The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1922-03-17
POTATO SEASON
BRINGS WARNING
Of MANY ILLS
Farm Bureau Project
Leader Issues State
ment Regarding Profit
able Precaution.

| Reed Moody, potato project lead
er for the Canyon County Farm bur-
eau, feels that farmers should exer-
else more than usual care in selecting
and treating their potato seed this
year in order to reduce the amount of
diseas 10 as low a point as possible,
according, to a statement issued at the
farm bureau office Thursday
| Il wish to remind those contemplat-
ing planting potatoes this spring"
said Mr.. Moody, that they should be
very careful of their choice of seed
stock, as the seed is the greatest fac
tor in profitable potato growing. I
do not believe it will pay to plant any
but good seed as | know of several
fields where the difference in seed has
made difference in yield as much as
$50 sacks per acre. The only sure
way to know that you are getting
good seed is to have seen or had some
one else view this field before the
vines died last fall so as to have de-
ltected whether there were diseased
hills in the field or not. The next
best is to buy from a reliable dealer
or grower who has seen the potatoes
before digging. Even if you think
you have seed that is absolutely free
from disease l believe it will pay you
to treat it with the corrosive subli-
mate solution. l wish to call your
attention to the following extract
clipped from a Kansas paper: :.
"Good seed is extremely important
Certified registered seed should be
fused. Seed treatment. is sequailx i'm
lportant because it is insurance against
disease to which potatoes are suscep-
tible. The use of corrosive sub1imate
as a preventive of blackleg, black
scurf, dry rot or wilt and scab, has
melted growers in the Kaw Valley an
average of 10 bushels an acre more
) than they have obtained when using
untreated seed. Seed treatment is
simple and relatively inexpensive
whe nthe gain is considered. No cost
lily equipment is necessary and time
required is not an important factor
, This is in valley where the aver
. age yield is less than 100 bushels per
, acre. You see the benefit would be
| double here so you can figure for
yourself whether or not it would pay
. you to treat your Seed
: Prof E. R. Benefits bulletin,
Growing the Idaho Potato" gives
the following rules to be observed in
the treatment of seed
The most commonly recommended
treatment for seed potatoes is corro-
: sive sublimate (mercuric chloride) in
water, at the strength of four ounces
of corrosive sublimate in thirty gal
Ions of water, The tubers should re-
main in tn esolution ninety minutes.
: Dissolve the corrosive sublimate in an
earthen receptacle with hot water be-
Is fore placing the material in cold wa
ter In this work, use only earthen
or wooden receptacles, as the treat
ing material is corrosive to metals.
! Corrosive sublimate is poisonous to all
d animals; hence, care must be exercised
Ito prevent any animals from drinking
t the solution or eating the treated po-
! tatoes. The potatoes may be treated
d in barrels or, in case of considerable
\ quantity in tank,
i THE chemical is rapidly weakened
t by use, hence, if the solution is used
i second time, one ounce of dissolved
: corrosive sublimate should be addet
to each thirty gallons of water.
THE corrosive sublimate Treatment
retards the development of the bud:
c to some extent, so Notwithstanding tn,
a fact that the treatment is usually Civ
e en- just previous to planting, it is bes
i il done at least ten days before tn,
n seed is cut. In any case, care mus
d be exercised to prevent the recon
&c tamination of the seed by keeping thu
n potatoes in a clean place and haddl
ing tnen Ill cream pdSketS Vi sdShs
e. 1t must be remembered that this treat
IS ment kills only the spores or germ
ri of scab and Rhizoctonia and does no
m prevent these disease if the potatoe
r are planted in infected soil, nor doe
(. it prevent the Fusarium wilt or othe
diseases of the interior of the stem o
r. tuber. Because of this, the same pre-
Il, cautions are necessary in growing tn
ID crop as tho the seed had not beel
treated"