Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-09-02
CURING POTATO BLIGHT.


4 IL y " AALN 'AN - hNNo
Some Interesting Tests.
Cassius Peck, in charge of the Vermont
Experiment Farm, has been making
some very interesting. and what will
prove to be valuable, experiments on the
prevention of blight which has become so
destructive to the potato crop through
out the state. Whole fields of potatoes
are often ruined by this peculiar disease,
for disease it is, pure and simple. The
tops begin to wither and die out COM
pletely before the potatoes have scarcely
had time to set, and in this way the
whole crop is ruined. The experiments
made by Mr.. Peck prove beyond a boubt
that this may be checked or prevented if
treated with the proper solution in due
time. Mr.. Peck has tried several differ
ent solutions to test the value of each and
find out, if possible, which is the best.
He made his experiments on a piece of
potatoes Of about an acre in extent. He
treated the first two rows with a sOlu-
ton for preventing scabs. This Is a new
thing and has proved of some value and
win be heard from in the future. He
next treated two rows with a new pre-
paratiOn, Bug Death" One row was
put on dry and one wet. The results from
the wet solution show up a little better
than from the dry. 1t is claimed for this
preparation that it will XIII bugs and also
prevent blight, and Mr.. Peck's expert
ments prove beyond a boubt that it will
kill the bugs and also prevent blight,
though not so thoroughly as some of the
other preparations. Two rows were left
without treatment. The tops Of these are
all dead and have been for some time,
while those treated are still green and the
bottoms growing.
Laurel green is another solution tried
satisfactory, the tops showing but very
little difference from those not treated.
The laural green solution cannot be spo-
ken of very highly. Paris green was used
with and without lime i%ntermiXed. The
results seem best from the plain paris
green put on wet and very strong. The
two rows thus treated are still green and
show but little indication of blight. Mr..
Peck speaks very highly of this treat
ment.
The best solution of all, in Mr.. Peck's
opinion. is the standard Bordeaux mix
ture. Where he has used it, the crop has
been completely preserved, and he rec
ommends this above all other mixtures.
He has also used the commercial Bor-
deaux mixture but finds it much inferior
to the standard. There are two grades of
the standard. No. ! aud No. ,. The No.
, is an inferior article, and not recon-
mended by Mr.. Peck. Two rows were
treated by spraying the soil, but the re-
suits were not good.
Once a week y hills are dug from each
row and the potatoes weighed and COM
pared to note the difference. 1t is found
that those o treated are much smaller
and have long since ceased to grow while
the others are larger and still growing.
Those treated with the standard Bordeaux
mixture have thus far proved to be in the
best condition.
This matter is of great interest to farm
ers, and if they profit by these expert
ments they will find that their potatoes
will yield much better and will be larger
and smoother. Anyone who will call at
the experiment farm will see for them
selves what the results of these expert
ments are.-Free Press.