Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-08-03
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OBSTRUCTIVE POTATO DISEASES.
What These Are and How to Prevent Them,
as Told by Professor Galloway.

as Told by Professor Galloway.
Among the many fungous diseases
affecting the Irish potato, three are
especially worthy Of consideration, on
account of the regularity of their occur
renee in the United States and the wide
spread losses they occasion. The diseases
in question are potato blight or downy
mildew, the macrosporium disease and
potato scab. The blight attacks leaves,
stems and tubers. The macrosporium,
often mistaken for true blight, affects
the leaves, the stems sometimes, but
the tubers never. The scab is too we'll
known to require description. Professor
Galloway, in bulletin recently issued
by the department Of agriculture, gives
the following advice:
For blight and the macrosporium dis
ease nothing so effective as the bor-
deaux mixture has been found. This
should be prepared as follows: Pour in
to a 45 gallon barrel about 80 gallons
of clean water, then weigh out pounds
of bluestone or copper sulphate, and
after tying it in piece of coarse sack
ing suspend the package just beneath
string tied TO n stick laid across the top
of the barrel In another suitable YES
sci, such as tub or half barrel, slack 4
pounds of fresh lime. slack the lime
carefully by pouring on small quanti-
ties Of water at time, the object being
90 obtain a smooth, creamy liquid free
f-a.n grit. As soon as the bluestone is
d. solved, which will require probably
less than an hour, pour the lime milk
into the bluestoue solution, stirring con-
stantly to effect thorough mixing. Add
enough water to fill the barrel, stir
again, and the mixture is then ready
tor use.
For the treatment of potato scab
solution of corrosive sublimate has CIV
en- the best results. This should be pre-
pared by dissolying Il ounces Of zorro
sivo sublimate in about gallons Of hot
water, and after an interval Of 10 or 12
hours diluting with % gallons Of water.
For potato blight and the macrospo-
rum disease, apply the bordeaux mix
ture, beginning when the plants are about
six inches high, and continuing at inter
walls Of 2 or days, until five or six APP
plications in all have been made. If the
season is rainy, it would probably be
best to make the treatments every 10
days, the object being TO keep the plants
ut all times covered with the fungicide.
By adding ounces of paris green to
each barrel Of the bordeaux mixture the
treatments will not only prevent the
diseases under consideration, but keep
III check the Colorado potato beetle and
Other insects as well. Before adding the
paris green to the bordeaux mixture the
former should be made into thin paste
ly mixing with small quantity Of wa
ter.
Potato scab has been very successful
ly prevented by the use Of the corrosive
sublimate solution described. The pota-
toes TO be planted are immersed in the
solution for an hour and half, then
spread out TO dry, cut and planted i'll
the usual manner. a large barrel offers
convenient receptacle for the solution.
The potatoes may be placed in coarse
sack and suspended in the liquid, care
being taken to wash the tubers before
dipping, providing they are very dirty.
The corrosive sublimate is very poison
Gus; therefore it must be used with great
care and kept out of the reach Of children
and animals.