The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-01-22
EXPERT TALK
ON POTATO CROP
PRESENT PERIOD Is CRITICAL
SAYS III. :. COE, CT CONDl-
TlONS IN SOUTH DAKOTA

Potato growing is in a critical
period in South Dakota, declared III.
5. Coe, professor OF plant pathology
at the state college at Brookinss,
speaking yesterday afternoon at the
opening session OF the State Horti-
cultural society.
The state of South Dakota said
Prof. Coe, lis just coming into its
own in the potato industry. And the
present time is perhaps the most
critical period in regard to potato dt-
scaseS that tho potato grower of the
state Will ever confront. Ii South
Dakota is going to forge ahead in the
potato industry in The next few years
as il has in the past three or four, We
must not look upon the disease side
OF This industry as a trifiing matter.
Now is tha time above all that the
utmost care and discretion should be
used in order to row disease-free
crops and attain the best possible
yield.
1T is true that the potato selec-
ton work and proper cultivation Will
do considerable toward improving
this crop which is fast becoming one
of our principal horticultural crops.
But this alone is not all that is nee
essarN to insure success in tho potato
industry OF the state. We must, and
If we are going to succeed begin now
and use every possible means to get
under control the alreadV serious
pests OF the potato crop which now
prevail in the state and to guard
against the Introduction OF several
potato diseases which have as yet not
been found in his state but which
arc among the most serious pests OF
the potato crop in the more norther-
ly regions. These diseases, especially
the p0wdery scab, which are reducing
the yield 80 per cent in parts of Can
ada has recently been found in the
state of Nebraska and quite general
ly distributed in the state of Maine.
Have we not reason to believe that
since this serious pest has been found
in such Il widely distributed area that
there is possibility hat it is at the
present time or Will soon work into
this state? The powdcry scab disease
in appearance is similar TO tho ordi-
nary potato scab and cannot be dis
tinguished from it by the casual OBJ
serves. However it causes deeper les
ions to be formed and penetrates the
entire tuher.
THE wart disease is another very
serious disease of the potato in Can
ada and Newfoundland but which as
yet has not been found in the United
States. Close watch is being kept by
the various experiment stations as
well as by the United States depart
meEt of agriculture. These are new,
and serious pests which may not be
in the state at the present time but
= they certainly warrant our most care
full attention TO guard against their
introduction.
"However, most OF the potato
growers OF the state are familiar
with such diseases as the early blight,
the scab, the fusarium, Wilt. black
leg, etc. These are diseases OF a ser
ious nature which are always present
and which are causing "a much larg-
er loss than we believe. The growers
of the Spearfish region viii vouch
for the destructive atu of the fuse
riumwilt. | am sure.
The secretary of the United Stat
es department Of agriculture has re
Gently put into effect the plant quar-
antinc Law in regard to the importa-
ton OF potatoes en- account of the
poWderN acab disease. II means no
more than this, that the department
of agriculture considers this one di-
sease so serious a pest that they
have prohibited the importation OF
potatoes from practically all of the
potato growing countries of Europe,
Canada ana other foreign countries.
"The loss attained from such di-
sease as the fuserium wilt. the scah,
black leg, powdery scab, etc. are soil
lnfestlng diseases aud when they once
become established in the soil they
Will remain for a number of years "a
that it will he impossible to grow a
dls~ease-free crop eve Though the
seed has been properly selected and
treated. Let US make a campaign
against the ordinary scab and sucl,
diseases as can be controlled by seed
treatment. The formalin treatment is
: Inexpensive and its value mas bee.
definitely proved.
spraying should be followed un-
der all circumstances, since spraying
has been found TO be n paying pro
position even if no diseases are pre-
sent, since it stimulates the plants
to a greater starch production, and
at the same time will completely con
troll such diseases as the early
blight"
Mr.. Coe stated that he will be will.
ing and is DESTROYS OF getting into
cooperation with all potato growers
in the state and is willing to send a
ranked tag to any grower for the
purpose of sending him a sample OF
their seed potatoes for inspection.
The ranked tag Will permit IL sample
weighing up to II pounds to be sent
through the mails free OF charge. The
samples viii he inspected and the re-.
suits sent to The grower. All com
munications in regard to potato dis
eases should be addressed to II. s
Coe, plant pathologist, South Dakota
State College, Brcokings, South pa