Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-30
A POSSIBILITY OF
THE POTATO WART
REACHING Maine
A Warning to Fishermen Visit
ing the Islands of Newfound-
land. St. Pierre and Miuuelon

ing the Islands of Newfound-
land, st. Pierre and Miquelon
Orono. Me-. Oct. 2s-The following
was issued today from the Office of
Charles D. Woods, director of the
Maine agricultural experiment sta
ton:
Two recent letters in this series
have been devoted to the wart dis
ease Of the potato. In them it has
been pointed out that this is the
most dangerous potato disease tina.
has ever appeared and that It'll nitro
duction into and establishment in
Maine would be a serious blow to
our valuable potato growing indus
try. Mention was made of the fact
that representative of the Plant
Disease Survey. in cooperation with
this Station, was making a survey
this fall of those parts of the State
where it seemed most likely that
wart might be introduced. Natural
~ he gave special attention to the
few ports from which fishing vessels
clear for trips to the Grand Banks
At one of these he made a rather
alarming discovery. Before taking
this up in detail it is necessary to
present certain other facts bearing
on the general situation.
After years of urging on the part
of those most familiar with the dan
ger of introducing new and destruc-
tive plant diseases and insect pests,
which hitherto were either uncom-
mon or unknown in this country,
through the unrestricted importation
from foreign countries of nursery
stock, seeds. vegetable etc, Con-
gress passed The Plant Quarantine
Act which became a law on August
20, 1912. This Act was amended
March 4, 1913 and March, 4. 1917.
Under regulations provided therein
the United States Secretary Of Agri-
culture in September 1912 issued
quarantine order prohibiting the i'm
portation of potatoes into the United
States from the British Isles, Ger
many. Austria Hungary, Newfound-
land. ST. Pierre and Miquelon.
This quarantine order was made
largely on account of potato wart.
but partly on account of powdery
scab. When it was found that the
latter disease was not likely to prove
troublesome under the climatic con-
ditions that prevail over most of the
United States these regulations were
modified with regard to those coun-
tries where powdery scab was the
only factor involved. They have been
in force for over 6 years against
those regions where potato wart ex-
lists and from them it has been un-
ever. In 1909 the Dominion Botanist
of Canada reported that he had
found the wart disease of potatoes
in Newfoundland. Wart disease,
therefore. has existed in Newfound-
land for at least 10 years and for
over 6 years it has been unlawful to
import into Maine or other parts of
the United States any potatoes from
this island.
The Federal inspector found at
one Of the Maine fishing ports that
one concern imported or 3 cargoes
Of Newfoundland potatoes IN 1917.
Moreover it developed that this Gus
tom was not uncommon in those sea-
sons when cod were scarce and the
price Of potatoes was high enough
in Maine to make it profitable to
bring back a cargo of them instead.
So far as the writer can learn no
evidence was obtained indicating
that this importation of potatoes
from New Foundland was an inten-
tional violation of the law on the
part Of the fishermen or on the part
Of the customs officials who should
have instructions covering such
shipments. 1t does illustrate tho
danger Of the importation Of potato
wart into Maine and the need Of &C.
tive cooperation Of all classes of
citizens to prevent it. The fact de-
veloped that the cargoes mentioned
above were mostly lost from freez-
ing and rot and the inspector failed
to find any evidence Of wart in fields
or gardens in or surrounding the
port Of entry.
The enforcement Of the quarantine
act is in the hands ofthe Federal
Horticultural Board. 1t is understood
that they are taking steps to prevent
any future importations Of potatoes
into this State from regions which
are guaranteed on account of the
Wart disease. This. however, does
not remove the responsibility on the
part of the individual citizen to do
his part to prevent the introduction
into Maine Of this and other undesir.
able plant diseases.
1t is very important that people
living in and near these towns that !
send fishing vessels to the Grand
Banks make special note Of the po-
tatoes they grow or purchase and |
promptly report any suspicious tub
ers found to the Station.