POTATO DISEASE. 109 



and as soon as it has attacked the main stem, all leaves are strip- 

 ped off and the diseased stems are also removed, the plants being 

 left either to dry away or send out shoots as the case may be. 



The skillful and intelligent farmer will begin with the seed pota- 

 toes, and be sure that no diseased ones go into his field at spring 

 time. If the stock of seed on hand is diseased, the potatoes should 

 be cut, each one carefully examined and all diseased pieces rejected. 

 If cut a month before wanted, all the better. The soil should be 

 well drained, rather light, and not freshly dunged with fermentable 

 substances. A high, airy locality is preferable. Cover the shoots 

 several inches deep, as soon as they show themselves, and if the 

 disease comes on violently, cut off the tops, unless the promise of 

 succeeding dry weather is such as to make that trouble unneces- 

 sary by checking the development of the fungus. It would be well 

 to give the plants a good deal of room, so that the stems and lower 

 foliage may be reached by the wind, and thus kept from excess of 

 moisture. If the blight shows itself but moderately, bend the tops 

 away so as to leave the ridge uncovered. In hilling up avoid 

 gathering the stems into a close bundle, but separate them, earth- 

 ing among them as well as around them. 



By these precautions based on the fungus theory, we may hope, 

 in the larger share of instances — in all cases, indeed, save where 

 fatality of situation or weather are against us — to raise fair crops 

 of fairly sound potatoes. 



