The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-12-07

the heal Of the seed. Potato growers
must pick out an established variety
that yields and otherwise does best
under the conditions Of culture, and
that is by its qualities most accepta-
bic on the market.
Then the grower must see that the
| seed are free from diseases because
| they may and often do carry with
them certain diseases some Of which
under conditions favorable for their
| Developments are able to ruin the
crop entirely. while all of them al
most invariably reduce the profit of
the grower materially.
Most potato diseases are due to
certain parasitic fungi and bacteria
which I'm number Of cases are intro.
duced into the field. as was previous
~ mentioned. with the seed. If dis
ease free seed are used, therefore,
| the losses from these diseases may he
either greatly reduced or entirely
prevented.
OF the potato diseases occurring in
Florida and which are carried with
the seed. the following are mention.
| cd: Mosaic. blackleg ana rot, black
Scurf common scab. DIR yrot and wilt,
late blight ana rot with the excep-
ton Of late blight and rot none of
these diseases can he controlled 10y
any spraying.
The late blight, because the fungus
that causes it develops first on the
tops whore it produces a great mass
Of its spores which are disseminated,
chiefly by the wind. then probably al
so 10y rain and insects to other plants |
ana into the soil can be successfully |
controlled by spraying with Bordeaux |
mixture when the latter is properly |
made and thoroughly applied at the
rieht time and with good sprayer !
II should I've remembered here that, |
only in extreme cases could the pres.
cncc Of these diseases he detected on
the seed even by an expert. There
fore, the only sure way to obtain the
seed free from the disease is to get
them from fields that are not infect
ed. This fact should either he guar.
anteed by the seed dealer or certified
by some dependable agent who per.
sonally inspected the fields at the
right time.
Seed can hardly he guaranteed free
from some Of the diseases namely
Scab and black scurf, because they
are too common almost anywhere in
the country, though in some places
they develop only slightly. As the
parasites causing these two diseases
are carried on the very surface Of
the seed tuhers the latter can easily
he disinfected (treated) against
them with corrosive Sublinate Il
part to 1000 parts water) solution by
dipping the seed in it for one and a
half hours. After teatment the seed
should he either Immediately planted
or allowed to dry. Seed may he treat.
ed for two hours with formalin.
pint to 30 gallons Of water to free
them Of scab. but formalin is not quite
so good against the black scurf.
The corrosive Sublimate treatment
has often been injurious to the seed
when used during warm weather
therefore one should keep in mind
that it is not safe to employ this
treatment when the temperature is
above 10 degrees f., or thereabout.
In view Of the foregoing informa. !
tion the following suggestions are Of :
fered: !
Require your seed dealer to supply I
You with seed guaranteed free from I
disease. IF he can not do so then q
)uy your guaranteed seed directly
rom the northern seed producers. II n
Tou do not know from whom such n
seed may he bought, then make in Z
Jury of the local potato growers as.
ISOLATION, experiment station, agents &
II the bureau Of plant industry, (,
United States department Of agricul. II
ure. all Of whom would be glad to n
lelp you. :,
Request also that the seed be treat. II
ID IwiN corrosive suhlimate or do q,
hat yourself. See that every tuber {,
$ perfectly smooth and free from n.
NY discoloration and true to the va. 2
iety name. .,
BY using the best and treated seed.
he potato grower can save himself fr
great deal of trouble and money. OF
lie need not he troubled with most or
the previously mentioned diseases So
ecause they can be readily prevented re
fproper attention is given tc the
ed. &C. d. SheIbakoff.