Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-11

In Isl. the College Of Agriculture
conducted d demonstration EXPERIMENT
q. the farm Cf Mir. F. 2. Wasnpu-n q
Perry Tu-T:ps wee included ii the
rotation. fo- variety tests, fertilizer
tests. and possible barring OF varieties
ana fertilization upon black hear.
Eight plots o. tenth acre ~s!e sowa
to Carriers Imperial Putabaga. each
plot being fe--...zed II. diie-er-
manner The crops from these rlots
we're all tested for black heart by cut
ting 100 turn;ps taken az random? frc-1
each plot TIE unafecre1 am these
slightly affected bur sCiI fit for E-G--
ket are passed and on: those u-t;-
for market are here called "blaof-
hearted" TIE black keart ranged
from Is 10 1e3 per cent
While very little was learned by the
seasons experience as 70 the cause o.
blac. heart, several theories which
have been advanced have been e1-
planned. The fact that on some u
the plots the turnlps we're ali black
hearted while on others they we're
nearly ali perfect proves that TIA
trouble Is not due 70 seasonal condi-
II also bears out the statement Of the
plant patnoIogist that this is not
definite disease, for 4 il were all -
the tur-.pS IN one row Fould ha-1..
be perfect while those il the next row
would be all black hearted. In the
case Of two rows growing side by side
Of different varieties one was all black
hearted and the other entirely free
from black heart.
The previous observations made BY
Mr.. Washurn that ne Is certain it Is
not the fish that gives the black
hearted product" did not hold II 1919.
for the plot manured with hsh ehum
alone had all of the turnips black
hearted. Il is not due TO the chun
alone, for the plot without chuin
lfertilized with tankage, nitrate Of
soda, acid rock and mur;ate) had S.
per cent. Of the turnips black hearted.
When grown on barn dressing alone
2e per cent. were black hearted; when
grown on barn dressing with the ad-
dition OF chemicals Is 10 "a per cent.
were black hearted, on the three 6if-
ferent plots.
Four t!OlS. cIttIISc1 anne "ll-i
stable manure, nitrate OF soda, ecid
phosphate, tankage and muriate Of
potash. were planted with different
varieties. Three varieties OF ruta-
hagas-Carters Imperial. Shwings
Purple Top and Golden Neckless-and
a true turnip-White Esg-were used.
The Golden Neckless had a smaller
yield than the other varieties but was
entirely free from black heart. The
crop from the Carriers Imperial had
Is per cent. black hearted turnips. thai
from the Sa..ing's Purple Top had p
per cent. bisck-hearted- The White
Egg "a true turrip) was 100 per cent.
black hearted.
There Is little to warrant drawing
very definite conclusions from this
trial. It seems fairly clear that there
is difference in strains as TO sus-
ceptib!lity to the trouble. for one
variety grown was entirely free from
black hearted roots. AS the trouble
has, SO far as we can learn, neyEr
been reported elsewhere It evidently
is not due, primarily at any rate. to
seed and Is perhaps somewhat Gil
matte. The addition Of stable manure
on all four plots upon which 1t was
used materially reduced the percent
age OF black heart Stable manure
carries many active fernents, BAG
terra, and fungi. These may be a fac
tor in control These trials suggest
that a crop free from or with low per
cent. OF black hearted roots Is more
likely to be obtained when farm
manure is used. 1t Is planned to con-
duct further cooperative studies in
1915.