The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1919-06-27
WATCH POTATOES FOR
EVIDENCES OF WART
European Malady Is Said to Be
Most Destructive.
introduced Into Coal Mining Districts
of Pennsylvania About 1e11-ln.
tested Soil Should Be Used
for Other Crops.
prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of AgricultuIe9

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agricultms9
Every grower Of irish potatoes
whether he handles q private patch or
a commercial acreage-is urged to
watch carefully his potatoes at dlg-
ging time for evidences of potato
wart disease, q European malady
which Is one of the most destructive
attacking potatoes. The wart disease
was introduced into q coal-mlning
districts of Pennsylvania In potatoes
brought from Europe about l9ll. Al
that period of shortage several mil
lion bushels of spuds for foou pur-
poses were imported and distributed
widely throughout the country so tha'
many other sections possibly nave
been exposed to Infection. In order
to identify and quarantine all points
of infection it is imperative thar all
growers, dealers, distributors anu
county agents carefully inspect new
crop potatoes and report all suspicious
cases. in addition to sending samples
as soon as possible to their state az
ricultural college, state experiment
station or to the United States de-
partment of agriculture, Washington
D. C.
If potato wart becomes generally
distributed In the United States
means not only millions OF dollars OF
loss but also a complete change IN
the potato industry to prevent lts
total destruction. Potato wart almost
completely destroys the spuds 1000
purposes. Once established in the SOL
all that can Ire done is to work against
it's spread. The disease will remain
alive In the ground for as long as
eight years, and it is unsafe TO plant
notatoes In infested soil within that
period. 1t is known that the potato
wart disease had been establishing
itself In the Pennsylvania localities
for six years before 1t was discovered.
The department of agriculture mas
now placed quarantine prohlblting
shipment of potatoes from sections OF
Europe where the disease has existed,
and If the Pennsylvania sections are
the only points of infection the dis
ease is now under control.
Potato wart is characterized by
warty, spongy, cauliflower-like groWths
on the underground portions of the
plant. Infections usually begin In the
ewes and attain the size of a walnut
or larger. Sometimes entire tuDers
are converted into spongy, Warty
mass. Young warts are usually light
brown in color, although after decay
begins they turn black, which causes
the disease to be sometimes called
"black scab," or "black wart." Many
of the warts rot In the ground before
the crop is harvested, while others
decompOse when the potatoes are
placed In storage. Some of the warts
left on the field at digging time may
remain alive under suitable conditions
for months. The disease may continue
to vegetate long after the potato crop
has been harvested, due to the sending
up of sprouts from the sound warts
and the development of new warts
from the tender portions of the young
sprouts.
Attempts to control the disease by
treating infested soils with chemicals
have failed. In European countries II
has been ascertained that certain pc.
tato varieties resist this disease. No
American varieties of potatoes have
been tested for resistance to rot, but
experiments of this nature are pro-
posed.