Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-05-06
TALK ON POTATO
SEED TREATMENT
Actual Demonstration Will Be
Conducted BY Authority
On Potatoes

Prof. r. f. Vaughn of the entomolo |
gy department of the university will !
be in Rusk county, Wednesday and
Thursday. May II and II, to conduct |
potato seed treatment demonstrations.
Prof. Vaughn. who is one Of our best |
authorities on potato diseases. will en-
lcavor TO help Us in every way he can
20 combat potato diseases.
The schedule for meetings is as fol
lows:
village Of WeyerhaeuScr, 900
o'clock. May II: Tom Graham'S farm.
Bruce. 80 O'Clock. Wednesday. May
II: Grow cheese factory. LadySmith.
o 90 o'clock. Thursday. May II:
schoolhouse. Murry. | 80 O'Clock.
Thursday, May T..
The slight cost Of treating potatoes
may mean the difference between half
Il crop and whole crop, Why raise
diseased potatoes when W" can raise
good. clean tuberS which will bring
good prices? We cannot afford to
pant potatoes without treating them
for Scab. black scurf. and black leg.
Prof. Vaughn will be glad TO be OF
assistance to us in helping MS combat
any of our plant OF tree diseases.
The germs of Scab. black scurf and
black leg will be destroyed by treat
| ing potatoes. These may be carried
on the surface of tuhers taken from
diseased crop even though these tu-
bers are themselves smooth II
healthy.
1t is best to treat all potatoes before
planting, especially seed from I'M
| known sources and from fields not
/ known to he free from disease. Disin-
| fecting potato seed is simple and in
expensive precautionary measure which
pays the farmer many times its cost.
There are two standard solutions. for
maldehyde and corrosive Subimate, OF
which corrosive sllblimate is the bet
! ter
Formaldehyde treatment Seed pc
tatoes two hours in Il solution OF one
pint of f0rmaldehyde (40GD in 80 gal
Ions Of water. The same solution may
he used repeatedly without deteriOra-
ton Formaldehyde is not as efficient
It's corrosive subimate. but it is cheap
or. and il is harmless to metal tanks
and stock.
Corrosive Sublimate. also called mer-
curtis chloride diSsOlves at the rate of
/ part TO 1000 by weight in water. 1t
is more effective than the formalde
solution. but has the drawback of be
ing very poisonous. The sublimate
may be secured in either tablet or bulk
form Dissolve four ounces in one
quart of water and make up to 80 gal
Ions of water. Soak the uncut pota-
toes one to two hours depending on
their condition.
The solution decreases in strength
/ with use. so therefore. add One-half
ounce Of chemical for every four
bushels treated and keep the water up
to its original volume.
Galvanized iron stock watering tanks
may be used if they are first carefully
painted with asphaltum paint. Other
wise. use wood or cement tanks. as
metals are cOrroded. When barrels
are used. have them on a platform. so
that the solution may be drawn off
in Il pail or tub.
Treat tuberS while dormant. if pos
sible, and at least ten days or two
weeks before planting They should
be dried Immediately after treating
In case of cloudy or damp weather
when concentration of the solution
in eye pockets might cause injury, po-
tatoes should he rinsed in clear water
after treatment. Potatoes should not
be used for food after this treatment
Dry the seed in the shade rather than
| under the hot sun.
LEO T. SCHOEPF
County Agent