The Robesonian., 1918-03-21
SPRING MEASURES
FOR SWEET POTATO
DISEASE CONTROL

BY A. II. Kerr, Roheson farm DEM
onstraIion 2gcnt.
The losses Of sweet potatoes from
disease and decay in storage during
this winter haze been enormous, par
.icularly in the South. In many sec
tions the supply Of sound stock is
ms Efficient to plant the next crop,
and the use of diseased sweet pota-
toes for bedding will involve danger
of further losses next year. o"ecl
notato growers should therefore begin
s.r}y to combat the disease response.
Nle FOR the destruction Of so much or
tbei, CROP. not only for their own II
narcial good but for the welfare OF the
patior. Careful attention given 10
sa~jtation in the bedding of potatoes
will accomplish this end. The SANTA
tio, measures which may be most ef-
fectively used are: O The careful Sc
lection and disinfection of the seed po-
tatoes. (2) care in preparation OF the
hot bed. (3) crop rotation.
Seed Selection and DisinfectiOn.
Before the potatoes are bedded they
should be carefully picked over and
anv with black rot spots and all badly
wounded potatoes thrown out The
sound healthy potatoes should then
he disjnfected by immersing for ten
rnlprtes in a solution made by dissolv-
inq one ounce of mercurie chloride
CRYSTALS in 8 gallons of water. Bl-
chloride of mercury, 1-1OOO solution
Use only wooden receptacles.) II a
large quantity of potatoes is to be
treated. about SO gallons of solution
should be made up. After treating
10 bushels in SO gallons, one half
ounce more of the mercurie chloride
CRYSTALS should be added and the wa
ter brought up to SO gallons. Mer-
curie chloride will dissolve readily IN
hot water The potatoes should be
treated just before bedding. Rinslng
in water after treatment is not nec-
essary.
If nnercurie chloride can not be OBJ
tanned, or if for other reasons IT is
not advisable to use it, the potatoes
NAV be disinfected by immersing TO;
5 minutes in a solution of formalde-
hyde Commercial 40 per cent? made
by diluting one quart Of the formal
dehyde with SO gallons Of water. This
solution can be used repeatedly with
out losing strength. The potatoes need
not be rinsed should be bedded soon
after treatment.
Preparation of Hot Bed.
IL the old hot bed is to be used, the
dirt should be carted away and re-
placed by new soil or sand from the
woods or elsewhere, where sweet po-
tatoes have never ben grown. The
framework should be disinfected by
spraying with solution Of formal
dehyde of the strength recommended
for the treatment of the potatoes. AL
slecayed sweet potatoes and rubbish
likely to harbor the disease germs
should be raked up from around the
bed and carted off or, preferably
burned. .
Cover the potatoes with soil OF
sand from the same source as that
used in making up the hot bed. II
manure is used as a source Of heat, be
sure that it has not been infected with
the disease germs by throwing rottec
sweet potatoes on it. If the bed is
near the barnyard, fence it in or cover
1T with chicken wire to keep chickens
,ioes, etc, from running over it, sine.
they may carry the disease germs ir
on their feet.
T. Crop Rotation.
By carefully following out the above
directions, slips free Of disease may b
grown. brt they may still become dis
tasec if they are planted on groun(
where diseased sweet potatoes were
raised the previous year. 1t is there
fore necessary to plant the slirs OF
rev ground where sweet pota toe
have not been grown Co. se1era
years.
have learned Of number Of rer
sons and companies that are bookin:
orders now for sweet potato plants
the prices ranging from $1.60 to $2.5
per 1,0O0 depending on quantity.