Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-09-04
DOES :! POTATO WlRT
DISEASE OCCUR IN
MAINE? Il 50, WHERE?'

Oreno. Ne. Sept. 3-The following
was issued ON Wednesday from the
EeMce Of Charles d. Woods, director Of
pthe Agricultural experiment station
at the University Of Maine:
This y an appeal for assistance
from every grower end user Of pota-
toes In the State OF Maine. For rea-
sons which will be given It IL made
more to the residents Of towns and
cities. Particularly to those who
raise small patches of poatoes In
their back yards and gardens, and
who are obliged to depend upon a
variety Of sources for their seed.
iather ehan to the large. commercial
growers. Teachers In town and city
schools, boy scout masters, per1Dns in
charge OF school gardens. boys and
girls club leaders and others en-
gagged In similar lines Of work are
especially urged to assist in the
search for the disease.
The Maine Agricultural Expert
rent Station believes that the cues
ton of whether OF not the wart dis
case occurs in Maine is one of vital
| Importance to the potato industry OF
the State. For this reason it is CO.
operating, through it's Patholoeist
with the Plant Disease Survey of the
| Federal Department Of Agriculture in
a statewide search for it during the
harvest season. The Station will
gladly examine and report on all
respected potato tubers sent for ex-
animation. Address all communities
ton on his subject to the Maine
Agricultural Experiment Station
Orono. Maine. II requested. franked
shipping Tags will be sent which may
be used for sending such tubers by
mail without payment Of postage.
The Plant Disease Survey Has de-
tailed a specialist who will devote
bis entire time to the work in this
state during the harvest season. He
will, OF course. have the support and
assistance Of all organizations and
agencies. including the Station
whose Purpose 1t is to promote the
industry OF agriculture, but even with
this help it will be impossible to make
an adequate survey, particularly Of
those parts Of the State where the
possibilities are greatest that the dis.
ease has been introduced. Hence
the success or failure Of the work de.
pends upon the cooperation of the
average citizen.
This work should in no wise BIZ
considered as an effort to prove tina,
potato wart occurs in Maine. It il
hoped. and there Is considerable rea
SON to believe that 1t does not occur
fere. II 1t is here the fact cannot be
known too soon, so that ADEQUATE
measures may be taken to prevent
ITS spread to the large potato growing
areas. What is desired is to inform
the general public ct the. nature of
the disease and it's seriousness. and
thus stimulate intereaf in the sub-
Ject. Then if the disease is not
found. through the voluntary as
sistance OF a iarg, number of In.
! oividuals, it can be said with con-
siderable certainty that potato wart
does not occur in Maine. All read i
ers OF this article are personally in
vited AMI requested to assist in the
work. Reports OF searches made
over definite areas with failure to find
the disease will 1e ESPECIALLY wei.
come. Public school steachers could
organize their pupils into potato
Disease Survey Clubs" each one to
inspect the home garden and other
gardens in the neighborhood. Re-
Lofts OF such surveys should state
me town or portion OF the town OF
CITY covered and rhe number of gar.
Gems examined thtrein. Literature
On wart and othe- potato diseases VIII
lie sent 20 any teacher In Maine whc
requests it,
This search for potato war+ 10