American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-04-16
Methods for Control of Dis
ease Which Threatens
Seed Potatoes.

law went into e1ect. Every possible
effort is being made by the U. S. De-
partment of Agriculture to prevent
this disease making inroads on our
potato industry, and the cooperation
OF all interested in this crop is much
needed, in dealing with this new po-
tato malady. The department is is
nuing a bulletin (No. S2) entitled
~Powdery Scab of Potatoes" which
thoroughly explains the disease and
gives all the practical advice avail
able at the present regarding its con-
troll.
Powdery scab does not attack the
portion of the potato vines above the
ground. 1t is primarily a disease of
the young tubers, which develops as
they mature in the ground. The dis
ease is apparent by small. slightly
raised pimples and a slight discolora-
ton of the surface. When cut open
the infected areas appear family
purplish and extend from approx
mately the outermost cells of the tu-
Der toward the deeper layers.
The 'powdery scab" fungus, if
conditions are favorable, may eat
large cavities into the immature po-
tatoes. Besides consuming parts of
the tubers it stunts their further
growth and causes them to be de-
formed.
Last spring the department import
ed Is varieties of potatoes from Scot
land for seed purposes. All were
found to be infected with powdery
scab and had to be condemned. Nine
varieties were imported from Eng
land for similar purposes and were
All infected in the same manner. The
disease has been found on potatoes
from Belgium. Norway, and Sweden.
On the potatoes native heath-South
America-the disease has been found.
1t was reported in several provinces
Of Canada in 1913.
From Canada the disease has made
Uom Roadway across the border into
Northern Maine. This is the one place
where there is real danger at present
from the infection, but active meas
ures are being taken to drive out the
disease and to prevent the shipment
OF diseased potatoes to other sections
The seriousness of powdery scat
may be realized from the following
atatement by a conservative Canadian
acientist:
1.-THE disease should by no mean'
be regarded lightly. Severe attacks
occur when potatoes are planted yea
after year on infected land. Wher'
this is practiced the result will b.
potatoes hardly superior in qualit,
to those badly affected with the can
ker. This fact is worthy OF notice
Especially since, as in the case Q
eAnker, no preventive measures hav
proved of much value"
American Consumers Object to
"Scabby" Potatoes.
Any kind Of scab or other injur
thai mars or defaces the potato tube
h a more serious handicap in tn
american markets than those c
European countries, due to the fac
thar consumers abroad offer fewer OF
1ections to scabby potatoes than cor
eumers in the United States. Their
b even a belief prevalent abroad tha
~2cabbiness is an indication of supt
x1or quality. In the United States
When potatoes are put on the marke
neabby potatoes must be sorted on
4nd therefore are of no use exceI
1pr stock feed or the manufacture
fn1hrch. In Maine the price of scabt
pQtatoes in the autumn of 1913 Wa
80 cents per barrel, while clean stoc
&Kought $3.50 per barrel.
IN the country as a whole, hundred
IT thousands of bushels of potatot
are left in the fields because they al
to scabby to market. There are tr'
Qnent instances i'm the New York ma
knts, according to potato dealer
Vhere carload consignments are r
3ected because of the presence OF n
Werous scabby potatoes. When Il
Fnoi1 becomes infested with scab l
N11ue as potato land materially d
49eciates. This is especially true
Sections where potatoes constitute Il
etdef crop.
n addition to the fact that pot
- affected with powdery scab a
4robably less acceptable to the Anne
~ than to the European consum'
&lere is also the probability tn
american varieties of potatoes m
r&ove more susceptible than the Eui
lar. Introduced parasites are oft
Ngore destructive in a new envirc
ment than in an old one The vari
&atmatic and soil conditions of So
0sAl of our states offer a wider ran