368 AC.RICULTURK OP MAINK. 



and claims to have no poor results. One man at Gardiner soaked 

 some cut seed over night in a double strength solution and they 

 grew just the same. Some other men claimed that this hurt the 

 seed. 



Ques. Would there be any danger of infecting healthy seed 

 by cutting it with a knife which had passed through a diseased 

 place ? 



Ans. Yes. It has been recommended by people who study 

 such things that a man keep a common quart jar of formalde- 

 hyde solution where he is cutting, and when he cuts a diseased 

 potato, put his knife into the jar and take the other knife from 

 the jar, thus keeping his knives thoroughly disinfected. 



I wish to say that we found only one case of leaf roll in our 

 inspection work this year. This case of leaf roll came in seed 

 brought from New York state. 



At the time of the second inspection the inspector takes sam- 

 ples over the field, in different sections — some in a low place, 

 some on a rise, for instance, and some in the center and some 

 near the edges. When he has dug a sufficient number of samples 

 he knows about what the yield will be, and he can tell whether 

 any particular tuber disease is showing up or not. If five per 

 cent of the samples dug show conspicuously less than the average 

 yield, the field is disqualified for certification. Of course if any 

 powdery scab is found, that disqualifies. Wilt diseases make 

 their appearance late in August. If more than 180 plants of wilt 

 disease are found, disqualification follows. Late blight does not 

 disqualify except in cases where rot sets in very badly. 



The third inspection is made at the time of awarding the cer- 

 tificate, and this, of course, is an inspection of the tubers and it 

 is an inspection which takes into consideration the especial 

 type of the potato and its diseases. The grower removes from 

 the sacks of potatoes for sale all diseased and damaged stock, 

 all stock infested with Sclerotia, etc. 



The above is the plan of certification which we have followed 

 in potato work this year. The final inspection is being done by 

 Mr. Clark, agent of the Federal Horticultural Board and his 

 inspectors. The tags are furnished by this association and by 

 the Department of Agriculture of this state. The guaranty is 

 made by the Commissioner of Agriculture and this association, 

 and the grower signs a statement that the potatoes in the sacks 



