Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1914-05-15
DANGER Turks in
FUSORIUM WILT
POTATO SHIPMENTS MAY
BE STOPPED.
Federal Government Inspects
Fields and Will Put an EN-
barge on Potatoes from This
Section if Diseased Potatoes
are Raised.

Mr.. C. E. Brown from the Exten-
sion Department of the College of
Agriculture was in Stevens county
Friday, May 1st together with the
county agent visiting potato growers
to secure plots of potatoes to be put
in under their direction. The object
of this action is the elimination of
disease IN this crop in this section.
Due to the investigation meeting
of the potato growers was called for
Wednesday, May 9Th. at which Mr..
Brown gave a talk on marketing of
potatoes and on the diseases and their
control. A thorough discussion of
the subjects was taken up by the many
present with Mr.. Brown and move
ment is now on to raise our own seed.
that will be free from disease.
When we consider the action of the
Federal Government in placing an
embargo on Maine potatoes last
week for the powdery scab, We may
begin to realize what it means to the
potato industry when we know that
Maine produces SO, 900, 600 bushels
annually. Maine was notified two
years ago to clean up the diseased
conditions but failed to take heed.
Perhaps it is not generally known
that the Federal Government sends
out men in each state every year to
inspect the potato sections of the
continent for the purpose of deterim-
lining where certain diseases exist.
When they find that certain diseases
exist in locality or state to such an
extent that the shipping of such pota-
toes to other states is menace to
the potato industry, an embargo is put
on that state or section from shipping
out their potatoes.
Just stop and consider what that
would mean to our little community.
let alone the industry of the State Of
Minnesota. Minnesota was warned by
the Federal Government last fall to
clean up the Fusorium Wilt disease.
We had this disease around Morris
last year so that means Stevens coun.
ty must do her part in this matter OF
cleaning up. g4g @s.
What are the conditions to be
observed? First. Potatoes must not
be grown on land that has grown
potatoes in the last FIVE years.
Second, Dip the potatoes in solu-
tion of corrosive sublimate for II
hours, (not longer). ..>ss.
a OF. corrosive snblimate, dis
solved in 4 gallons of hot water. ado
enough cold water to makeup to &c
gallons. Use in wood tank or in 8
barrel. Do not let stock or poultry
have access to the solution or tc
the potatoes treated, as the solution
is a deadly poison when taken in
ternally. Third. Take thin slice
from the stem end of each potato tc
determine if there il. any brown ring
or Fusorium Wilt present. The brown
ring or spot discoleration indicates
the disease. These potatoes should be
discarded from the seed plot. Three
or four knives should be used in cut
ting these potatoes. The knives shOulc
be kept in the dipping solution anC
when the disease is found presen
merely change knives in the solution
before cutting next.
AS far as it is possible the stat
will inspect fields twice during th'
summer. Fields found free o
disease will be given certifcation b!
the state which means that you ar
in good standing and that your pota
toes are credible in any market TO
seed purposes.
1t is realized that the above pro
cess is not practical the first year o.
all the seed for the entire field bu
there is not. a potato farmer who ca
afford to neglect putting in a see
plot of one to two acres so, that ab
soltuely clean seed may be secured TO
another year. Let's get busy.
F. D. Hawk.