The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-02-27

hyde and make the dipping solution
weaker.
After the potatoes have been dipped
they ought to be cut and planted
within half day or spread out to dry.
IL allowed to stand around in wet
condition considerable injury may re-
suit.
Where planting is done on large
scale it would probably be most de-
sirable to plan on dipping the potatoes
far enough ahead SO that they can be
dried before cutting. If special dry
ing platform We're prepared for this
purpose with floor made of lumber
three or four inches wide and with
cracks an inch wide between the
boards, and this floor were set up
about eighteen inches from the ground
30 that the air could circulate freely
under it, the potatoes would dry very
rapidly. The potatoes should be
spread out in layer about six inches
deep. The platform should be located
where the wind has a good chance to
get at it. If desired, potatoes can be
treated in this manner some time be-
fore they are to be planted and stored
away again until needed.
An important matter to keep in
mind in connection with treatment
for potato scab is that it is what may
be called germ disease. Sacks
which have contained scabby pota-
toes have the scab germ on them and
If treated potatoes are put back into
such sacks the germs will get back
on the potatoes again and infect
them. For that reason new sacks,
baskets and shovels should be used
for handling dipped potatoes, or else
they tskould be treated just as the
potatoes are in order to kill the germs
on them. The same would be true of
putting treated potatoes into a bin
which had contained scabby potatoes.
AS the bin cannot be dipped a meth
cd Of treating 1t would be to take a
broom and with some double strength
potato dip thoroughly wash it out.
The scab germs remain in the soil
where scabby crop has been grown
and continue to live there for five or
six years afterward To get rid of
scab in the soil rotation must be
planned so that potatoes will not come
on the same piece of land any more
often than is necessary. preferably
not until the sixth year on scabby
land. Dipping should not be neglect
ed, however. if it is necessary to
plant on such land within that time.
Manure, lime and wood ashes are
favorable to scab and may increase
the amount of scab If any germs are
present in the soil or on the seed pota.
toes to start it. Fresh manure is
more likely to cause trouble than rot
ted manure. The best way to handle
manure for potatoes is to put it on
some preceding crop, such as on
clover meadow which is to be plowed
up in the fall for potatoes. Some
times manure causes trouble because
Of feeding the scabby potatoes to the
stock and then spreading the manure
on potato land. Cooking the potatoes
destroys the scab germs and prevents
trouble from this source.
Sometimes the formaldehyde OBJ
tanned does not give satisfactory re-
suits on account of it's being below
the required standard in strength.
Wherever there is any reason to be-
lieve that anything is wrong with the
formaldehyde obtained, residents Of
Minnesota may send sample to the
Division of Chemistry, University
Farm. st. Paul. to be tested free OF
charge. A bottle containing not less
than two ounces should be sent.