Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-09-09
the POTATO HOT.

| Prof., Byron D. Haltsed, Botauist Of the
State Experiment Station ut New BrHps
wick. EEL DIS us this special bulletin, which
is Of much present Importance TO the potato
raistrs Of cur county:
From The many complaints received and
personal inspection If several potato
/ fields IN the STATE, it is evident that the PJ.
tato Rot is prevalent this ssason This dis
ease IL caused by fungus (Phyt ptfh "a
| ief; siansl winch is closely reiattu TO the
0o~uv ia ldew upon the grape. II fits.
attacks the potato leaves causing them 10
cur aud htcome frosty" upon the under
side, AFTER which they quickly turn brown
audi decay. From the leaves the tine
threads Of the fungus pass TO the STEMS
Il n the conditions are favorable the vines
afe the last 10 be attacked, and owing to
their s'z- aud solidity, may be considerably
INFESTED iutrnally with the tlue tilaments
| Of lhe fungus before the condition
tamilia,ly known as the Rot becomes
evident From this it follows that the loss
from the decay of the tubers after harvest
ing the crop may possibly be more than
hat occurring in the field.
Coad,iioss Fdporiag the ROt.-The first
essential is abundant moisture, Since 1910,
when II is Thought that the trouble was in
troduced into this country from South
America, the wet years have been seasons
Of most Rot. A moist atmosphere tavors
the development Of the fungus In the
leaves and stems; the rains assist in con-
veylng the germs (sporee) from the foliage
the tubsrs, aud the wet soil encourages
the growth of the tilaments that may have
reached the potatoes by deoending through
the stems A second fayoring condition il
warm weather-not hot or cold, but a com
iition OF the atmosphere which obtains
when there lie u week or month OF showery
summer weather, often spoken of rs close
ar 'muggvn- jast such weather, ia fact, ~
We have experienced througout the State
Tor the past four weeks. A large quantity
OF decsytng organic matter, as coarse barn
yard manure, perhaps, stimulates the de-
,elepment OF the Ro', especially II accom-
panied by favorable conditions Of tempera-
| cure and moisture.
Treatment Of Iafested Fields lit is evil
dent that after the vines have been killed
there can be no further growth of the tubers,
and as the disease first attacks the leaves
and tips Of the vines and works downward
towards, and finally into, the tubers, it fol-
lows that there can be no loss in yield, and
great possible gain in healthfulness, by
| early digging. AS rule, the potatoes
should be removed from the soil as soon as
possible after the vines has been "struck"
by the Rot. The dead vines abound in the
spores of the disease, and it is possible for
the tubers to be infected by contact with
the vines at the time of digging. There
fore, it is an important and inexpensive
precaution TO rake the vines into heaps and
Durn them before the potatoes are dug, al
The same time destroying millions germs
of the Rot, some of which might otherwise
do injury elsewhere.
The same conditions favor the Rot after
as before digging, and, therefore, the dug
tuhers should be left to dry thoroughly,
and then the sound ones can be stored
where they can be kept dry, cool and with
good circulation of fresh air. A damp,
warm, cluse cellar tavOrs the growth of the
Rot. Air-slaked lime, a handful or so per
bushel, may be busted over the freshly
harvested potatoes to destroy any adhering
germs.
Ptecentire Measures. The conditions
which favor the Rot are not under human
control; but knowing the habits of the pest,
and that It does not usually make its adj
pearance until midsummer, it follows that
early varieties of potatoes, when planted
early, will usually mature before the Rot
| appears and thus escape. 1t is also to be
horne in mind that loose, light soil does
not promote the decay like clayey one in
which the water is held and air enters with
difficulty. From the nature of the disease,
it is not expected that any one would think
of attempting second crop upon an in
fected field until some years have elapsed
Probably much of the trouble arises from
the seed not being free from the disease
If possible, the potatoes for planting
should be obtained from locality where
Rot has not prevailed. The tubers for seed
may be soaked in a solution of corrosive
sublimate before planting. Some recon-
mend placing the ''seedD in an oven for a
| few moments heated to near hundred
degrees. Ifpossible, plant upon naturally
| dry or well drained soil, and hill up the
earth well around the vines at the last plow-
| ing, thus giving good covering to the po-
tatoes and makingit less easy for the germs
to reach the tubers through the soil. Ex-
Fermentation may determine that some
mixture can be applied to the young vines
that will prevent the loss of foliage, and
thus save perhaps a half or more of the crop
than would otherwise either fail to develop
or be lost by the Rot. Until then, preven-
tive measures are the only ones to offer.
What to DO Now. The important thing
now is, to save the crop or fraction of a
crop. To those, therefor. whose vines have
died month or less before their time this
bulletin is issued as warning to not leave
the tnber in the ground any longer than
| possible. Burn the vines; let the potatoes
dry out thoroughly in the field or elsewhere,
and, if not marketed, store them in shallow
bins, etc, 10 dry, cool, airy place, being
carsfnl that all rotten tubers are excluded.
| Decayed potatoes should be removed
rom time to time through the autumn and
" inter- as soon as detected in the bins. A
sprink ling Of air slaked lime may be applied
as futher preventive of the Rot.
| BYRON ID HALsTED. Botanist.
| New Brunswick, N. j., Aug. 27, 1897.
|