The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-03-10
DANGEROUS POTATO DISEASES
Department of AgricuIture's New Bull
letin Describes Them

Washington, March 7.-More gen
eral and concerted efforts on the
| part Of potato growers are needed to
combat certain diseases which threat
en- to impair the vigor of seed stock
and to cause the deterioration OF var
ie.ies, according to the United
States Department Of agricutures in
vestigator. To open the way for
efficient measures of control for pot
| atodiseases tina. have not always
been defnately understood a new bul
letin is now issued entitled Potato
Wilt, LeafRoll, and Related Diseas-
es.' 1t can be had free on applica-
ton to the department of agriculture.
The bulletin particularly emphas-
ICES the fact that the same system
Of seed selection and crop rotation
that will free the potato fields of wilt
leaf-roll, and curly-dwarf. will not
only bring under control blackleg
and some other diseases but win in
sure the maintenance of the strains
cultivated in their most vigorous con
dition and free from Objectionable
mixtures with other varieties.
Losses from the late blight and
rot occur mainly in the northern
states. This causes particularly
heavy losses during cool and humid
seasons. In the states east OF the
Mississippi and north of the Ohio
this disease is particularly common.
1t is now successfully combatted by
spraying with Bordeaux mixture. 1t
is also hoped that more diseaseresis-
tant varities Will soon aid in controll
ing this blight. To the south early
blight and tip-burn plays greater
role than the late blight in injury to
potato crop. Early blight is appar-
emily not so common in the cooler
and more uniform climate of north
ern Europe. Nor does one find there
high summer temperatures combine
with the injuries of flea beetles and
other insects to cause excessive tran
spiration and its consequent marginal
burning of the leaves. Here also the
logical line OF attack seems to be the
production of varieties possessing
hea. resistance.
With the progress Of studies of this
problem other potato diseases have
been recognized in the United States
Some Of these. like the brown-pot.
had doubtless been long prevalent
while others. like the blackleg, ap-
pear to have been recently introduce
ed from Europe
The departments new bulletin con-
tains numerous illustrations OF new
diseases that are TO be feared by po-
tato growers. If growers will realize
mere clearly the danger of the insi-
dious losses suffered because Of sci
dom-recognized diseases, and from
diseases transmitted through the
seed. they will be more eager to join
q general campaign against these
troubles. The full result viii be to
place the potato industry on a higher
plane than II occupies today.
The types OF disease distinguished
as of some Importance in the United
States and especially treated in the
new bulletin are the following.
Fusarium Wilt--A disease charac-
terized by the whiting Of the plant
Widespread in America. but not yet
identified from Europe.
Nerticillium Wilt--A wilt resembl-
ing the foregoing. often more rapid.
Present in both America and Europe.
afRoll-An Unbeatable disease
marked by rolling OF the leaves. re
duced yield. and other symptoms.
Probably not due TO parasite. Com
mon in Europe and lately appearing
/ in America.
Curly-Dwarf-An inheirtable. non
parasitic trouble in which dwarfng is
q prominent Characteristic. Found in
Europe and America.
Rosette-A stunted OF dEarfted
condition Of the potato associated
with injuries q the underground
stssi. and roots caused by a fungus