Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-06-22
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SPRAYING POTATOES.

For the Prevention of Early and
Late BlIehts nnd Beetles.
In some useful suggestions as to
spraying the Rhode Island station says:
The most serious disease affecting the
potato is commonly known as the late
blight, and is caused by the growth
within the leaf tissues of fungus,
which may often be seen on the under
side of an affected leaf as delicate
white mildew; hence often called
potato mildew It's first appearance
is denoted by brownish or purplish
black spotsson the leaves. These spots,
under the favorable conditions of warm.
moist weather, spread very rapidly.
soon involving the entire plant. which
becomes black and dropping and de-
Gays rapidly. emitting a peculiar. dis
agreeable odor
Early blight, sometimes called the
''leaf spot" disease. more especially
affects early potatoes and is also caused
by fungus. 1t may be recognized by
the appearance of small spots on the
leaves, which slowly enlarge, forming
irregular. concentric rings. The foliage
dies prematurely, but does not decay,
nor do the tubers. as when affected by
the late blight. Yet if largely prevalent.
the disease very seriously affects the
yield not only in quantity, but in quail
ity.
Tip burn is not caused by fungus,
as are the blights. but by unfavora-
bic conditions affecting the growth of
the plant. especially dry, hot weather
and lack of sufficient moisture
As both tie early and late blights
are caused by fungi, the surest and
most perfect protection yet known
is the bordeaux mixture This should
be applied before the early blight
makes its appearance. and the applica
tions confined, as necessary, to keep
the plants covered with thin film of
the mixture until the tubers are grown
and matured. 1t should be borne in
mind that the correct idea in the use of
the bordeaux mixture is prevention
rather than cure.
The spores of these fungous diseases
as they fall upon the foliage protected
by the mixture are prevented from en-
tering the host plant by the film of cop
per compounds and thus prevented from
propagating the diseases.
Three to FIVE applications will per-
haps be sufficient. yet the weather con-
ditions must govern the number of
treatments. as, if heavy showers or
rains occur. extra sprayings may be
necessary to keep the plants well pro-
tected.
In the case of the late blight, Sc
Letting seed from fields that were free
from the disease and planting tubers
entirely free from infection are sug
gested as checks to the disease. The
spores of this disease live over winter
in infected tubers; hence, if such are
planted. they may become centers of
infection by introducing the disease.
Tip burn can only be combated by
thorough preparation. proper fertiliza-
ton, conserving the moisture in very
dry seasons by proper cultivation. and
making every condition favorable for
early. vigorous growth, thus giving
more power TO Withstand the attack Of
disease.
The Colorado beetle is the most trou
bIesome enemy. although the flea beetle.
a very small black beetle which attacks
the plants during the early stages of
growth. sometimes causes considerable
injury by piercing the leaves full of
small holes. and thus rendering the
plants weaker and more liable to at
tacks of disease The Colorado beetle is
easily controlled without extra labor
by using from three-quarters of pound
to pound of l arts green per acre in
the first two or three applications of
the bordeaux mixture as needed. The
bordeaux mixture is also very distaste-
full to the flea beetles, and they will do
comparatively little damage where it
is used.