Lewiston inter-state news. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1905-1906, 1905-09-05
IMPROVING THE POTATO.
Fresh Work on Latest MuG ProRis.
Ing Lines In Vermont.


Gomic Importance Of the potato as an
article Of food aud its seeming greater
propensity II disease. especially 10 the
"late blight. have resulted in wide
spread interest as to the best methods
of combating the diseases affecting it.
For some years past As we'll AS at pres
eut this interest has manifested itself
10 the development OF fungicidal sprays
designed 10 hold In check or wholly
prevent late blight. More recently.
however, another phase OF this study
has presented itself, that OF develop
departure from the old methods Is
largely due to the results that have
been obtained along these lines with
the cowpea and cotton.
A belief in the Importance of intro
ducinx new blood into our cultivated
varieties OF potatoes and thereby In
creasing their viRor has led William
Stuart. the horticuiturist of the Yer
mont experiment station. to most val
liable and interesting work In this line
In fact. he gives In recent station
publication what is perhaps the first
definite information for the United
States AS to the SOlanum cOmmerson!i
variety from Uruguay. which has been
SO extensively written up lately ms dis
ease resistant, and also Of some Mexi-
can varieties.
In 1905 out Of nine varieties tested
Rust Proof showed greatest vine resist.
ance. and Dakota Red stood next. In
1904, among twentynine varieties.
which included Sutton's Discovery
from England, a Peruvian variety OF
the common potato. two common varie-
ties cultivated In New Mexico (desig-
mated In the test rs Mexican and Mon
terey), Solanum comInersonii obtained
from Or. E. Hoeckel. Marseilles.
France; Solanum polyadenium' obtain
ed from Mexico In 1903 by the veteran
hybridist, Mr.. G. G. pringle Of the
State university and Solanum stoloni-
ferium from the same source
Result. of Two Years.
OF the varieties tested for two sea.
sons Dakota Red showed the smallest
amount Of rot and. with the exception
Of Rust Proof, the best vine resistant
qualities. OF the accessions to the list
in 1904 the Mexican variety Monterey
showed the best disease resistance of
vine, followed with Solanum polyade
mum, Solanum commersonii. Sutton 4
Discovery, June and Mexican In the or.
der named. All Of these varieties
showed absolute freedom from ROT
when harvested. All Of the above men
toned Mexican varieties and species
also Solanum commersonii. produced
but few tubers, and these were not OF
merchantable size. Suttons Discovery
possibly on account Of its not beinl
acclimated, gave very light crop d
rather small tubers. very few Of which
were marketable. Al present Mr.. Stu
art does not feel justified In recon
mending any Of the more disease re
sistant varieties for commercial plant
ing.
New Varieties From seed.
In 1903 a few plants In the varieties
grown were observed to remain greer
longer than the others. Tubers from
these were planted in 1904 AS far a.
could be noted no increased disease re
sistant qualities were transmitted Il
the offspring Of these plants nor die
selection give any greater immuntt.
from scah.
most instructive experiment wa!
conducted with 500 seedlings growI
from naturally fertilized seed balls
This proved an object lesson In the ex
IRENE vlgor of some OF the plants
showing quite plainly that one Of tn
best sources for increasing the vigo
lies in the production OF new varieties
from seed. Proper fertilization an,
good tillage are also important aids IL
Increasing the vigor and disease resist
ance powers OF the vine
Latest Inpressions.
Among fair differences from the worl
It appears that hybridization and tn
growing Of seeding plants. followed b.
careful selection, seem to offer NOR
logical method Of securing disease re
sistant varieties than does selection.
For Wedding Onions.