The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1915-03-12


tect the powdery scab disease in its
early stages.
Would Mean Loss
OF Many Thousands.
Should this disease get into Georgia,
potato fields, it would mean loss Of
many thousands of dollars to the state
through the destruction Of crops. It
would also prevent any shipments Of
potatoes from infected sections being
made to other states
Since January, 1914. there has been
established quarantine against the
infected areas in Maine and New
York. The principal infected area in
Maine is Aroostook county. Hereto
fore shipments OF potatoes from these
AREAS have been permitted on certin-
cate following careful inspection. Pc
tatoes thought to be absolutely free
from the disease were certified to by
the federal agricultural board as seed
potatoes and their shipment authoriz-
ed. All potatoes under any suspicion
whatsoever were certified TO only as
table stock potatoes and not suitable
for planting.
Z AN interstate shipments OF potatoes
are controlled by the Federal Horti-
cultural Board Of Washington. and this
board has now reached the conclusion
that ii is dangerous to plant any po-
tatoes from the infected districts. ow-
ing to the difficulty OF detecting the
disease in its early stages This in
formation was conveyed to State En-
tomol0gist Worsham in the following
Telegram
"Washington, d. G., March 4. l9l5.~-
f. H. Worsham, State Entomologist,
Atlanta, Ga: The rapid spread Of
powdery scab disease In Aroostook
county, Maine, and the difficulty which
has developed in detecting by any
practicable inspection the presence OF
slight infection with this disease has
led the department to discontinue fur
Their certification OF seed stock from
the infected districts in Maine and
New York Public should be warned
that all seed potatoes hitherto shipped
from infected districts in Maine and
New York may contain powdery scab
certified or not. The only
federal certifcation of potatoes as a
condition OF interstate movement
from the infected districts hereafter
will be as table stock potatoes, C. l..
Marlatt, Chairman Federal Horticul-
,ural Board"
Would Be Dangerous
TO Take Chance.
Hundreds of Georgia farmers have
)een In the habit Of getting their 20.
alto seed frou Maine and New York
because OF the heretofore good quality
If the seed But, under the circilm,
tances, Mr.. Worsham says, it ia bet
er Tor them to use any seed they can
Jet than to run the danger Of iDtroducr
ng the powdery scab disease, the Of. |
ect Of which Will be practically to
estroy the potato industry in what
'ver section Of the state it became !
PREVALENT
Under the horticultural boards de- |
ision it will be dangerous now even /
o use the potatoes which 1t has al. /
eadyo certified for seed, because there ,
= no way OF telling whether or not |
hey are diseased. The certified seed
otatoes shipped from the infected dis
riots bear white inspection tags,
lille potatoes from infected districts
Or table use only have yellow tags,
nd table potatoes from supposedly
on-infected districts have blue tags.
The powdery scab Is a fungus dis
ase which forms under the skin of
he potato and makes blister.like sec
Ions upon it. 1t Is the most serious
isease known 70 the potato, destroy
1g it in large quantities It was
brought into this country
rom Europe or Canada.