
ease from the true blight and it is very
important that all potato growers learn
to distinguish the two maladies. A cir
cuar which it is hoped will aid them in
, so doing has been sent to the postmasters
throughout the state for free distribution.
The most important practical differences
between the diseases noted in this circu-
lar are as follows:
LIST. The spores of the fungus which
causes the true blight or trust" pass
from the blighting vines to the tubers,
causing the rot. No rOtting of the tu-
bers is caused by the new disease.
End. The true blight or trust" attacks
later potatoes worst. The ''new dis
ease" is confined to early potatoes.
3rd. The true blight or crust, can be
checked by spraying with the Bordeaux
mixture. The new disease is not SC
easily checked by spraying. The follow.
ing points will aid in distinguishing the
two diseases.
New disease. Practically everything
in the way of diseased potato leaves uI
to this date, August II, has been the
ssnew disease" This is every where Oh
early potatoes, so far as we can learn
The diseased plants appear sickly and OF
yellOwish cast instead of dark healthy
green. Soon leaves turn yellow and die
The death begins on unipjured leaves
about the tip and edges as the disease
progresses. The trouble is worst Oh
leaves that have been partially eaten by
potato bugs or other insects. Whenever
the leaf is injured the disease attacks il
and spreads from these spots. Thus 8
leaf may show score or more Of black
spots varying in size from pin head tc
a marble. In some pieces of early pc.
tatoes every leaf is dead or dying.
Blight. Very few potato growers will
mistake the true blight or crust wher
they see it. This disease is commencing
to show on later potato S. The large
bluish-black spots appear on the leaves
at any place. The disease spreads sc
rapidly that the whole leaf is killed in q
day or two. There is not time for it to
dry and curl but it hangs limp and rot
ting from the stem. The surest evidence
of the blight as distinguished from the
new disease is the presence of the mil
dew which causes the blight. 1t car
easily be seen on the under side of the
rapidly blighting leaves as a delicate
white mildew which looks like frost work
upon or about the edges of the black
spots. L. r. JONES, Botapist.