Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-07

ly cracked or bruised or in any way
diseased are thrown away. The
sound tubers are then disinfected ny
soaking two hours in a solution conl-
posed of one pint of 40 per cent.
formaldehyde in 30 gallons of water.
In cutting seed any which show ang
blackened rings or diseolered areas
are thrown away. 1t, is also better
for each seed cutter to have an extra
knife and a small fruit jar filled with
the diluted forElaldehyde solution.
Whenever a potato is cut which APP
pears diseased the knife i'll use IS
dropped into the jar and the Other
used till another diseased potato IS
cut Then this knife is placed in
the iar and the first one used again.
Neither selection ndf disfnfection
alone appears to be sufficient.
This method was tried out SUI
cessfltlh on a large eseale in e.
operation with several potato growers
in 1911. Very satisfactory results
have also been obtained at Highmoor
Farm. In 1911 a field of Irish Cob
blers was planted with purchased
seed. This seed was disinfected but
no attempt was made to practice the
rigid selection here recommended
The resulting crop contained con-
siderable percentage of plants af-
fected with blaekieg. The seed used
in 1912 was taken from this field and.
carefully selected as we'll as disin-
fected. AS a result not a single DIS
eased stalk was observed that year
and none have been seen so far tbs
season ON a field planted with the
1912 crop. This and the results ~.
the cooperative experiments carried
out in 1911 indicate that blackle@
can be cleaned up from a given farm
or locality in from one to two years
time. Moreover if care is taken not
to reintreduee the disease there need
be no further fear from it on the
farm in question.
1t is the custom to recommend thai
the seed tubers be disinfeeted before
cutting. There are obviously sey
eral advantages to be gained If this
Is done after cutting. In one of the
cooperative experiments mentioned
this latter practice was followed wit
a few barrels of seed. Not only were
they not injured but the plants from
these tubers SO treated appeared 10
be more vigorous than those in ad-
Joining rows where the seed was
either not treated or was disinfecte1
before cutting.
The above experiment With soEl@
variation is being tried this season Il
Highmoor Farm. Both Green Noun
tain and Irish Cobbler varieties were
used One part of the seed was
planted without dsinfection, another
disinfeeted with formaldehNde befnl@
cutting, third lot after cutting and
fourth lot was soaked in Tornado
hyde both before and after cuttinP.
TO date there is no evidence of injury
or delayed termination as the result
of disinfection after cutting. Ihe
data is not sufficient on this point -
draw final conclusions but it is sur
ficient to suggest the final outcome
and to warrant the recommendation
perimental way.
The advantage claimed for this
method Of disinfeeting after euttin@
is that it avoids the necessity of .
Great care being taken 10 prevent
cross infection in cutting seed. TIL"
disinfection would in every way 20
more thorough. hence on Theoretical
grounds should be more effective. II
is not recommended to use formaldc-
hyde gas in treating seed potatoes
fter cutting. Fer this purpose the
ogid treatment outlined above
hould be followed.
promo Maine Aug G. 1913.
CHAS. d. WOODS,