The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-07

In the case of the northern staple
vegetables, such as potatoes. caooage
ard onions. of which the supply IS
-to,+ as the result of unfavorable eli
roa+ic conditions in 1916 in the com
raercisIIv important producing ols-
+ricts If is considered especially I'M
portant to reduce the FISK OIL Wdseo
dua to the action of insects ana us
eases during the growing per1oo- W.
+ba notato. the seed stocks or winch
- - every precaution necessary TO
reduce the risk of disease damage, IN
SSfng the treatment of the SEED
Dotatoes for scab before planning dnu
CONTINENT for thoro spraying WINE
the crop is growing. shoulo De "a 1 u
yyidespread outbreak OF late
h,ierb+ turnout the important potato
D-oducing districts (Which fortunate
r. raraIv occurs except in restricted
a-aas1 might diminish potato produc-
- a+ +he rate of 5000, 900 bushels a
dav during August and september Il
prolonged warm and rainy weather
ebouId occur This disease can be
1,-even+ei by spraying and early
prenaratton should be made to com
bat il vigorously. Potato diseases OF
- rrravAntable character frequently re-
duce the crop by from 50.O0O,OOO to
100 100000 bushels Whlle not en-
tireIv preventable, they should De
guarded against to the fullest extent
possible. -.
foot root aad other diseases in the
field result mainly from failure to Sc
Iect and disinfect seed and to practice
"a nitatfon in the beds Bean losses
from anthracnose and other diseases
can be prevented to a large extent by
the use of disease-free seed The OBJ
tanning of such seed should receive
This season
Disposal of Surplus; Prevent Waste.
some of the most conspicuous crop
wastes occur with fruits and Vegeta-
bIes, of which, in normal years, larger
quantities usually are grown than the
producers can market profitably- Ere
ouentIy these losses are due indirectly
to disease and insect injury which low
ers their market value without reduc-
ing their food value materially if they
can be utilized promptly by drying.
canning, or other preservatIve meth
DDS. Under existing conditions, every
practicable step should be taken to
protect these crops throughout the
season and to utilize and preserve
them as fully as possible when they
have matured.
To the extent that competent labor is
available, either hired or in the family,
fruits and vegetables which ordinarily
it is inadvisabIe to attempt to con-
serve should be systematically saved
for use by canning, drying, or pre-
serving. These operations should not
be delayed until late summer and au-
tumn; and family gardens should be
planned to supply ample quantities
of early maturing small fruits and
for canning, drying, or pre-
serving, as well as fresh products for
the table. Because of the scarcity of
tinplate and the high price of tin cans,
it may be necessary in household pres
pack fruit and vegetables in other con-
tanners. This situation may call for
new methods of preserving or the i'm
provement and extended use of old
processes, such as drying
In the Southern States, approx
imately 100000 bushels of sweet
potatoes are produced annually and it
is estimated that at least 100000
bushels of these are lost annually by
decay. Frequently wholesale waste
occurs at harvest time, not only of
sweet potatoes, but of white potatoes
and other underground food crops,
lack of proper stora sc facfl-
ties to safeguard the crop from de-
structive freezes at digging time. Ear
~ this season plans should be made
and executed in the building of suit
able farm storage houses or cellars.
This usually can be done at relatively
low cost if undertaken in time In
view of the experience of the past
year, it would appear that SURPRISES
Of such vegetable crops as are capable
Of preservation by drying for soup
stock. such as carrots, potatoes. eel
cry, etc, could be preserved profitably
for food use in regions where fruit
which could be utilized
for this purpose already exist. Sur
plus sweet corn, if cut at the proper
stage, can be sun-dried or oven-dried,
as in earlier years before systematic
canning of corn was developed, and,
n this way, be preserved for food use
Certain crops grown annually to a
extent for soil improve
he if utilized properly. Among such
nuts, kaffr and other grain sorghums.
the food and oil producing value of
which has not been recognized ade-
4uately until recently. Increased util-
zation of these for human food and
oil production doubtless will be advis-
able.
Under the condition in which the
country now finds itself, it is i'm
everything practicable be done to in
activities during the coming season. I
have called attention TO a few of the
steps that may be taken to this end 1t
s desirable that throughout the coun-
try farmers confer among themselves
on these and other matters affecting
the production of needed crops and
that they consult freely with country
agents, state agricultural agencies, and
Ea dan 49,