Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-10
E. A. Rogers Reports on
the Seed Inspection Work

the Seed Inspection Work
The work of seed certifcation is one
that is attracting attention all over the
country, especially among those grow
ing seed potatoes" states E. A. Rogers
of Brunswick, assistant dairy instruct
or in charge of the seed Improvement
work in Maine in his annual report
which was filed with the governor and
council Tuesday
Mr. Rogers says in his report:
Those having charge of this work
in several of the northern potato
growing states have written me in re-
gard to the methods we are following
here in Maine Several of the states
have intimated that they will use our
method as a basis to outline their work
along this line. This springs expert
ence in shipping certified seed showed
that if we are to keep Names certified
seed at the head Of the list. an in
spection must be made at the time the
potatoes are sacked, to be shipped.
This was an untried experiment as
far as | am able to learn, all over the
country and several of the states are
today looking to Maine as to the out
come of this work-it being generally
believed by all that it would be i'm
practicable and the cost Of the work
prohibitive.
The work as whole has gotten in
to that position where it seemed abso-
lutely essential that it becomes self
sustaining; otherwise there could be
no appropriation made. even if the
legislature was so disposed, which
would come reasonably near the exact
amount needed.
!; Weather conditions are a large de-
termining factor as to the acreage en-
tered from most of the state. and a
fixed sum of money, which might be
adequate one season. would be totally
insufficient the next season-caused by
weather conditions alone.
wherefore. a schedule of prices are
worked out, designed 10 cover the cost
Of the field inspection. and another to
govern the cost of the final or ship
ping inspection. 1t is gratifying to
note that the prices which were de-
cided upon, namely $3.50 per acre for
the field work and two cents a bushel
or five cents a barrel for the shipping
inspection. are nearly sufficient to
carry on the work this year. and |
think, will be ample in the future, as
the work can be more economically
carried on as experience is gained
AS was to be expected, the acreage
entered was greatly reduced this year.
partly owing to the increased prices
for doing the work, but more largely
due to the fact that many of those who
grew certified seed in 1915 sold them in
The fall for spring delivery, at prices
much above what could have been re-
ceived at the time the sale was made.
but were much below the prices paid
for table stock at the time Of delivery.
The work of the final inspection
was taken up the latter part of Octo-
Der and, so far only one man has
been employed and this wholly in
Aroostook county where large ship
ments were made. 1t has not been.
as yet, a difficult matter to handle
this sort in satisfactory way The
trouble with this final inspection will
come later when the few small grow
erS OF the southern part of the state
begin to ship their orders
IF the work is properly handled an
other year at least 100000 barrels of
certified seed will be produced in the
state the coming season, and this will
sell at a price around so cents per
barrel more than the best Maine seed
uncertified. Not only will this add
100000 ready cash to the money cir
culation of the state of Maine, but it
will create an increasing future de-
mand for Names certified seed.
"A few fields in the state have been
found especially free from all trace of
disease and, as far as possible. the
potato growers here in the state have
been urged to buy this seed for their
own planting another season, instead
of having this especially fine stock
shipped out of the state
There is another disease which is
becoming very great source of dam
age to the potato growers especially
those in the southern and western
part of the state. This is called net
necrosis and is - bNckening of the in
side of the tubers c~lally beginning at
the stem end, the diseased portion of
the tubers cooking black with an un-
pleasant taste to many people. One
not accustomed to the disease would
not detect it without cutting the tuber
1t has been reported to me that some
farmers near Portland are selling po-
tatoes from this years crop with near
ly rs per cent of the tubers affected
This is causing much loss to the buyer
with potatoes practically three cents
per pound wholesale, as the waste is
great.
Potatoes containing net-necrosis
are not fit for seed as the resulting
crop will most surely contain much
larger per cent of the tubers affected
than the seed planted contained.
Neither is it advisable to plant a field
second year if the previous crop
showed the disease as 1t seemed GER
tain that it will live over at least one
season in the soil. When clean seed