Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-10-14

during the past Is years serious
fungus disease OF potatoes has spread
throughout European countries. 1t was
first recorded from Hungary in 1896
and appeared in England in 1901 and is
known as the black scab," "warty dis
ease" and potato canker." During the
years that have elapsed snce the disease
, first became known has spread into
ireland, Scotland, England, Scandinavia,
Germany. France. Italy and Newfound-
land and is prevalent over the greater
part of Europe. 1t was not known on
the American continent until it appear
ed in Newfoundland in 1909.
The extraordinary virulence Of the dis
ease and the rapidity with which it has
spread. make 1t necessary to warn all
potato growers to be on the lookout for
this disease.
Where allowed to establish itself {
renders the cultivation of potatoes ex-
tremely difficult. as they cannot be
raised on that ground for a period of
at least six years. Therefore, stringent
preventive measures should be used to
keep this disease out of the United
States. BY the terms of the 'destruct-
i've insects and pests order of 1908" in
England, Scotland and Eales, persons
concealing this disease are liable to pros
ecution and a heavy penalty.
II is believed the disease is likely to
be introduced into the United states at
any time. In order that the disease may
be recognized and promptly reported IL
IL fully described by IT. I. Gunssow in
a bulletin of the Central Experimental
Farm OF Canada and, by w. A. orion,
of the United States Bureau of Plant
Industry. in a circular recently issued.
when the disease. is prevalent no
healthy tubers will develop. When
lifted they will show various degrees
OF injury. The first indication of the
disease may be noticed around the
ewes OF the potato, which show an alb
normal development OF the dormant
shoot In this condition the disease is
liable to escape detection and thus be
spread by the use of infected tubers
as seed. In the earlier stages of the
disease the eye will be found slightly
protruding in the form of a single or
compound group OF small nodules. va
rying from the size of a pin head to
that OF a pea The gray surface or
the swollen eve is dotted over with
goiden-yellow rings, as seen with a
pocket lens. Some tubers will be
found, when the crop is harvested, with
more OF less than one-half of them
lcovered by these warty excrescences,
which in some instances are larger
than the tuber itself. This warty
growth consists of a coral-like mass,
OF more or less scaly excrescences
similar in appearances to the we'll
known crown or root gall Of apples.
The warts are OF a somewhat lighter
color at the base and dotted with mi
mute rusty brown spots over the sur
face. In advanced stages, the tubers
are wholly covered with this growth.
and have lost every semblance to po-
tatoes.
A still more advanced stage occurs
when the fungus has utilized every
particle of food stored in the potato
and has reduced IL TO a brownish-blacR
soft mass, giving on very unpleas-
ant putrid odor. This is the most
dangerous stage OF the disease, as tu-
bers which have reached II cannot be
harvested whole. They break in pieces
and thus the brownish-pulpy mass,
consisting entirely of the spores of
the fungus and remains OF the cell
walls Of the potato is broken UP and
the land Is badly infected for years.
The disease is often so prevalent as to
destroy the entire crop.
Diseased tubers are not fit for seed.
and should be either destroyed by burn
ing OF boiled and fed to pigs. and as
| the tops also may be diseased they
should be gathered and burned. Infect
ed soil will for years produce unsound
crops, and the disease may be carried
| to uninfected areas by soil adhering to