Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-11-04
BEST SEED EVER
GROWN IN maine
INSPECTOR DESCRIBES

Probably the State of Maine has
lnever before produced the quantity
of first class certified seed 1t has
done this year. The stamp "Dirigo'
belongs on the Maine grown seed
1. produces results. It Is sealed In
bags bearing certification that the
contents are free from disease. 1t
Costs, if the seed be to produce in
, creased yield, as much to raise and
harvest go acres for certified seed
as to raise 100 acres for eating pur-
poses.
A representative Of the Journal
recently had an opportunity for an
interesting interview with an inspec
tor, who has been in the business for
the past five years in Maine, but did
not wish his name to appear. He
described the methods and means for
properly certifying seed. The grow
ing of this seed is practically con-
fined to four counties in this State
Aroostook. Penobscot, Piscataquis
and Waldo. Constant is the effort
to secure a seed free from disease,
possessing the best qualities and i'm
proving it. In this work patholo-
gists, experimental stations and Fed
eral as well as State employees CO.
operate. With $4,000 acres entered
for inspection 1t may readily be un-
derstood that the inspectors should
be busy.
The first inspection is in blossom
ing time. This Is for the mosaic
disease. This attacks the leaf of
the plant and causes it to fail in as
simiiating nourishment from the air.
The effect Is small potatoes and Il
ta1I Tho nrpSnnt
notified appearance. roll up and in
lection may easily be determined.
Rhizoctonia, commonly known as
the little potato disease attacks the
root and girdles the main stem. The
tons are rosetted and show a yell
lowish tinge. This disease may east
" he determined in field or in bin.
The Spindle tuber" affection the
inspectors have not had to reckon
with this season but it Is expected
to appear in some sections next year.
The plant top so affected presents
an appearance suggesting a brush
broom. The mosaic disease and
spindle tuber are transmitted from
plant to plant by plant lice.
Another disease with which the
grower has to contend is "blackleg."
the complete dying OF the top when
almost fully grown.
The potato fields are scored to find
the per centage Of disease thereon
II three to four per cent Of disease
is found the field Is disqualified. If
the field passes the first inspection
the owner does away with all the
diseased plants by a process known
as 'rogueing".
A second inspection Is made IN
two or three weeks in the same way
and on this only two to three per
cent Of disease Is allowed, after
which the field is rogued again.
The inspectors this year found
many fields with less than half OF
one per cent OF disease. Digging
time is a very busy season for the
inspectors. They must see that the
disqualified potatoes are kept away
from the certified seed. Orders are
coming from all over the country
and the inspector must make bin in
spection of the seed to be certified.
He must see that the potatoes are
Of even grade-not too large, not too
small-and of the right shape for
cutting into seed. Net-necrosis, a
form Of leaf roll in the field, one per
cent of which in field disQualifies
1t shows also in the bin by reddish
lines through the potato. Rhizoctonia
Is detected by the shape OF the po-
tato.
Planters soak the potatoes in
solution of corrosive sublimate to
kill scab and spores OF rhizoctonia