American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1915-04-10
Is S4O,OO0.OO
Worth Saving

In 1914, according to the estimates
OF the State Statistician the State OF
Utah lost $500, 600 90 from the ravageS
OF disease among potato fields OF the
state According to the census oil
1910, Utah county produced more than
one-sixth of the amount credited to
the entie state, SO that our loss based
upon that estimate would be 100000
sim to be conservative, let US cut
that amount In two and then deduct
$4,000 to cover the loss that will
be sustained by the lazy and the skep-
tical potato growers who Will not
adopt the tried control measures, and
we still have left $4,000 as q repre-
sentative OF the amount lost annually
In Utah county, from this one cause
alone
What causes are responsible fol-
this tremendous loss? First and fore.
most Is the importation of diseased
potatoes for seed Utah was practi
cally free from various potato d.
seases until we began buying carloads
OF Gull potatoes from Colorado ana
Idaho, and using these for seed. Sec
ondly, Is the failure OF the potato
growers to select their seed and treat
II; and thirdly Is the wrong practic.
OF planting potatoes year after yeai
on the same ground.
The experience of the potato grow
ers of the Red River Mimi. district,
shows that the diseases which affllct
Utah potatoes can be controlled; first.
by the careful selection OF seed po-
tatoes, discordlng all tubers that show
the presence of Fusariun Wilt; sec.
ondly. treating the selected seed for
one and one-half hours In solution
OF corrosive sublimate ounces, to
thirty gallons of water; and thirdly,
planting these In clean ground. The
presence OF Fusarium wilt Is shown
by cutting thin slice not over ONE
eighth Inch In thickness from the
stem end of the potato. II the tissue
below the cut shows brownish dis
celebration, the Fusarium wilt fungus
IL present and the potato is unit to
plant.
The corrosive subllmate solution IL
poisonous to animals and should
therefore be handled with care. II
must always be made up and used In
wooden vessel and should never
come In contact with metals, Thirty
gallons OF this solution will treat
from twelve to sixteen bushels Of seed
potatses, depending upon the size OF
The, barrel and the resulting size OF
s,.p batch treated at once. After four
atments or four patches, the solu-
lon should be poured out and fresh
one made up. After treating the po-
tatoes can be kept until planted with
out harm. They should be cut just
before planting, and II they are not
planted they cannot be used for food
for either man or animals. but must
be either burned or buried deep In the
ground.
In planting potatoes. the ground that
has not had potatoes or tomatoes Oh
for at least four years before, should
be selected. This should not be man.
ured with manure from stock thai
have been fed on potatoes unless the,
were first cooked. II MANFRED, tn,
ground had best be MANFRED the veal
before
Finally. remember that there is M
other way than that outlined abov'
10 get rid OF these diseases. and the,
can be controlled absolutely II We vii
follow these methods out faithful,
and In addition keep the land FREE
from Russian Thlstles. red roots. pig
weeds, and ground cherries, all o
which harbor some OF these diseases
A. ID. BAhl.ANTYNE,
Utah County Agent