Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-10
The Powdery Scab, Its Origin,
Style of Working and Treatment,
by the u. S. Agricultural Dept.

washingtn, April 9.-PowSery scab
of the potato is European disease
which doubtless followed imported po
tatoes before the quarantine law went
into effect. Every possible effort is
being made by the United States De-
partment of Agriculture to prevent
this disease making inroads on our po-
tato 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
suing bulletin (No SD entitled Pow
derry Scab of Potatoes which thor
oughly explains the disease and gives
all the practical advice available at
the present regarding its control.
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 pur-
plish and extend from approximately
the outermost cells of the tuber to-
ward the deeper layers.
The powdery scab fungus, if condi-
tons are favorable, may eat large
cavities into the immature potatoes.
Besides consuming parts of the tu-
bers ii stunts their further growth
and causes them TO be deformed.
Last spring the department import
ed Is varieties of potatoes from Scot
land for seed purposes. All were found
to be infected with powaery seab and
had TO be condemned. Nine varieties
were imported from England for sim
liar 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 Amer;ca-the dis
ease has been found. 1t was reported
in several provinces of Canada in
1913.
From Canada the disease has made
some 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 seab
may Re realized from the following
statement by a conservative Canadian
scientist:
THE disease should by no means be
regarded lightly. Severe attacks oc-
cur when potatoes are planted year
after year on infected land. Where
this is practiced the result will be po-
tatoes hardly superior in quality to
those badly affected with the canker.
This fact is worthy of notice, espe-
cially since, as in the case OF canker,
no preventive measures nave proved
of much Value.
Any kind of scab or other injury
that mars or defaces the potato tuber
is a more serious handicap in the
American markets than in those OF
some European countries, due to the
fact that consumers abroad offer
Ell objections to scabby potatoes
consumers in the United States.
is even belief prevalent abroad that
scabbiness is an indication of superior
quality. In the United States, when
| potatoes are put on the market, scap-
by potatoes must be sorted out, and
therefore are of no use except for
stock feed or the manufacture OF
starch In Maine the price of scabby
potatoes in the autumn of 1913 was
so cents per barrel, while clean stock
brought s1.59 per barrel.
In the country as whole, nun
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 scab
its value as potato land materially
depreciates. This is especially true
in sections where potatoes constitute
! the chief crop.
In addition to the fact that potatoes
affected with powdery scab are prob
ably less acceptable to the American
| than to the European consumer, there
| is also the probability that Ameri-
can varieties of potatoes may prove
more susceptible than the European.
Introduced parasites are often more