Gunnison news-champion., 1916-09-01
SWEAR WORDS, SCIENCE AND
SENSE INTERM|MGLED
.gnorance, Carelessness or
Laziness is Said by One
Farmer to be the Primary
Cause Of Potato Blight

Hontrose Enterprise
At least one farmer has been thor
lghly convinced that there is an avail
able remedy for the constant decrease
the potato crop of this valley. He
-ays that the So called blight has been
rocreasing in exact proportion as the
yield has been decreasing. and that the
Increase in the decrease is caused in all
lnstsnces by the blank laziness. careless
ness or ignorance of the farmer.
We are too lazy and neglected. to
produce our own good healthy seed,
though We have all been told time and
again how it can be done and we are too
gnorant to know that we cannot pro-
dlce healthy and abundant crop from
Inferior seed, and that, too, On poisoned
and.
We irrigate in the way that appears
to be the easiest though we know well
that too much irrigation chills the land
and lowers the vitality Of the plants
and at the same time teaches the rich
ness out of the ground and carries it
away with the water. Everyone of US
knows perfectly we'll that what is need.
ed is more cultivation and less irriga.
ton, but We are too lazy to do it. We
Snow that after an irrigation and when
the ground begins to crack, a mulch
should be created by . light cultivation
% n to hold the moisture longer and
give the spud vines chance to grow
and become strong before we again half
drown them with more water.
Any one of US who has half sense
knows that to irrigste each alternate
furrow will chill the land only half as
much as when all are soaked at once
and We know that the fungus growth
that causes the blighting effect is caused
and fostered by too much dsmpness.
Why, 1t is wonder that mushrooms
don't spring up in our potato fields; they
would if the spore were there"
"Now, Jim, you say that you know
how to raise your own seed 90 that it
will be free from disease germs. Tell
the Enterprise just how to do it.
ITO get the first start one should 20
to the field that is of the desired variety
and which is the most healthful and se-
lect the seed from the hills. Pull up
the vine and look at the root system. II
the skin of the roots is clear and healthy
dig up and take the best spuds in that
bill, being careful to take none that
contains any dark flecks or scabby spots.
II you find brown spots on the bark of
the roots of any vine, don't save any
spuds from that hill to raise seed from.
s Don't be too lazy to keep this search
up till you get all the good seed you
need 1t means big money to you in the
future. This healthy seed that you
must be SO careful in selecting. must be
% careful in selecting, must be kept in
. healthful condition through the win
ter; in cellar where there are no dis
sase germs. Otherwise you better keep
them in pit. This disease spore 10 50
dne and light that it will float in the air
q b carried from one spud to another
q your dirty hands. And, by the way.
II your cellar is full of disease germs,
quarAntine it. Then 60 to rencvating
II with the thoroughness that you would
b your dwelling house if half dozen
people had died in it from small pox."
''Well, If disease germs will remain
b cellar they will remain in the land
whore diseased potatoes have grown,
wont they?"
Certainly they will. and we must
grow spuds on land where grain and
sngar beets have just grown. Spuds
shsnh never follow spuds nor alfalfa"
ssAnything more about growing seed
potatoes?"
Yes. They should not be planted
IN tie first Of June and should be thick
= ~ rows: about six inches apart %
that they will grow not too large, for
they should be planted whole, - the
~ means Of fitting them for their
batt,s against disease. They must b
49, carefully, being irrigated in the
~ ! have explained % that tie
enount Of heat and moisture win re-
- . regular - possih,s. Whils
~ ars gFowing thsy shnnld -
u1ehsd carefully snd svsey dssassd
~ oAouh b taken out
= q