DAIRY AND SEED IMPROVEMENT MEETIXGS. 347 



15 years. Judging from the amount of land which, if placed 

 under cultivation, would be suitable for this purpose it is evi- 

 dent that we have not yet really begun to raise potatoes. In fact, 

 there are thousands of acres of such land which has been cut 

 over and burned over which is today not returning the taxes, to 

 say nothing of interest charges. When this land does become 

 available for potato raising are we, by the exercise of proper 

 foresight and care, to protect it permanently from infection with 

 dangerous tuber-borne diseases so that it may contribute annu- 

 ally to the wealth and prosperity of the state, or are we through 

 carelessness or for the sake of saving a few dollars on the cost 

 of the seed for a single season going to risk contaminating it, 

 perhaps permanently, with the germs of powdery scab or some 

 other more dangerous disease? 



On account of the peculiar relationship of Maine to other 

 potato producing sections of the country, especially in the south, 

 this question of guarding against the introduction and spread of 

 dangerous potato diseases within the borders of the state is per- 

 haps a matter of greater importance to us than to any other 

 potato producing section of the country. As you well know, the 

 growing of potatoes as a late winter, spring and early summer 

 crop has developed into an industry of some magnitude in the 

 states to the south of us. It has been found, however, that 

 under the climatic conditions which exist from Maryland and 

 Virginia south to Texas, potatoes rapidly deteriorate, and while 

 they frequently grow two crops a year it is necessary to secure 

 seed from northern states at least once a year. Climatic con- 

 ditions of Maine, particularly the northern part, seem to impart 

 just the required vigor necessary for seed to be used in southern 

 states. Hence they have been coming to us in increasing num- 

 bers to purchase potatoes for that purpose. This has had much 

 to do with the recent development of the industry in our state, 

 since it has created an entirely new demand for our product and 

 a demand which in a measure has tended to lessen the compe- 

 tition of those states which are growing potatoes only for table 

 purposes. 



Unfortunately nature has been too kind to us here in Maine 

 in certain respects. The fact that it is possible by using large 

 amounts of fertilizer to produce reasonably good crops of pota- 

 toes when culls or even diseased tubers are planted, has led many 



