The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-10
MOSAIC HARD ON
YOUNG POTATOES
College Authority Tells
How Growth May Be
Eradicated

Nearly 35 per cent of the Irish
potato plants In Tulsa county are af-
fected with a fungus disease known
as the Mosaic. according TO Prof
u. C.. Mooring, extension horticul-
turlst for the A. & NJ. college who
lust recently completed tour of
the larger truck patches in the
county. Professor Mooring said that
the large extent of the disease was
probably due TO faulty seed.
The potato bugs are Just begin
ming 20 hatch, he says. and early in
dicatious point to a big crop. How
ever, this evil, according to the pro-
lessor, with proper spraying can be
overcome. AT the conclusion OF his
tour OF the county he said, in part:
"In visiting n number of the
truck growers in the vicinity of
Tulsa, | noticed n large percentage
of Irish potato plants tina. looked
different from those that were
growing naturally. Upon examina-
lion they were found to be affected
by a disease known as the Mosaic.
The affected plants, as a rule, are
somewhat lighter In color and the
foliage has a wrinkled or, where
badly affected, a curly appearance.
Upon figuring the percentage |
found I'm a number OF patches that
the diseased plants run as high as
35 per cent.
This disease is a result OF seed
originally affected by the disease.
IL Is well for the truckers to begin
considering the source of their Irish
potato seed for another year. There
- h.
certified Irish potato seed are pro.
duced. which have minimum
amout of this disease and few
cents more per bushel invested in
seed potatoes would be a saving in
the long run.
THE potato bugs are just now be-
ginning TO hatch, and in a few days
the plants should be sprayed or
Quoted with arsenic In order TO
destroy these young bugs, as the
young are the ones that do the most
damage to the potato plants. A
thorough application. when the
bulk of the potato bugs have
hatched and just when they are be-
ginning TO eat the foliage of the
plants, may be all that is necessary.
but in case :ney are not destroyed
by tho first spraying or busting a
In large patches where regular pota-
10 spraying machinery is available
this would be a most practical way
in which to apply the arsenical spray,
and in this instance. use powdered
arsenate of lead at the rate OF one
and one-half pounds 10 so gallons
Of water. Where the paste form is
used instead of the powdered form,
double the amount of lead. In small
patches, Il practical way of COM
batting the potato bug is to mix one
part of powdered arsenate of lead
with 10 TO IL parts of air-sLaked
lime or hydrated lime. In case the
lime is lumpy 1t should be run
through a wire screen, such as is
commonly found on windows or
doors. Make sack six or eight
inches wide and about IS inches
deep of cheese cloth. Dust this mix
ture Uime and arsenate OF lead) on
the potato plants early In the morn.
Ing while the dew is on. Hold the
top of the sack with the left hand
pick up the bottom with the right
hand and drop 1t over the top of the
, plants, thus forcing the dust out
on the plants, Do not let the bot
tom OF the sack come in contact
with the plants as the bottom OF
the sack becomes wet and clogged
This is one of the most practica
and at the same time, efficient and
labor-saving ways OF busting q
small patch of potatoes for the po
tato bug"