Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-08


to more than 100000 annually, and
what is more when we improve the
crop which is. not one of the least OF
our objects.
Prof. Morse's Address.
Prof. w. ]. Morse. plant pathologist
at the University of Maine. spoke IN
part as follows on Recent Progress In
Potato Disease Work in Name:
"What l consider to be the most i'm
portant thing relative to progress In
the study of potato diseases in Maine
1 am going to mention first. This is
the rapidly growing knowledge of and
appreciation of the Importance of po-
tato diseases which is shown by po-
tato growers themselves. In the 10
years that I have been connected with
the work in this State I can assure
you that / have seen very gratifying
changes in this respect. These are the
most encouraging signs of the times.
No matter how thorough the invest-
cations arc, or how successful the
methods of disease control which are
worked out prove be, no real
progress is made from an economic
standpoint if you do not have the
sympathy and active cooperation of
the potato growers themselves. -
Much that 1 have to say today is
largely based on a single fact which,
with great frequency, Is overlooked.
This is that the seed tuber is the all
important agent in the propagation
and spread of potato disease.
II believe that in the past both
farmers and Psychologists have been
looking at the matter of potato disease
control from what is fundamentally
the wrong view point. Moreover, l
believe that the Psychologists are full
as much, if not more, to. blame than
the farmers. 1t is true that some
farmers have shown very strong de-
sire to plant culls for seed, but, in my
opinion. we. as Psychologists, have done
our best to let them get away with it..
This is not because we have given too
much attention to the development of
efficient methods of seed disinfection
and spraying, but because we have not
sufficiently emphasized the fact that
healthy, vigorous seed is the primary
requisite for obtaining a healthy crop,
and that disinfection is but an adj
ditional precautionary measure, de-
signed to assist in attaining the same
object. 1t is time that we faced about
and began to search in the other d.
rection.
I'VE have been amazed and shocked
at the spectacle of the most civilized
nations of Europe sending forth the
very best of their men to be destroyed
and leaving behind only the physically
imperfect and otherwise deficient to
propa gate the race. We may not have
stopped to think of it, but for years we
have been following in many parts of
America in a somewhat different
manner what is essentially the same
plan with regard to the potato crop.
How frequent it is in times of high
prices like these, that men in some
localities will sell their entire crop and
pick up their seed wherever they can
get it in the spring. Planting small
potatoes from high producing hills
may do no harm, but the man who
Systematically picks out the small and
unstable tubers from his crop for
next years planting, is at the same
time, unknowingly, selecting out for
propagation all of the tubers from all
of the hills on his field which. from
disease, or lack of vigor, produced no
merchantable potatoes last season.
Within three years l personally saw a
case where a man was hauling all his
crop to market and taking back with
him for planting the culls which had
been racked out at the potato house,
because they were diseased or were
too small to go as table stock, and he
made no secret of his intentions In this
respect. The results from such prac-
tees are less striking than those which
seem to follow from what is now going
on in Europe, but the evidence is ac-
cumulating and they are no less sure.
Nowhere else in this country are
the combined soil and climatic condi-
lions so favorable for the best de-
velopment of the potato plant as in
Maine. particularly the northern part
of the State. For that reason we are
able to take greater chances with the
seed used without apparent injury 10
the CROP However, during the last
few years certain facts have become
more and more obvious in TINS con-
nection and I am by no means alone
in the conclusion they have forced
upon me. Either potato diseases are
on the increase or else in the past We
have overlooked some Of them IN
most inexcusable manner. l am per-
fectly willing to grant that there may
be something. and perhaps consider
able, in the last proposition. for botn
the growers and the pathologists are
becoming more discriminating ana
more careful in their observations. IN
the other hand, the more I consloef
the situation and talk with these -
tato growers whom know to be care
full observers and we'll informed on
these matters. the more am con
WINGED that at least some Of the as
eases, which are now assuming prom
nence and creating considerable ~
prehension as to their possible a.o
probable effects on the potato inou
try. are either now In Maine OF W."
previously relatively uncommon. A,s.
NY- 80 hfDf0fY no 0AS-