The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-25

blight. AS early as May s we observed
the edges of the leaves near the top
Al this date MAY 19) the indications are
that the blight Will extend 10
the entire foliage in the course of an
other week. AS remarked. il is the FIRST
time in our experience where potatoes
have blighted on our soil. and, not an
ticipating the appearance OF the disease
nave not prepared 10 contend with H.
Doubtless TWO or three, perhaps one,
spraying with Bordeaux mixture early
in the season, would have Warded of the
disease. Without any experience with TINS
disease. we would have thought that the
season was altogether unfaVOrable TO the
development Of blight The soil was rlch
and dry. and the weather has been tree
from mugginess and cloud ness, ana the
potatoes were kept steadily growing by
repeated shallow culture II seems We err
in such conclusion. Here is what Prof:
LOdeman. in charge of the horticultural
division of Cornell University Agricultu-
raj Experiment Station, says in regard TO
il: In recent bulletin devoted enurely 10
Diseases of the Potato he makes the
following statement: 1T has been my
observation" says he, that plants grown
upon dry soils, those which are naturally
warm and ''quic, are more subject 10
the disease than those grown IN inolster
places in the same field. That is, the
early blight appeared first upon the high
and dry knobs where the tuDers mature
the earliest. Seasons of protracted
drought, therefore, might be supposed TO
have a similar effect, and the testimony OF
all observers bears out the supposltlon- II
is in dry weather that the early blght
progresses most rapidly, the late blight
requiring moist atmosphere LOT us pest
development The falling or ram upon a
field in which the tops are grS ai.,lS,t
yielding to the invasion OF early Dllghts'
has a tendency TO treshen the plahts'
and apparently to give them new lease
of life. Water seems TO be the one thlng
most needed Ito make the crop after the
disease appears). The potatoes anected
gave promise several weeks ago OF as
pretty a crop as one would want. Inc
variety IS Triumph, southern grown seeu.
Ii seems to have a tendency TO set only
a few tubers but they are OF far size,
and Of very uniform growth. Withln the
same enclosure, is a like area OF GOOD
rich, planted five days earlier (tep. 10
On these vines there Is no evidence as
yet of blight. At planting the SEED cuts
of this variety We're rolled IN sulphur
leaving a part of one row unsulphured.
On the latter even, there is no appear
ance of blight at this date. 80
We bespeak, from some OF our lnteln-
gent potato growers notes OF their own
experience of blight this season. How
about the potato beeue2 Have you ever
had to contend with itF We REFER 10
flea beetle. The latter we have in album
dance. but as yet none of the former.
Speaking of the flea beetle in connec-
ton with potato blight, our author con-
Although the character of the season
eXerts a great influence upon the preVa-
lenCe or early DnBnLs II Is not tiAt olllS
great factor which has the power OF Sc
riously reducing the vitality or potato
plants. A second agent is small orga-
nism which often appears IN countless
numbers. 1t is generally known as the
fiea-beetle on account of its quick move
ments when disturbed. The injury done
to the foliage by these little beetles IS
greater than was formerly supposed.
They feed upon the tissues of the leaves,
taking out small amounts at different
points. Very frequently sufficient msteric
al is removed to cause the formation of
small holes which extend through the
leaf The diameters of these holes are
scarcely larger than that of a pin, yet a
leaf is often riddled to such an extent
that it's vitality is seriously affected. In
the plate the leaf affected with early
blight shows the results of the work or
these insects, yet only the more serious
part of the injury could be represented.
If a fresh leaf is closely examined IL Will
be found that there are many places in
which the beetles have begun to feed,
yet when the epidermis Of the leaf mas
been penetrated, and only rev OF the
cells underneath have been destroyed, the
insect changed its base of operations leav-
ing scarcely a trace to bear witness of
its presence. It is true that often when
a leaf has been partially pierced, the
color of the spot becomes much lighter,
but the intensity of the color depends
very largely upon the amount OF INJURY
done, and in certain cases the change can
scarcely be distinguished.
The results of such repeated attacks of
the flea-beetle cannot be otherwise than
disastrous to potato foliage, and l have
heard several growers maintain that the
work of the fiea-beetle is more to be dread
ed than that of any other organism which
Injuries the plants. In localities where
these beetles are numerous, such state
ments do not eXaggerate the matter, for
the vigor of the entire plant is frequently
much reduced by these insects.
From what has already been said re-
garding the physiological effect of other
Injurious influences, it would seem very
probable that the work of the fea-beetle
may also be considered as being a means
of reducing potato plants to a condition
which renders the development of early
blight fungus possible. This supposition
is supported by facts.