218 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



read}- to attack the potatoes planted the next year in the ground 

 where they had fiiUen. 



From what wc have learned of the life, history and habits of the 

 potato-rot fungus, we ma}' safely say that it is better to plant sound 

 potatoes only, on dry or well underdrained lands, where the condi- 

 tions are the most unfavorable to the growth of the fungus, and 

 then if by any means the potatoes become infested, not only all the 

 tops but all diseased tubers should be careful!}' burned and potatoes 

 planted the next year on a different part of the field. If all the 

 farmers in a given region should pursue this course, it seems to me 

 possible for them to hold the parasite in check. 



The course some farmers pursue is to put the potato tops into the 

 compost heap. This is the most dangerous policy that could be 

 adopted, if the manure is to be used under the next year's potato 

 crop, for the dampness of the compost heap would give the most 

 suitable conditions for the production of the resting spores. It is 

 true that the tops put into a compost heap may not be infested with 

 the fungus in question, but the risk is too great and, as I believe, 

 should be carefully avoided. 



