The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-05-05
PROTECT THE POTATOES
POWDERY SCAB NEW AND DAN
GEROUS DISEASE OF TUBERS.
1t Is Spread BY Using Secondhand
Sacks and Barrels. Farmers
Are Given Warning.

Powdery scab of the potato is g
European disease which doubtless
followed imported potatoes before the
quarantine law went into effect. Ev-
cry possible effort is being made to
prevent this disease making inroads
on our potato industry, and the CO.
| operation of all interested in this
crop is much needed in dealing with
this new potato malady. The de-
partment of agriculture is issuing a
bulletin (No. so entitled "Powdery
Scab of Potatoes" which thoroughly
explains the disease and gives all
the practical advice available at the
present regarding its control.
Attacks the Young Tubers.
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 made apparent by small,
slightly raised pimples and a slight
discoloration of the surface. When
cut open the infected areas appear
family purplish and extend from APP
prOXimately the outermost cells of
the tuber 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 eighteen varieties of potatoes
from Scotland for seed purposes. All
were found to be infected with the
powdery scab and had to be con-
demned. Nine varieties were i'm
ported from England for similar pur-
poses and were all infected in the
same manner. The disease has been
found on potatoes from Belgium,
Norway and Sweden. On the pota-
to's native heath-SOuth America
the disease has been found. 1t was
reported in several provinces of Can
ada in 1918.
From Canada the disease has
made some Roadway across the bor-
der into northern Maine. This is
the one place where there is real
danger at present from the infection,
but active measures are being taken
to drive out the disease and to pre-
vent the shipment of diseased pota-
toes to other sections.
The seriousness of the powdery
scab may be realized from the fol
lowing statement by a conservative
Canadian scientist:
The disease should by no means
be regarded lightly. Severe attacks
occur when potatoes are planted year
after year on infected land. Where
this is practiced the result will be
potatoes hardly superior in quality
to those badly affected with the can
ker. This fact is worthy of no.
tice, especially since, as in the case
of canker, no preventive measures
have proved of much value"
Several Carloads Rejected.
In the country, as a whole, hun
dreds of thousands of bushels of po-
tatoes are left in the fields because
they are too scabby to market. There
are frequent instances in the New
York markets, according to potato
dealers, where carload consignments
are rejected because of the presence
of numerous scabby potatoes. When
the soil becomes infested with scat
its value as potato land materially
depreciates. This is especially true
in sections where potatoes. constitute
the chief crop.
AS yet no method of controlling
this disease, when it once gets in the
soil, has been found. The new but
Ietin ST the department relates the
result of certain experiments which
are interesting, but they are of such
a preliminary nature that further
study will be required before they
can be recommended. The best ad
vice that can be given farmer whose
fields have produced a crop infected
with powdery scab is this: Dom
grow potatoes for several years or
a piece of land that has produced
crop infected with this disease.
1t is not yet known how many
years the fungus may live in the soil
but it's nature suggests that it car
probably live for several years.
Sacks and Barrels as Agents.
1t is well known that secondhand