Vermont Agricultural Report 91 



Proof, Dakota Red and some Mexican varieties and recent seed- 

 lings have a relatively high degree of resistance to both blight and 

 rot. Owing to their poor quality or other defects none of these 

 are to be commended without reservation at present for commer- 

 cial growing. 



The plant breeders of Europe also, especially the British 

 Islands and Germany, have been for some years aiming to find 

 disease-resisting varieties. Through the cooperation of the De- 

 partment of Agriculture we were enabled to secure about loo 

 varieties of the most promising of the disease-resisting European 

 varieties for trial by Professor Stuart at the Vermont Station 

 alongside of the best American varieties. Several of these are re- 

 sistant to both blight and rot in their native countries and there 

 is good reason to hope that they may retain something of this 

 quality when transported. In any case, these with the various 

 wild species from Mexico may furnish a basis for Professor 

 Stuart's breeding and selection. While an absolutely disease- 

 proof variety is not to be expected, there is reasonable ground 

 for hoping for much practical gain over the varieties now com- 

 monly grown in Vermont. Resistance to scab and other diseases 

 is to be hoped for as well as to blight and rot. 



The consideration of this matter of disease-resistance in 

 potatoes has established our confidence in the possible revival of 

 potato culture in Vermont. Statistics show a gradual decline in 

 this industry. This falling off is natural, perhaps inevitable, if 

 potatoes are grown primarily for food or starch as formerly. 

 There are other sections where they may be grown more cheaply 

 to supply this general market. I do believe, however, that more 

 potatoes should be raised in Vermont in spite of this western com- 

 petition. But the thing I would especially emphasize, now, is 

 my conviction as to another possibility. I anticipate that Ameri- 

 can potato growers are soon to follow with profit the practice of 

 the Europeans, viz. : to use seed potatoes from a northern source 

 when they aim for the best results. In England, France, 

 Germany and Italy alike, preference is given to northern seed, 

 even at a price considerably in advance of local grown seed. The 

 very best comes from Scotland. The crop produced by this seed 

 excels, not only in general vigor and productiveness, but especially 

 in disease-resisting powers. The result is that the bulk of the 

 crop sold out of Scotland is shipped south for seed at an advance 

 over the market price for table use. A Scotch potato merchant 

 at Edinburgh told us that Scotchmen couldn't afford longer to 

 eat their own potatoes, instead they sold them for planting and 

 bought at a lower price English and Irish potatoes for their own 

 tables. The same is true in a measure of grain and other seeds. 

 There is an increasing recognition in this country of the superior 



