The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1929-11-15
STATE COLLEGE
WEEKLY LETTER
Potato Storage

Bozeman. Mont, Nov. 12.--Dry
rot of potatoes causes losses run
mig all the way from four to 40
per cent and, particularly this
year, when the crop is short and
prices are high, growers will do
well to take every precaution to
prevent the disease, says II. E.
Morris, plant pathologist for the
Montana experiment station.
According to the scientist, dry
rot is caused by a fungus which
enters the potato through breaks
in the skin. The first step to pre-
vent loss is to handle potatoes
carefully when picking, grading
and putting them in bins.
Snce the disease develops most
rapidly under warm, moist condi-
tions, potatoes should be stored in
small, dry, well-ventilated bins.
If they are placed in large bins the
ventilation often is poor at the
center of the pile and the disease
may make rapid progress. A tenn
perature of about 40 degrees
should be maintained.
Storage bins should be carefully
cleaned and %disinfected before
new potatoes are placed in them.
Dry rot causes the centers of
potatoes to become dry, powdery
and a dark brown in color. There
is often little evidence of the dis
ease on the surface although af-
fected areas usually have a
wrinkled. sunken appearance.
A State Champion
The title of Canning Champion
of the state and a free trip to the
National Al Club congress at Chi
cagO al the time of the Internal
ional Livestock Exposition offered
by the Kerr Glass Co., of Oklaho-
ma, were won this rear by Mar
Brandon, 16-year old high
school girl OF Pompeys Pillar. Ha-
eel Finch OF Forsyth was second
and will be given a free trip to the
state All conference to be held
next year.
According to C. E. Potter, state
hub leader. the state champion
done outstanding work during
Ter three years as a club member.
n that period she has won more
han 5000 in prizes at local, dis
riot and state fairs. During the t
Dast season she canned 376 pints |
4 fruits, vegetables, meats and t
cups and stored more than 1000 t
tounds of vegetables. In addition
he has done two-thirds of the
aiming at her home. She won a I
tate All club membership in 1928 f
nd this year is local leader of S
clothing club and president of /
er canning club.
The Montana champion will +
epresent the state in a national e
aiming contest at the tine of the
lub congress at Chicago late in v
November. 4
Oil Cake q
Cottonseed cake may prove a
aluable feed supplement in many P
arts of the state this year. saws v
!. E. Richards, livestock special v
It for the Montana experiment n
He points out that where Il
lfalfa hay or other high protein
'eds are scare cottonseed cake is e
specially valuable. since in this G.
ase it supplies food elements u
hch otherwise are lacking. F
Beef COWS that are being whit
ed on straw will show a mark L
l Improvement if a little cotton v
led cake is fed, the specialist
oints out. When fed with straw 81
ne pound of "cake" has brought a
bout the same feeding value as St
We pounds of alfalfa. Best re- 81
Its are obtained from cotton g
led cake when small amounts W
e fed, the livestock specialist Ct
q
Lamb Feeding "
Lamb feeding is getting under -
ay to a good start in Blaine y.
'unty. Max Legge, county extern ~
on agent, reports that there are :
'proximately $4,000 head of :"
mbs in the feed lots in and III
ound Chinook this winter. Last De
there were only about A. a..
0 head on feed. Vi
Sugar beets + held responsible a.
r the development of this in ~
lstry. Previous to the establish VI
ent of the sugar factory az ..
linook there was practically no
eding hone in the area, Mr.. Leg y
states.
Barley and hay are the limiting
ctors now, the county agent re- -,
rts. Beet pulp and molasses are
~ --~1 - III