254 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2 GEORGE V., A. 1912 



Control. 



In making a plantation use only healthy plants. Any spotted leaves should 

 be picked off and burned. The first season, spraying with Bordeaux should be begun 

 before the blossoms open and the plants kept covered with the mixture through the 

 growing season. The second year, spray before blossoming, and after the fruit is 

 picked either spray again or mow and burn the leaves. It is generally recommended 

 to crop strawberry plants for two seasons only and then plough them up. By tln3 

 method, the beds can easily be kept clean and free from disease and weeds. 



DISEASES OF POTATOES. 



PREVENTION OF POTATO SCAB. 



This experiment was undertaken to show the comparative values of the different 

 treatments generally practised to prevent ' Potato Scab.' It has been our experience 

 that in some years the treatment has no effect whatever; it is also known that badly 

 scabbed potatoes planted on new land may produce a perfectly sound crop. Sound 

 tubers planted on land that has previously borne a badly scabbed crop may be found 

 to produce sound tubers. On the other hand, sound tubers planted on soil perfectly 

 new and never used previously for potatoes may give rise to a badly scabbed crop. 

 These peculiarities clearly indicate that potato scab is influenced by climatic and soil 

 conditions. In order to show the value of the treatment generally recommended these 

 experiments will be carried on every season for some time, when it is hoped to prove 

 which treatment is the most reliable one, if indeed any is to be recommended at all. 



The potatoes used were uniformly, but not badly, scabbed and of the same source 

 and variety. They were divided into four lots of three pounds each and subjected to 

 the following treatments : — 



Lot I. — Untreated. 



Lot II. — Soaked three hours in a solution, 10 oz. Carbonate of Soda in 10 gallons 

 of water. 



Lot IDT. — Soaked three hours in a solution, 1 lb. formalin in 30 gallons water. 



Lot IV. — Soaked three hours in a solution of Corrosive Sublimate in water, 

 1 in 2000. 



Each lot of tubers was then cut for seed and was planted on June 4, 1910. The 

 tubers were planted in hoe-made furrows about three inches deep. The land had 

 grown potatoes which were quite sound the year before. Stable manure was applied 

 uniformly over the plots when the .land was being prepared. 



Returns from Trial Plots Calculated per Statute Acre. 



Lot. 



T. 

 II. 

 III. 

 IV. 



Treatment. 



Untreated 



Carbonate of Soda. 



Formalin 



Corr. Sublimate. . . 



