Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-06-13
FUSARIUM OF POTATO
Too Much Water and Heat Cause
of Disease.
Exact Conditions Have Been Dlscov-
cred by Expert Of Colorado College
Preventive to Be Placed
Within Reach Of Raiser.

"fusarium," the disease which caused
loss of more than S20,000,000 to the
potato crop In the southernmost po-
tato-raising states from Colorado to
Chic and Pennsylvania last year. have
been discovered by Prof. c. l.. Fitch
potato expert at the Colorado Agricul-
tural college. Experiments to deter
mine what these conditions are have
been under way in a greenhouse at
the college here for the past 100 days
and are just coming TO close The
results sought-just what combina-
ton OF soil temperature and water
supply cause the disease-have re-
Gently 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 10 adopt to make the
disease less likely to affect his crop.
A cure. however. has not yet been
discovered; for. after the disease APP
pears there is no means OF stopping
IT, But the result is that means OF
preventing the disease. 10 very great
extent, will be placed within the reach
OF the potato raiser.
"Fusarium" is not a new disease. II
Is an lnecting OF the potato plant
which makes itself manifest In very
hot. dry seasons. like last season.
To secure the data mentioned Prof
Fitch created in one OF the green
houses at the college the very same
/ conditions that exist in the potato field
in the summer The temperature in
the four cabinets where the expert
ment was carried on was kept at so.
65. so and 95 degrees. and the mois-
iure was regulated at 10, 20. 80 and
40 per cent When the plants reached
the proper stage OF development sam
pies from each cabinet were 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.
as nearly as possible Initiating the
average summer breeze. The mois-
ture was raised on half the hills 10
30 and 40 per cent, and the final test
was on.
The plants were put in the glass
cabinet on n Monday morning We'd
nesday morning fusarium developed.
The plants were decidedly sick" and
before night II was evident that they
were dying The experiment had been
successful and Professor Fitch had
cause to rejoice.
The plants which had been supplied
with 30 and 40 per cent Of moisture
showed the effects OF the disease soon
er and died more rapidly. while those
which had been supplied with 20 per
cent withstood the test longer, but fl
nally showed signs OF the diseare
Those which had 10 per cent are still
healthy
From these experiments Professor
Fitch had determined that. to irri
gate potato fields past 90 per cent Of
moisture when the temperature OF the
soil Is above so degrees. will certain
" produce "fusarlum" and also pre-
I " produce "fusarium" to take hold
| He also found during the expert
ment that a soil temperature OF abou
IN degrees. with an application of ?
I per cent. OF moisture. supplies almos
q ideal conditions for potato raising
K or course. the results of the eXper
/, ments do not mean that the probler
has been solved. for there are yet I
be devised methods Of putting the II
formation to practical use and of dc
\ ing what NAV he done TO cool the sol
A special thermometer for the farm
er's use I'm testing the soils is one {
the needs. with this he can ascertai
iust at what time Il will be safe to 4
rigate his fields All these new fact
approve the practice Of careful oil
farmers who think that during IN
hottest period Of the summer 1t
| wise to irrigate ut night.
| Professor Fitch believes that. unde
the most adverse conditions. the ten
nerature will be so lowered by mt
night that II will be safe to apply III
water at that time. and that before n
| bent Of the next day Is cast upon Il
fields this water will have done Il
work in supplying the plants and wi
have soaked away into the soil so thu
| the heat will not cause the disease.
| Another feature which will prov
valuable is the method of preparir
the seed bed and pushing the plant
early growth II is believed that
applying sufficient moisture to Il
seed bed to damIsn II deeply witho,
soaking and pushing the growth
| the plants as rapidly as possible ear
In the season. before the hot wealth
| comes. the plants themselves will fu
nIsh a shade to the soil which will
the chief aid in the battle against Il
disease.
The importance OF this work ms
be Judged by the loss to Colora'
alone. estimated to have been not le
| A., GO n0O non on last seasons Gro