Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-07-03
THREATENS POTATO INDUSTRY.
Scientific Study to be Made as to the
Cause and Cure of Preva-
lent Diseases.

'oollt complaint mas DteI Inaue |
by the potato growers on the tract
that their yield this year will be far
below the average, and some have
obtained such poor stand that the
ground will be plowed up and sown
to other crops. This complaint is
not confined to this tract alone, nor
to the state, but the same general
complaint comes from all over the
country, and experts are becoming
alarmed over the future prospect Of
this crop.
So well founded is this fear, says
the Idaho Falls Register, that the
railroads have agreed to assist in
financing a plan at cost Of over
half million dollars in order to
discover, if possible, what is causing
the potato trouble and the best rem
edy for it and the best method for
fighting it.
The condition is not confined to
this section which, in fact, is singu-
larly free from any infection, but is
a world. wide complaint wherever
potatoes are grown, and foreign
countries are interested equally with
the United States.
The Union Pacific railroad com
pany contributed 500, 900 toward
the fund which will enable the in
vestigators who are TO cross the con-
tinent from the most eastern county
. of Maine to southern California, TO
visit every potato growing section in
the country. A special train will
} be made up bearing experts from
France, Germany, England and
, America, who will make an exhaust
} i've study of conditions which
| threaten one of the greatest food
E crops the world produces. Idaho
Falls occupies prominent place on
/ the itinerary. The Aberdeen sec
r ton and Jerome, Idaho, will be Wis
e tied in order to get the benefit ol
: the study to he made.
Y The train will be made up Ol
r eight coaches and will start from
9 Bangor, Maine, August the first
1t is expected that the trip through
out the potato growing districts oi
the country will occupy the time OF
= the experts until October the first
J., at which time they hope to be il
e southern California.
Il In discussing the situation, Eu
e gene V. Grubb, the well known ex
= pert said "The situation is so seri
d Gus that the entire potato crop o.
If the world is threatened and is il
II danger" ."
Unknown plant germs, supposed
/, to have been brought from som
Is foreign country, have attacked tn
- crop in all sections, Utah, one o
,e the greatest potato states in tn
II country, has had to import 81 pc
er cent of her potatoes, so heavy ha
Is been the attack in the west.
r That the diseases are spreadin
Or rapidly is shown from the fact tha
ne the dreaded leaf roll' which ha
ne caused such heavy losses in Colorad
n and western Nebraska, has no.
I'd made its appearance in Maine an
I'd New York. Several other diseases
Se entirely new to science, have mad
simultaneous attacks upon the pc
tato plant in Europe and Americf
'r- As first steps toward discoverir
j. a cure for the ills with which II
,r, potato is suffering, some OF the tor
ng most scientists of the world are
in be gathered from Germany, Franc
he England and America. They wi
Dr. 20 into the potato fields of Main
he New York, Ohio, Michigan, Wi
ny consin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Col
In RADIO, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Or
;fe gon, Washington, and Caliiorn
49, for personal observation. .-ldal
" Falls Register.
:: c,,,a ;nt;mation of the priC