The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-07-18
POTATO BLIGHT APPEARS.
Agricultural Extension Service Of State
University Issues Warning.


| The weather conditions of the past
week have been very favorable to the
development to the late blight of the
potato. A careful examination by the
agricultural extension service of the
state university of potato plants from
plots in Burlington has shown the dis
ease on some of the leaves. The dis
ease appears as irregular dead,
shrivelled, brown spots on the edges
or sides of the lower leaves, especially
those leaves III contact with the
Isoil. The weather conditions at Bur
llngton (high temperature and humidi-
Ity) have probably been fairly gen
eral throughout the state general
late blight infection is therefore to be
feared, and growers of potatoes,
whether on city lots or in fields are
warned of the danger to their crop I'M
less spraying with Bordeau mixture is
carried out soon as possible
The spray mixture-No better com
: pound has been discovered with which
} TO combat potato diseases than home
made Bordeaux mixture 1t is made of
copper sulphate (blue vitriol), water
Stacked lime and water 1t is only a
/ fungicide and does not kill the Colorado
potato beetle. If combined with Paris
green or arsenate Of lead, both insect
and fungas are attacked. Paris green
2 IS quicker in its action than arsenate
2 of lead, but washes off more readily and
! is more costly. Either works Well Both
adhere to the foliage much longer if
) applied in connection with the Bor-
deaux mixture. The spray mixture
should be made as follows: Dissolve 30
> pounds of copper sulphate in 80
. gallons of water i'll a wooden vessel by
suspending the crystals in a sack over
). might. Stake 80 pounds of lime with wa
:. ter and add enough more to make
80 gallons. These are the stock solu
J. tons. They may be prepared at the
. beginning of the season and viii keel
! indefinitely, but must not be mixed un
g til the day they are to be used. On The
# day the spraying is to be done, put tire,
. gallons of the blue vitriol solution il
= separate container and dilute this t,
] approximately 20 gallons Put three
p gallons of the lime solution in anothe
O container and dilute this to 20 gallo
Then mix the two solutions, stirrin,
rapidly as they are poured together
The mixture should be strained through
a sack or piece of cheeseci0th to re
g move the lime particles. Stir three
- quarter pound of Paris green Cor on
: and one-half pounds dry arsenate 0
~ Lead III little water until it forms
" paste and add it to each barrel of tn
mixture Then add water enough t
bring the whole to 30 gallons.
Time Of application-Th first appl
cation should be made when the newl
Matched potato bugs are seen or tn
,e flower buds appear, usually the frs
~ week in July. The foliage, especial
m the lower leaves should be thorough
n covered. Other applications should !
40 made at intervals Of about two week
r. An application about September !
o. especially desirable since late bligl
~ epidemics at this time are usually TO
"a lowed by destructive potato rots
90 Cost Of materials-Two barrels to Il
Of acre should be used, costing: Thr,
-;a pounds of copper sulphate at l8c, a.
~ one and one-half pounds of Paris erpt
.os at 55c, s3c; three pounds of lime at
.ra Sc; one application, lao; four apple
- tons, $500.
II The results - Bordeaux arsenic
m spraying, if properly conducted, j
r. sures the crop against blight al
III beetles. No bank should loan mon'
49, on potatoes that are not thus car,
4 for. The protection against early dea
~ from tip burn and tiea-b beetle injury W
al repay the cost of the spraying in yea
IN. when no blight occurs.