Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-07

for the obtaining of money for the
work-stamps to be issued in some
one place in each town for the use
of shippers, the stamps to be sold for
certain amounts and to show that the
cargoes under the stamps have been
properly inspected.
In regard to the prevalence of pow
derry scab in Aroostook, 1t may be
said that much has been found this
year In the towns along the St. John
river, also quite little in Ashland,
although perhaps no town-or at
least few-is free from it. 1t is also
found in Hodgdon, also in Patten,
which is in Penobscot, county. The
southern towns, where the B. & A.
energies from the county, are not
free. On the whole there is probably
less scab in the county now than there
was last year.
It Is the opinion of most of the po-
tato scientists investigating the mat
ter that powdery scab mary have ex-
listed in some parts of New Bruins
wick north of st. John for perhaps
five or ten years, and that there may
also have been some in Areostook for
perhaps four or f1Ve years
The same measures that may be
adopted to prevent powdery scab
will also be of much service, it is said,
in the prevention of common scab.
1t is not known how long the infec-
ton of powdery scab will live in the
ground. Some think 1t may live three
or four years. Investigations to de-
termine this point are now going on.
Powdery scab is more likely to occur
in wet and alkaline areas, which may
in some cases be specially quaran-
tined. Gray soil is more likely to
produce powdery scab, as it is more
likely to produce common seab.
At present Aroostooks losses are
much greater from common scab than
from powdery scab. 1t is recognized
that common scab itself may by right
treatment be greatly lessened but that
it is difficult indeed to control entire
ly. A better rotation of crops, in
stead of planting potatoes year after
year on the same ground, will. it is
thought, tend to the eradication of
powdery scab.
A campaign of utter determination
of powdery scab is what is aimed at,
and 1t is thought that, in a reasonable
number of years. the disease may be
wholly eradicated, or at least driven
out to such an extent that a close
watch for random cases may keep
the potato crop practically free from
IT,
Further legislation In the way of
crop-pest laws is much needed in
W 10
with such laws. A general law, CIV
ing large powers in such matters to
board, will doubtless prove much more
satisfactory and effective than any
specific laws against certain diseases
in certain areas could possibly do.
1t has been suggested that the board
to have charge of such matters might
perhaps be made up of the governor
and his council, the commissioner of
agriculture, the president of the Uni
versity of Maine and the director of
the Maine Experimental Station.
Educational work in the matter of
powdery scab and other plant dis
eases is greatly needed by Maine
people, and will doubtless be taken up
more earnestly and effectually during
the coming season than in the past.
AS a final word regarding the eff
fectiveness of the present quarantine
on Aroostock potatoes, it may be said
that thus far the present season only
two cases of powdery scab have been
known to get by the Aroostook In
spectors and be discovered by the
inspectors in Boston-truly good
record. speaking volumes for the
thoroughness of the work of Chief
Inspector w. Blair Clark of Caribou
and his about 160 assistants