Milford chronicle., 1915-04-09
POTASH, LIME
AND POTATO SCAB.
BY KAEL LANGENBECK.

In journey through Long Island col
Ilecting soil samples for lime Requirement
analyses, the writer found that.the potat,
growers of the eastern section were bit
terly opposed to lining. though thei
soils were very acid The same wa!
found to be the position of farmers il
/ New Jersey. The attitude was based OF
| positiye experience that sweetening the
soil greatly increased potato scah. Long
! Island farmers have had the same exper-
ience with Canada wood ashes, also a soil
sweetener and a potash fertilizer.
The writer was accompanied on this
trip by Mr.. c. G. King, of York, Pa,
who actively opposed the farmers view
as an unwarranted prejudice because in
York and Lancaster counties, Pennsylva-
mia, the farmers raise scab free potatoes
on well lined soils. The same view was
held by Mr.. Fullerton, Superintendent
Of the Long Island Railroad Experiment
tai Farm who raised and exhibited at the
Mineola and Riverhead Long Island fairs
fine scab-free potatoes.
In view of the contradictory experience,
we resolved to take testimony. 1t was
found that the Pennsylvania farmers,
whom Mr.. King knew, sterilized their
seed potatoes with formaldehyde. The
Long Island and New Jersey farmers in
terviewed, did not It was further found
that the prize potatoes at Riverhead, L.
l. fair, all showed traces of scab, though
insufficient to check healthy develop
ment The upshot of the investigation
indicated, that sour land checks the de-
velopment of potato scab more than it
hinders potato growth, if the land is
otherwise well fertilized. But, the aver
age potato crops, under such circumstan-
ces, are not more than half those of Eu-
rope. The tentative conclusion on the
check to scab developed in sour land, is
confirmed by statements of Professor
Coville of the Department of Agriculture.
The result of Mr.. King, Mr.. Fullerton
and my inquiries was the suggestion,
that where the soil was undoubtedly in
fected with scab, this might be controlled
BY keeping the soil partially sour for
some seasons and checked by sterilidng |
Ill seed planted, until this fungus pest |
lad died out On the other hand, DO |
alto growth might be encouraged, mean
while, by partial lining. This being /
most desirable at present, because the |
,otato is a strong potash feeder and we
re forced, through the war, to make our
,otash resources in the soil go as far as
'ossible. This, as is well-known, is in a
Measure possible through judicious linn
ng. The plan was considered worthy of
rial by half dozen Long Island potato
rowers and their soils were analyzed for
and each promised to
me one field to the extent of two-thirds
the lime-need found, sterilizing all the
eed planted.
1t is gratifying, in this connection, to
ate that the plan was laid before DR..
ito Appel, professor of Plant Diseases
Berlin University and Privy Counselor
the German Government, who en-
orsed it. DIR. Appel is now in Washing
N, guest of our Government, invited
investigate our potato troubles. Since
ugust last, he has travelled over all our :
,tato sections on this mission. We are :
this time prevented from going fully
to his views, as he naturally prefers to
mplete his report to our authorities
d we are equally unwilling to incur
y risk of misquoting him. He seemed
eased at the prospect, however. that
e lime producers of this country were
Ierested to give intelligent aid to the
mers on this question, and he stated
sitively that all potato land in Ger
my was lined, and would have to be
re, but thought that it would have to
done gradually as haYe herein out =
ed. 7