Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-09-03
POTATO FERTILIZER
TROUBLE IN MAINE
In Present Ssssen Net Associated
With Disease 10 Statement from
the Maine Agricultural Experiment

In Present Ssssen Net Associated
With Disease 10 Statement from
the Maine Agricultural Experiment
Station.
The following statement has been
issued by Director Charles D. Weeds
Of the Maine Agricultural Expert.
ment station at the University Of
Maine:
The Maine Agricultural Experiment
Station is receiving numerous in-
quiries relative to the potato troubles
in Eastern Maine. There seems to
be a more or less generally spread
notion outside Of the State that the
fertilizer trouble is associated with
disease. The falldwina brief outline
of the trouble from a letter written
to the manager Of the largest aGyt-
cultural paper published in New
England IL given for the double pur-
pose Of correcting the idea Of disease
and Of describing the injury as first
observed and as it has developed.
The worst eases show q very I'M
even stand, with many partial or
total failures to germinate. The
plants which did come are weak and
decidedly under sized. About July
20, when adjoining, healthy fields
showed even stands which nearly
covered the ground. the fields which
were severely injured had many
plants 2 to s inches high and weak
and spindiing. Various gradations
in size could be found up to those
which were nearly normal. These
weak plants at this time and earlier
in the season showed considerable
ycllowing of the leaves particularly
at the margina, some Of the miider
cases being simply "gilt-edged" as
enc man expressed 1t. Where severe
ly affected plants occurred the fer
tilizer used would be found in prac-
tically all cases, in fairly ciose ean-
tact with the seed piece or stem.
Stem injury which consisted Of a
characteristic browning was much
more comHen where the planter use4
distributed the fertilizer below the
seed. The roots Of the entire base
of the stem showed varying amounts
of injury, often being entirely
"burned off," Frequently the entire
shoot itself was burned" oil.
Sometimes this would have an
uninjured portion below from which
new shoots would come. In some
instances it would seem as il
the potato had made little or ne
attempt to germinate.-
Usually where weak or injured
plants occurred the seed piece re-
NAMED Arm and sound, as though
protected from invasion by soil
fungi and bacteria. After the rains
came in July the plants which sur
yived began to show considerable
Improvement in size and appearance.
This was very evident from ex-
aminations of the same field the
third week in July and again the
first week in August. On the date
OF the first examination it was sb-
served that the plants we're puttins
out new roots nearer the surface az
the soil to replace those that had
been destroyed Hear the base OF the
stem. These new roots were appar-
emily able to obtain sufficient food
and moisture near the surface at the
soil between the oates mentioned. to
produce fairly marked growth in
crease in the ease of many OF the
stunted plants. This growth appar-
emily is coming too late to materially
effect the probable yield.'
There appears to be no evidence
whatever OF a parasitic disease cen-
nected with this trouble. As far -
one can ascertain from . study Of
conditions in the field, and the field
evidence 10 in certain Debate cases
very convincing. 1t 10 associated with
the brand Of fertiliser used and APP
narently with the brand at potash
used in this fertilizer. This was cut
lined in this series Of isttess q fort
night ago.
We do net regard ths two specific
diseases, Fhama atem Blisht and
Fpsarium Wit, a. in any way cen
Haeted with the present trouble.
Fyem oir ehseryations IL lEaine No
can cope to no other eanclusiea than
that the Importance Of the so-caIIed
Phorna Stem Blight. has been greatly
exaggerated. We frequently aRd this
fungus growing upon potato stems
which are dead or dying from seine
sthsr cause. sems two or three