Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1912-07-06
FUSARIUM OF POTATO.
Too Much Water and the Cause Of
the Disease.

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loss of more than $20.00000O to the
otato crop in the southermost po-
/ tato raising States from Colorado to
Ohio and Pennsylvania last year, have
been discovered by Prof c. L. Fitch.
potato expert Of the Colorado Agri-
cultural collegs Experiments to de
termine what these conditions are
have been under way in green house
at the college here for the past 100
days and are just coming to a close
The results sought-just what com
bination of soil temperature and wa
ter supply cause the disease-have
recently been made manifest
The result is that Prof. Fitch has
obtained data by which he will be
able to advise the potato raiser as to
+ what measures to adopt to make the
disease less likely to affect the crop
\ cure however. has not yet been
I discovered; for after the disease ap
pears there is no means OF stopping
it. But the result is that means Of
preventing the disease. to a very great
is an affection OF the potato plant
"Fusarium" is not a new disease. 1t
OF the potato raiser
extent will be placed within the reach
which makes itself manifest in very
hot, dry seasons. like last season.
Fitch created in one of the green
To secure the data mentioned Prof
houses at the college the very same
conditions that exist in the potato
field in the summer The tempera
ture in the four cabinets where the
experiment was carried on was kept
at 50. 65. 50 and % degrees. and the
moisture was regulated at 10. 20, 30
and 40 per cent When the plants
mcnt samples from each cabinet were
reached the proper stage OF develop
placed in the 95 degree cabinet and
enclosed in glass and by means of
electric lights. the temperature was
raised to between 90 and 100 degrees
such temperatures as are found in
potato field on a moderately hot
summer day
This glass cabinet was so arranged
as to supply proper circulation of air.
Is nearly as possible initiating the
average summer breeze. The mois
ture was raised on half the hills to
30 and 40 per cent and the final test
was on
The plants were put in the glass
cabinet on a Monday morning. Wed
neSday morning fusarium developed
The plants were decidedly sick" and
before night it was evident that they
were dying The experiment had been
successful and Professor Fitch had
causes to reJo eel
The plants which lad been sup
Piled with 30 and 40 per cent moist
ure showed the effect of the disease
sooner and died more rapidly, while
those which had been supplied with
20 per cent withStood the test longer,
but finally showed signs of the dis
ease Those which had 10 per cent
are still healthy,
From these experiments Professor
Fitch had determined that. to irri-
gate potato ieldS past 20 per cent of
moisture when the temperature of the
soil is above 80 degrees, will certainly
produce "fusarium
He also found during the expert
mcnt that a soil temperature of about
70 degrees, with an application OF 20
per cent Of moisture, supplies almost
ideal conditions for potato raising.
OF couse the results of the expert
ments do not mean that the problem
has been solved, for there are yet to
be devised methods of putting the in
formation to practical us and of do /
ing what may be done to cool the soil |
A special thermometer for the
farmers use in testing the soils is
one of the needs With this he can
ascertain just at what time il will be
safe to irrigate his fields All these
new facts approve the practice OF
careful old farmers who think that
during the hottest period of the sum |
mcr it is wise to irrigatc at night
Professor Fitch believes that, un
der the most adverse conditions. the |
temperature will be so lowered by |
midnight that it will be safe to apply |
the water al that time. and that be
fore the heat of the next day is cast |
upon the fields this water will have
done its wor in supplying the plants
and will have soaked away into the /
soil so that the heat will not cause
the disease.
Another feature which will prove
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