The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-03-24
The POTATO Disease

Manhattan, KanS., March 1S.-PO-
tato growers in Kansas should guard
against losses through plant diseases.
Home grown seed should not be plan
ted unless the seed is carefully select
ed and treated, according to L. E.
Melchers, instrutor IN plant patholO-
gy in the Kansas State Agricultural
College.
''Two diseases that were particu-
larly prevalent last season are spread
by means of the potato tubers or
seed" said Mr.. Melchers. F'These
were the dry rot or wilt disease and
the blackleg.
''HOnae grown seed should not be
planted this spring unless the seed is
carefully selected and treated, other
wise the crop viii be worse than in
the season of 1916. Even though
seed IS secured from northern states,
the grower should insist that it is
guaranteed free of disease and has
passed inspection.
Potato scab is a disease which
causes = rough or cracked appear
ance Of the skin of the potato. This
disease may live over in the soil from
year to year, in manure from animals
fed on diseased tubers, or it may be
found in the soil dust attached to the
tubers themselves. Apparently this
trouble is more prevalent in alkaline
soils and growers should on this &C
count avoid, in so far as possible,
using materials which will add exces-
sively~ to the alkalinity of the soil
Since the potato scab organism occurs
on the beet and on the turnip, some
other crop besides these should en-
ter into rotation.
''The formaIdehyde progressive sub
| Innate treatments are the most relia-
| BILE in combating the potato scab. In
| the fOrmaldehyde treatment the soak
| ing method is the most effective and
! there is less danger of injuring the
seed than when formaldehyde gas is
employed One pint-apprOximate
one pound---of commercial formalde-
hyde, is mixed with thirty gallons of
water and thoroughly stirred. The
uncut tubers are placed in gunny
| sacks and soaked in this mixture for
/ two hours, after which the seed is
removed and dried. Tanks, barrels,
! Or large watts are best for carrying
out this treatment. This solution can
/ be used as long as it lasts. If treated
| seed is to be stored before planting,
care should be taken that it is placed
only III clean sacks, bins, or boxes
+ as otherwise the seed may again be-
come contaminated.
DRY rot or wilt is perhaps the
most common and serious of the po-
/ tato disease occurring IN this state
/ IN the field the deceased plants wilt
and die before they are fully grown.
! When tubers are formed on diseased
plants, the seed becomes infected
and If nlsnted the following season.
+ smother diseased crop results. The
/ wilt disease IS easily recognized If II
! occurs inside the tuber. In cutting
a diseased tuber at the stem end. one
/ finds 4 blackened discoIored ring
just below the rind. All tubers show
ing these symptoms should be discar-
/ ded 1t planting time. Infected tubers
+ stem end frequently becomes sIlriv-
eled.
Throw away all the seed that
shows black discolorations when cut.
Use only clean, unaffected seed from
2 reliable source. Treat the seed as
for scab before planting, except that
i one and one half hours time IN the So
+ luton IS better. Practice a four OF
five year rotation Planting healthy
seed IN soil that contains this fungus
means loss from wilt disease. The
disease can live over q number of
! years and therefore rotation IS neces-
sary.
"Blaekleg disease of potato is a
bacterial disease of potatoes which Is
becoming worse IN this state each
year. Affected plants are smaller
than normal ones, the leaves are 2
pale color and tend to curl upward
It causes the seed tuber to rot early
thereby producing weak plant Tbs