The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-08-15
FOrmaldehyde Treatment of Seed Pc.
tatoes Will Not Destroy the Dry
Rot Infections

tatoeS Will Not Destroy the Dry
Rot Infections
Unfortunately for themselves, how
ever, many growers neglected boil
the culling out of diseased seed stocl
and the treatment of the seed before
planting, still others treated theil
seed with formaldehyde, but neglect
ed to Gull out potatoes affected with
dry rot. The formaldehyde treatment
is not efficacious in the case of pota,
toes affected with dry rot.
Many Poor Stands This Spring
From various points reports reach.
ed the writer in mid-June that many
stands of potatoes were very poor-a
number of growers actually blowing
up their potato fields and planting
other crops. Trips were made to as.
certain the real conditions. Although
it was found that some reports had
been exaggerated, there remained
truth enough to cause concern. II
was observed that the termination OF
the majority of the fields was irregu
lar. Some sprouts were vigorous and
healthy, meny were puny and just ap-
pearing above ground, while many
cuttings had altogether failed to
sprout. Some of the latter sprouted
after the June showers.
Diseased Seed Potatoes Planted
Upon digging up many of the weak
sprouts and cuttings which had not
terminated, it was in numerous cases
discovered that the cuttings had been
infected with powdery dry rot, which
had greatly weakened or destroyed
the sprouts or had entirely rotted the
cuttings.
Ground Too Dry for Potato Planting.
Much of this irregularity in the ger
mination was also due to the fact that
planting had been done in ground en-
tirely too dry. Many of the cuttings
planted in such soil failed to germi-
nate until the rains of June had fur
nished the necessary moisture For
speedy and vigorous termination po-
tatoes require to be in contact with
moisture.
EARLY Irrigation Necessary
Potato growers in some districts
have already been taught by exper-
fence to irrigate their fields before or
Immediately after planting their po-
tatoes. In many localities in the inter-
mountain states the winter and spring
precipitation may be too small for
the soil to retain sufficient moisture
at planting time. It would be a wise
rule to practice irrigation before
planting potatoes in such districts.
Thus rapid and vigorous germina-
ton would ordinarily be assured.
Much Stem Infection
Early in June the writer was re-
quested to visit large potato district
because it was reported that many
potato vines showed symptoms of dis
ease. A tour over this district as we'll
as visits to other districts, revealed
the fact that many vines appeared
weakly; some had yellowish, upward
curled leaves others possessed foliage
punched up in rosettes; the tips of
still others were whiting. On digging
up such plants practically all of them
were found either to arise from rotten
or the stems below ground
mad been partly or wholly girdled by
a brown or blackish rot, or both con-
ditions existed together. In some in
stances this rot had eaten through the
STEM either killing the plant, or
greatly checking it's growth. FIRE.
quently plants were able to develop a
new root stem above the part at
tached. Some vigorous plants were
able to overcome the attack and will
probably produce an almost normal
yield; the yield of the others will be
greatly diminished or altogether lost.
For the most part this stem rot was
by the fungus which produces
the tiny brownish- black pimples or
Scabs on the tubers mistaken by many
farmers for particles of soil clinging
to the potatoes
Treatment of Seed Potatoes for Pre-
ventiOn of Scab Should Never
be Neglected
This fungus is named Rhizoctonia.
The showery weather in June seems
to have been particularly favorable
for the development of this fungus,
which has caused really serious loss.
unfortunately this disease is very
wide spread. 1t is found in every DO
tato district in the United States, but
The climate and soil of the intermoun-
IAN states appears to favor its devel-
opment exceptionally. There is evil
1ence to show that the treatment re-
commended for the common scab will