Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-09
POTATO BLACKLEG
PUZZLES FARMERS
Agricultural Department Experts
Caution Growers Against
New Disease of Plants
VAST INTERESTS IN PERIL
Professor Morse Describes De-
cay of Tissues Following Dis
coIoration of Stem
VAST INTERESTS IN PERIL

WASHINGTON, Nov. s.-Every
schoolboy is familiar with the "eyes"
of the homely white potato, which ap-
pears on the average Americans Ia
BILE in some form at almost every meal,
but many of the oldest and most ex-
perienced farmers win look puzzled
when they read Uncle Sans latest
bulletin on the "blackleg of the Irish
potato"
"Blackleg" is a bacterial disease on
the stems of the potato, originating
in Europe, where in Germany it was
called "black stem or "black shank
Blackleg has been accepted as the
English translation of the German
name, even though it does not mt IN
with the anatomy of the vegetable
which is such a great money maker In
many sections of the United States.
DISEASE MOVES RAPIDLY
Three and a half million acres OF
land are planted to Irish potatoes in
this country, with an average yield OF
about 1O6 bushels to the acre, or to-
tai production of nearly 4O0,OOOUOO
bushels, with the enormous value or
more than $200, ,000,0 900. With such tre-
mendous farm interests at stake, the
new disease is not to be considered
lightly say the experts. Reports 10
the office of experiment stations in the
agricultural department show that 1t
is becoming widely distributed
throughout much of the potato grow
ing areas of the United States. In
describing the disease, Prof. w. j.
Morse of the Office of experiment sta
tions says:
"Blackleg probably was introduced
into Canada from England and from
there into the United States. 1t oc-
ours, to some extent, at least, over a
considerable area of the potato grow
ing sections in the eastern United
States and Canada. A similar disease
is also found in England, Germany,
France and other parts of Europe. IL
has been reported from Charleston, D.
c., Norfolk and Portsmouth, and sew
eral points on the eastern shore OF
Virginia; Beltsville, Nd; Long Island,
N Y. Gurley, Colo, and PlainesVllle'
Ohio.
POTATO GROWERS WARNED
1.-THE attacked plants are usually url-
thrifty, light green in color, or even
yellow and understood. The branches
and leaves have a tendency to grow
upward, forming q rather compact top
The most characteristic symptom is
the inky black dlscoloratlon or the
stem at or below the surface of the
ground. This discoloration often ex-
tends two or three inches above the
surface. and the, Invaded tissues show
a soft, wet decay during the active
progress of the disease.
eft seems that the blackleg is large
ly distributed by means OF germs in
the wounds, cracks and decayed areas
of the seed tubers. The propagation
and spread of the disease can pron.
ably be controlled by the selection or
seed from fields free from the disease
the rejection of all seed tubers which
have wounds, cracks or decayed areas,
and by treating the remainder with
corrosive sublimate or formaldehyde
solution or with formaldehyde gas, as
is done for potato scab.
Potato growers should be on their
guard against it's introduction into
new areas or it's further dissemination
in regions already known to be in
| fected."