390 KKI'oKT (tK OKKICK OK lv\ rKKI M KNT STATIONS. 



prices, as it iitKloiihlcdly coiiM he in lar^^cr (|ii:iiili(i('s. an iu-vo of 

 j^otatoos slioukl 1k> fvoated at an cxponse of loss than sj^lo. 'I'hc plants 

 on this ti'catccl j)lat wci'c conipai'atix cly free from the ■•t|iiick i-ot," 

 altlioiiiili some iiulividual plants tlirou<4liout the j)atch were {lU'eetcd 

 l)y it. Indications at the close' of the year were that this experi- 

 mental plat would yield a fairly j^ood croj) oF potatoes, ^^'hile not 

 w ishin<^- to delinit(dy recommend this method of treatinj^- potatoes to 

 prevent the "([uick rot," it is believed from the results obtained from 

 one year's work that this method is not only practicable, ))ut econom- 

 ical as well. In the case of a funyus of this kind, which lives entirely 

 in the soil and which remains in li\int^ condition in the soil for cer- 

 tainly two or three years, the oidy otluM- method of liohtino- the fun- 

 dus which causes the disease would be to plant some other crop 

 which it does not destroy. We can at this time reconnnend no other 

 crop to substitute for potatoes, and hence believe that the station 

 has scored a decided success as a result of this experimental treat- 

 ment of the land itself to destrov the fundus. It is not reconmiended 

 as an invariable method, ])ut the indications are that the treatment 

 either of the seed or of the soil, or of l)oth the seed and soil, with a 

 comparativel}' strong solution of formalin, a powerful disinfectant 

 and vermicide, will t^ive some measure of insurance against total loss 

 of the potato crop from this "([uick-rot" disease. 



TARO. 



The taro experiment l)eoun in the previous 3^ear was continued. 

 The tirst trial crop was harvested in September, 19()2, and the plants were 

 found to 1)e almost entirely free from the root-rot disease. The yield 

 on the trial plat was much greater than on any of the other taro patches 

 which had not received treatment to prevent root rot. A new crop 

 was planted on the same land, in October, ltH)2. The hules being- 

 selected from plants which were not diseased, no further application of 

 lime or fertilizers was made. The effect during the present growing 

 season of the feitilizers and lime a|)plied last year has ])(>ei\ more marked 

 than during t he previous season. W hil(> the crop has not been harvested, 

 the general jippearance of the plants indicates that the}' are much 

 healthier than any of the untreated surrounding patches. In the 

 absence of laborator}' facilities to study the nature of the disease and 

 determine whether the fungus is infectious, as has been supposed, 

 arrangements were made with Doctor Pierce of the Pacitic coast path- 

 ological lal)oratoiy, of the Bureau of Plant Industry, at Santa Ana, Cal., 

 to study the etiology of the disease. A considerable (juantity of dis- 

 eased taro was sent to Doctor Pierce, who is now carrying on an 

 investigation in regard to the nature of the fungus. The second taro 

 disease, of apparently bacterial origin, has proven very serious around 

 Honolulu during the past season. A microscopic examination of 



