The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-08-13

[SsixsitJ eosUir + sIrnsrs l South
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~ sIA0 HTSI lnSpeCtlOA AOA PVS0SSsf 49,
certification was completed this week.
LIT was made by Robert Barclay and
~. IA. Anderson. State Potato 1nspec-
tors, assisted Sby q, IN. PAu aOeft. az
|ricultural instrnet0r IL thu hsmidJt
|Hixh school and ID. G. Dv0facek,
county agent. The purpose Of the
Arst inspection Is to determine the
percentage OF stand, weak plants,
diseases, insects Injurious, yariated
mixtures, general yigor, and condi-
ton OF the fields. The farmer accom-
panies the inspectors while his Held
Il being inspected In order that he
may be able to identity the diseases.
and varietal impurities and be able
to rouge them out before the second
inspection. He also receives Informs
ton and suggestions as to cultural
practice, and insect and disease REM
edlies, enabling him to improve his
methods OF potato growing and to APP
.preciate the value Of better seed, and
better general cultural practice.
Sixty-four farmers applied for po-
tato seed certihcation from practical-
" all parts Of South Beltrami county.
ut shows that interest in certified
see is growing, even though condi-
lions were not ideal for marketing
seed last year, mainly because Of lack
OF storage space which would enable
the farmers to hold his seed until the
seed market opened In late winter or
early spring. This condition has been
thru the construction OF e
few cooperative and private ware
houses. Due to inability to obtain
cement, many store houses will not
be build this year. s s II 3: :;5
sa. Isl ,E The diseases most commonly
found in the potato fields inspected
are mild mosaic in the Bliss Triumph
fields, hlackleg, Rhizoct0nia, early
blight and occasionally phuaraum
wilt. The mosaic disease is by far
the most serious this year In Bliss
Triumph fields, only one field being
entitled to pass inspection for certih-
cation and only one or two for limit:
ed certification This disease does
not effect other varieties as seriously
The disease is transmitted from one
plant. to another by insects, chiefly
potato lice. It is difficult to control
them because seed treatment has no
effect on them. Backlog, Rhizoc-
tonia and scab can be controlled BY
treating with corrosive sublimate.
The value Of corrosive sublimate has
been proven, not only by potato In
spection, but also on the potato tour,
the untreated fields carrying more
diseases. >>.-",J -. aEs = 5a.ft,s
4. The potato beetle has done all the
damage it will do this season. y
new pest, however, called the plant
louce, small green insect found on
the under side of the leaves and suck
ing the plants juice. They are UNI
commonly plentiful this year and Is
just question of time when steps
will be taken to control this insect,
just as steps have been ia ken to: con-
troll the Colorado beetle.
The interest shown in potato certi-
fication is indeed gratifying as 1t has
proven that farmers are interested,
not only in better seed, but also In
making this country one Of the po-
tatO producing sections OF the cOun-
try. i As soon as more storage facil-
ity is provided for and as Beltrami
county seed potatoes become known,
1t will become indeed an Important
potato seed plot for Southern and
western Minnesota, with marked adj
vantage financially to the man who
is most interested in the certifying
seed game. < Is, v ..@-3