832 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v.. A. 1915 



plant diseases. When, however, by reason of a disease a country is barred from fur- 

 ther export of the vegetation eojicorned, this is another serious aspect of the "losses" 

 caused by diseases of plants. 



These measures should have a decided beneficial result inasmuch as they would 

 compel or encourage a country under embargo to fight the disease in the most effective 

 way in order to regain the market in the country that has placed such an embargo. 



The Dominion of Canada felt it advisable to enforce such an embargo on 

 potatoes grown in countries in which Potato Canker prevails. As soon as the countries 

 affected by this measure are in a position to prove that they have successfully com- 

 batted Potato Canker, or are in a position to guarantee that no potatoes affected by 

 such disease will be exported, this eiabargo will be removed, as it is not the intention 

 of such protective measures to interfere with the commercial relations of two countries. 



However, the Dominion of Canada during the time which is covered by thie report 

 experienced the effects of such embargo, which was placed upon Canadian potatoes 

 by the United States for reason of a disease now well known to the farmer by the 

 name of Powdery Scab. A public meeting was held in Washington on December 18, 

 before the United States Federal Board of Horticulture to hear from interested 

 parties why an embargo should not be laid. The Dominion Botanist was instructed 

 to represent the department as technical expert. The United States authorities, how- 

 ever, decided to place an embargo imtil such times as would assure freedom from 

 disease in imported potatoes. 



The presence of Powdery Scab in Canada resulted in the loss of the 

 American market, which was greatly lamented by growers in the eastern provinces. 

 This disease has only been discovered in Canada in the fall of 1912 ; whether this 

 disease has been long in this covintry or whether it is a serious disease does not con- 

 cern us here, but owing to its presence in Canada farmers were not permitted to sell 

 their potatoes in the States. 



To eastern farmers, particularly those in New Brunswick, Quebec, Nova Scotia, 

 and Prince Edward Island, this embargo is a very unwelcome measure, rnore so appar- 

 ently than the disease itself. This is the wrong attitude to take, seeing that the dis- 

 ea,se causes as much damage to our own potato industry a^ it is thought it will do in 

 the United States, but one fact is absolutely clear — the Uni'ted States will be ready to 

 admit the Canadian crop as sonn a= ■^'e have cleared our fields of this disease. 



The Division caused detailed information on the appearance of this disease to be 

 widely distributed, and every farmer who has seen a copy of the publication will find 

 that the prevention and extermination of this disease — like any other disease — rests 

 exclusively with himself. The directions are briefly these: — 



First. — Use clean seed that is absolutely free from powdery scab, and pre- 

 ferably free from any kind of tuber disease. 



Second. — Plant clean seed on land that* has never borne a crop of potatoes 

 before, or at any rate not a crop that has been diseased. 



Third. — Avoid all contact with diseased potatoes, infected implements, 

 bags, cellars, etc. 



A crop grown from pure and sound :<eed, raised on land that is not infected, and 

 that is found on inspection free from disease will gladly be accepted by the United 

 States. It is hoped that all farmers in the Dominion will follow these instructions; 

 the disease will then disappear and the market of the world be open again. When it 

 is fully realized that these are the only means to check and eradicate the disease, and 

 tg re-establish the trade, it is hoped that the embargo will soon be lifted. 



Detailed information about this disease is contained in Farmers' Circulars No. -4 

 and No. 5, which may be obtained by those who have not already received a copy by 

 ap.i)lying to the Publication Branch, Department of Agricultvire, Ottawa. 



Ottawa. 



