The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-24
BIC POTATO YEAR
That Is Prediction Made by
Local PathOlOgist.
]. w. Blachly Is Making EXper-
imentS Near Topeka.
He HAS VARIETY OF SEEDS
Record of Growth and Develop
ment Being Kept.
All of the Vines Are Sprayed
To Kill Bugs.

That conditions in the Kaw valley
bid fair to mature one of the largest
and best crops of potatoes ever raised
in the history of the valley, is the be-
lief of j. w. Blachly, extension pathol-
ogist from the United States depart
ment of agriculture, who has head
quarters here in Topeka.
Blachly works in cooperation with
the Shawnee county farm bureau, the
botanical department of the Kansas
States Agricultural college. and the
United States department of agricul-
ture.
AT present he is working on an ex-
perimental project on the farm of NJ
T Kelsey, which is located short dis
lance east of the end of the Oakland
car line. Kelsey has ITO acres in po-
tatoes of various varieties.
Seven and one-half acres are de-
voted to the tests upon Kelsey's farm.
The experiments are being made with
plants in 10 rows each one-quarter
of a mile long. The experiment test
rows are all laid out in one plot
alongside of each other. In making
the experiments certified, uncertified
and commercial seed has been used.
A few rows of certified seed have been
planted and right next to them are
similar number of rows of commercial
seed. Then uncertified seed and then
some more of the commercial variety
IRE planted.
= Is Keeping Close Tab.
BIachly is keeping a book checking
up the history of each row of each
particular variety. just what was done
TO it, whether treated or untreated,
the date it was planted. if treated now
soon it was planted after being treated,
and in fact all data of every movement
that was made in handling the plants
with dates When the experiment is
finished he and Kelsey will have
history of absolutely authentic data
for the potato growers of the valley
who are working under the same con-
ditions and with the same material
that is being used in the experiments
they are making.
The plants are all getting a good
start and the difference in the prog
ress of the various seeds under the
methods used in handling them Is
very easily noted.
In obtaining seed for the expert
ment. Kelsey used some of his own
Commercial Ohio seed. The other
seed was purchased, part certlleu
aud part uncertified, from several diff
ferent places having regulations for
raising reliable seed. The seed is
raised to meet certain requirements
when the potato has matured and
cannot very well be chosen for its i'm
fnunity to any of the twenty or more
diseases to which the potato Is apt
to fall heir in this territory. list OF
the seed used in the project on KEEL
sey's farm is given below:
- Certified seed from Hallock and
Clearbrook, certified early Ohio from
Rhinelander. Wis; certified cobbler
from Race Lake. Wis; uncertified
early Ohio from Rushville. Neb. The
other seed used was Kelsey's COM
nercial Ohio. Several rows were
planted with some of the imported
seed, then a similar number of rows
of the commercial variety. In this
.xFs. rarir1e h.
tanned from the different seed treated
in different ways was established. 1t
is very easy for one experienced in
potato growing to walk along the
rows in the project plot and by simply
observing the plants and reading the
data on posts at the end of each row
a clear idea of the value of the meth
cd in each case is easily determined.
Treating the Seed.
One of the tests consists of treating
seed with a bichloride of mercury So
Tuition before it is planted. The re-
suits obtained from planting this seed
is being compared, Is the growth of
the plants progresses, with untreated
seed cut and planted the same day.
According to Blachly no particular
difference in the growth of the plants
Is noticeable yet, altho he is firm in
his conviction that treating seed with
the solution is by far the best policy
IN the long run. as it kills all disease
bacteria that might be found upon the
outside of the potatoes. The treatment
is administered before the potato is
cut up for seed. Blachly says treat
ing seems to slow up the growth of
the plants a little at first but that the
plants are healthier after they get
started and are much less liable to
develop any of the several varieties
of disease common to the plants in
this district.
In one instance commercial Ohio
seed treated March rs, cut March %
and treated with land plaster was
planted several days later, on April
IA. The plants from this seed now
show a perfect stand. Untreateds COM
mercial seed cut March % and treat
ed with land plast> on March %
was also planted on April IA. The
plants in this case show only a so
per cent stand.
1t took nine bushels of cut seed to
plant six rows each onequarter mile
long, excepting in the cases of the
seed that was allowed to stand a
while In this test ten bushels of
treated and untreated seed was put
away and at planting time there was
not enough to finish six rows in either
case. The same man, using an AS
pinwal planter, did the work in both
instances.
All the Plants Sprayed.
All the plants have been sprayed
for bugs Both kelsey and Blachly
are anxious that all potato growers
in the Kaw valley and any other per-
sons Interested in scientific culture OF
potatoes. visit the 10 acres on the
naf,I